Today is my 100th post! I know I’ve been slacking for the past few weeks, but its been (as usual) crazy busy for us. We have so many exciting things going on right now with the business that blogging has been on the back burner. I’ll be back on the blogwagon soon, as the South Florida wedding season is almost at an end.
Anyway, this Daring Baker challenge, Cheesecake Pops, was so much fun to make. It was hosted by Deborah from Taste and Tell and Elle of Feeding My Enthusiasms, and you can find the recipe at either of their blogs. It really turned out fabulously… creamy dreamy cheesecake enrobed with chocolate… on a stick! It just doesn’t get any better than that! I had really only one minor issue with the recipe… the cheesecake was very soft. I followed the recipe, and actually baked it about 20-30 minutes longer than it called for. We were supposed to scoop it into balls, but it just didn’t work for me. Then I started to think about enrobing the misshapen balls with chocolate and had an awful image of poop on a stick. :P 
So instead of scooping, I had to deviate a bit and scraped the baked cheesecake mixture into molds. For the triangle shapes, I had a flexible triangular ice cube tray which was the perfect size. I planned the square ones ahead of time, and baked some of the batter in a small loaf pan and then cut with a large knife when they were frozen solid. I was bummed when I could not find lollipop sticks at my local grocery store until I found these really cool multi-colored stirrers instead. In the wise words of Borat… Great Success!
I flavored the cheesecake with vanilla bean paste and almond extract, and used both dark and white chocolate for dipping. At the last minute, I remembered I had some red food coloring paste that I added to the white chocolate to make a nice pale pink. Finely ground piscachios finished off the Cheesecake Pops. I’m looking forward to next month’s Daring Baker Challenge!
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Just beautiful. the stick idea is brilliant. i’m so stealing this for my next catering job! thanks! :)
Reply to amy Jurist
I also made these pops last year. I decided not to put a crust on the cheese cake. (I used my own cheese cake recipe) I use parchment paper instead because I decided the best way to make the pops was with a pastry bag. They came out nice and round and easy to dip in the different chocolates.
Reply to JoEllen
Sharon Hillman on March 21st, 2011 at 11:59 am
Would you mind sharing your cheese cake recipe with me? Also, can you give me more instructions on how you used the pastry bag? Oops, another question — do you have any ideas on how to display the pops? I volunteered to make the pops for my friend’s wedding. Thank you!!
Reply to Sharon Hillman
Your pops are some of the most elegant interpretations of this month’s theme I’ve seen yet. Great job… I LOVE the idea of using a silicon ice cube tray to create the triangles. And the stir-sticks add a pop of festive color to the mix.
Reply to Dolores
whaow ! a huge success for fantastic pops ! congratulations :)
Reply to marion-il en faut peu pour ...
Gorgeous! And congratulations on your 100th post!
Reply to Ivonne
Happy 100th Post. Your pops look spectacular–love those metallic sticks!
Reply to Texana
I love your shapes! They look so good!
Reply to Heather
as usual… simply beautiful! :-)
Reply to ashley
One word: perfection!
Congrats on 100 posts!
Reply to Christina
Gorgeous!!!
Reply to Merav
All dishes look very delicious. I am interested in the food culture of your country. And I support your site. If there is time, please come in my site. From Japan
http://food-soybean.blogspot.com/
Reply to edamame
congratulations on 100! and thank you for being an inspiration and for introducing me to new things (especially the osso buco fantasticness).
Reply to melissa
Happy 100th post! Your photos are certainly worthy of a grand occasion. Gorgeous lollies!
Reply to Dana McCauley
…..oppps meant to say “when are we gonna take over the WORLD!”
Reply to Aaron Kautz
I love the different shapes Candace! When are we gonna take over the word? :)
Reply to Aaron Kautz
WOW! yours are so gorgeous they put mine to shame!
Reply to Luki
I am super-impressed. The shapes and the dipping are beautiful. Looks totally professional. Nice job!
Reply to Sandicita
The multiple shapes really add elegance to this dish (much better than my turd-balls, hehe).
Reply to JennyBakes
Those are lovely! I love the geometric shapes!
Reply to katrina
Congratulations!
The pops look fabulous, too.
Reply to Patricia Scarpin
Wow, yours are so perfectly done, bravo!!
Reply to Namratha
Your pops are very elegant and beautiful. Wonderful job!
Natalie @ Gluten A Go Go
Reply to Sheltie Girl
These are so cool – very stylish! I like the idea of using molds. I want to pick some up myself to help with plating. Great job as always!
Reply to TaratheFoodie
Wow, your pops look wonderful! I love the shapes. They are so elegant!
Reply to Renee
I’m so glad the balls didn’t work out for ya because what you ended up making is far far more gorgeous! They are beautiful!!! I love how you got those pretty colored sticks too. I am visually in love with those pops!
Reply to Jen Yu
Putting the cheesecake in molds was a great idea! Yours look great. Love that last picture in the curvy plate.
Reply to Tracy
Molding the cheesecake was brilliant. I could not get mine round. impressive pictures.
Reply to maybelles mom
Your pictures as well as your pops are amazing! One of my favorites so for of all the cheesecake pops I’ve seen.
Reply to Barbara
I just love the shapes! Beautiful!
Reply to Michelle
Wow, they turned out great! Love the different shapes you did!
Reply to My Sweet & Saucy
This is so classy! I love the pictures , they are so well composed!
Reply to veron
Wow, your pops look perfect! Compared to my sloppy poor little things:)) Great decorations. And your pictures are great (kudos to your talented photographer!) I need one too!:))
Reply to farida
Woooo! Congratulations on #100! This is the perfectly festive recipe to mark the occasion :)
I love those shapes and the toppings!
Reply to Kaykat
I love the different shapes – they look like adorable little truffles!
Reply to Chez US
Beautiful elegant pops and fantastic photos! The ice cube trays were a great idea. Congratulations on #100!
Reply to Susan
Simply beautiful! I also had the problem of the cheesecake being too soft. I love that you dipped them in different chocolate and nuts! I can’t believe I didn’t think of chopped nuts and I love love love nuts :)
Reply to maria~
Amazing!
Reply to chriesi
Those are beautiful!!
Reply to Tarah
stunning! Great shapes and images.
Reply to Kim
Congratulations on your 100th post. Your cheesecake pops look absolutely wonderful. :)
Reply to Amber
Those are fancy, and beautiful! Excellent job!
Reply to kimberleyblue
Love the geometrics, and the artful dark/light chocolate. Beautiful job!
Reply to Bumblebutton
Congrats on 100 posts!Your cheesecake are beautiful !I missed your blog …
Reply to Rolanda (mom)
Ooooohhhh, they look gorgeous! Very pretty and delicate! Great job!
Cheers,
Rosa
Reply to Rosa
nice substitute for the sticks. Your cheesecake pops are beautiful.
Reply to Mandy
Congrats on 100 posts!! Your pops are dainty and adorable! I love that you moved the cheesecake to ice cube trays – very creative!
Reply to Katie B.
Beautiful, The color is a very good idea¡¡¡¡¡
Nicely¡¡¡¡
Reply to TERESA
Obviously, no post of mine is complete without a typo…arghh!
Reply to Tartelette
Beautifully executed and photographed! You two are one talented couple! Happt 100th post!
Reply to Tartelette
*gawks* I am seriously f-l-o-o-r-e-d! Your pops are perfect!
Reply to Phoebe
wow! these are amazing. So elegant and sophisticated! I totally understand why you used the flexible ice-cube trays, my exact idea ;)
Reply to Bakerette
As I was waiting for the page to download, the first thing I saw was the brilliance of blue in the stirrer and the pistachio against the chocolate. Stunning was my first thought! As the full page finally revealed the rest of your post..I was impressed with the elegance of your display..great Job!!
Reply to laurie
you did a really neat job with the coating! the photography too! you two are a brilliant match :)
Reply to Mrs Ergül
These are beautiful and so professional looking. Amazing job!
Reply to Tanya
Vanilla Bean Paste and Almond flavoring – How YUM! Great idea on how to shape your pops!
Reply to HoneyB
I love your shapes and decoration- your pops are gorgeous!
Reply to Gabi
Love your pics – the pops look delicious!! :)
Reply to hornedfroggy
Very elegant looking balls :)
Reply to Lisa
Lovely! Love that you mixed them!
Reply to Jerry
I’m jealous. Yours look so nice!
Reply to Rebecca
They are absolutely gorgeous! And yay for 100 posts!!
Reply to Deborah
A lovely job on dipping your pops…the two tone is nice.
Reply to peabody
Beautiful work and beautiful photos once again.. you are so lucky to have a photographer at your command!
Reply to Aran