Project Description

Pinit

Since I didn’t read any of the Game of Thrones books before watching the show, everything was a surprise to me. But, the biggest surprise came during the ninth episode of the first season, “Baelor.” Everything was building towards a most dreadful ending and I kept thinking, “No, they won’t do it. They won’t kill Ned Stark. No way.” And then, this happened:

Holy crap. They did it. They killed the supposed protagonist. As if that wasn’t controversial enough, they also created this teaser poster for season 2:

Image from EW.com

After an immediate reaction of shock, sadness, and a little disgust (which I imagine was the point), I thought…it kind of looks like a cake pop. I realize this means that I’ve lost it. I’m ok with that.

And so, my Ned Stark cake pops were born. They’re not that different from regular cake pops, except I used a bamboo skewer that extends all of the way through the cake ball…and they’re kind of grotesque, funny, and awesome at the same time.

Ned Stark Cake Pops

Cake ball recipe from Bakerella

Ingredients:

  • Red velvet cake from a 18.25 ounce box mix, cooled completely
  • 16 ounces cream cheese frosting
  • Bamboo skewers
  • White candy melts
  • Yellow candy melts
  • Pink candy melts
  • Red candy melts
  • Brown candy melts
  • Black food writer

Crumble the cooled cake in a large bowl and mix in the cream cheese icing. I used my hands, which is super messy but more effective. It should be slightly sticky and moldable (how is “moldable” not a real word? I’m a rebel English major).

Roll the mixture into about quarter sized balls and chill on a cookie sheet for a couple hours. If you’re short on time, you can put them in the freezer instead.

This recipe will make tons of cake balls (Bakerella estimates about 45-50). You can halve the recipe to make less.

Dipping time! I think I read somewhere that you should estimate approximately 1 ounce of candy melts per pop. That sounds a little high to me, but I’m new to the cake pop world.

Mix equal parts pink, yellow, and white candy melts.

Microwave according to the package directions. If your package does not have directions for melting, try putting the candy melts in the microwave on 50% power for about 1 minute. Stir, and then keep putting them back in the microwave on 50% power for 10-15 seconds, stirring after each heating session. You want the mixture to be glossy and smooth.

Now that the cake has been chilling in the fridge for some time, take a bamboo skewer and push it all the way through one of the red velvet balls. A little bit of cake will cling to the exposed tip. Don’t worry – it only heightens the effect.

Now, dip it in the melted candy up to the bottom of the cake ball.

Don’t worry about the candy on the tip of the skewer. Once it dries, it is easy scrape off the extra with a knife.

After they have dried and you cleaned up the skewer tip, melt the brown candy melts to make the hair. Just take a toothpick and apply the chocolate to the pop. Don’t worry about being perfect here; you’re just laying down the foundation of the hair. You may have to reheat the candy and change toothpicks a couple times.

The chocolate layer will dry pretty quickly. Once it does, keep adding additional bits of chocolate to add texture.

It sounds complicated, but really, I was just wingin’ it and I think it came out pretty nice.

Next, I added the face with a food writer. I knew I couldn’t pull off a super realistic likeness, so I went for a more cartoonish look.

Death makes Ned Stark a sad panda. I already started making the beard here with the same candy melts I used for the hair. I outlined the mouth first and then added more.

I didn’t extend the beard all the way to the hair just to give it a more defined look. I wanted to make sure it actually looked like a beard!

Next, melt a couple red candy melts and add a little blood under the cake pop.

It adds a little something, no?

Poor Ned Stark.

Gone too soon, but immortalized in cake. And, isn’t that what is really important?

Find more Game of Thrones inspired treats here.