Even though I made a few of these before and sort of went through how I make a Smartie Cookie Pop, I've played with the recipe, changed things, and spent a little part of my day today making some so I could share them with you, so we're revisiting 'Cookie on a Stick' world. Now, I think I'm allowed to call it a Smartie Cookie Pop, I doubt any of the trademark people stalk the blogging world, and even if they did, I outlined early in the piece that we're hardly rolling in dough , so unless I start marketing these to the world (and again, don't have the skills or social grace for that), I'm fairly sure I'm safe. Blood out of stones and all that. They'll take one look at my Aldi mixer, and decide to bother someone else, I'm sure.
I know everyone makes these, and even with cake and fondant and all kinds of beautiful and/or clever decorations, but I don't feel much like baking a cake, breaking it up and smothering it in cream cheese to bind it. Ugh. I like my cheesecake in very small doses, I like the topping on carrot cake, but don't go out of my way to choose the piece with the most cream cheese frosting on it. Cream cheese has its place in this world, but, I've read the 'popular' recipe for cake pops, and can't get past the sheer cake to cream cheese ratio going on. Sickly.
I've got my new, revamped Smartie Cookie recipe to share. I'm very happy to say its much simpler, far more accurate, and, I'm taking all the credit for it and claiming it as my creation. I've bastardised the original recipe that I was given (that I probably shouldn't have had, truth be told) more than enough to say it bears no semblance to a popular brand on the market at present. It tastes better!
Smartie Cookie Pops
Ingredients (Makes 36 'pops')
190g Salted Butter
85g White Sugar
70g Brown Sugar
230g Self Raising Flour
170g Plain Flour
50g Choc Chips
2 teaspoons Vanilla
1 Egg
300g Smarties/Choc Buttons
Wooden Craft Rods
Just a note on the craft rods. The ones I have used are 150mm long. I bought them at the cheap shop and they are probably a little too long, but, definitely a good size. I'd aim for anything 100mm - 150mm to do these. Don't use the plastic lollipop sticks, they just won't hold the weight!
Ok, back to making the pops...
First, cream together the butter, sugars and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix until just combined. Add the flours next, and at low speed, beat in slowly until mixture begins balling. Add the choc chips and continue to work the flour into the dough by kneading with your hands until all ingredients are well combined.
Next, take a couple of sheets of greaseproof paper and place your dough between them. Roll out to a thickness of roughly 5mm to 8mm.
Cut out circles using a small round cutter. I've used a 48mm round one from my slowly growing collection for todays demo.
On a clean cookie tray, set up some of your wooden rods.
Making sure you leave a little room for spreading (special shout out to Karen here - with this new recipe, the first tray doesn't do an 'every man for himself' thang - are you happy we may have to go back to the polls now!?!) staggering them as you go, or, in any fashion you find works for you.
Take one of your cut circles, and, place it on top of the wooden craft rod, making sure the top of the stick is about halfway 'up' the back of the cookie dough circle.
Press down gently, smoothing the edges especially around the craft rod.
With your Smarties/Choc Buttons, decorate the tops, then press gently to lightly anchor into the cookie dough.
Bake at 140c for fan forced, for approximately 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown on the edges.
Cost on these is less than 20c each. Mine are just under 17c, but depending on where you buy your ingredients and how tight you are (Queen of Home Brand here, if Home Brand make a comparable product, I use it!), they should come in around that 20c mark.
