50-60 6" pop sticks
Candy melts
Paramount crystals (optional)
Heavy duty scissors for cutting pop sticks
Make cake pops as usual by preparing the buttercream and cake. I like to cut off the brown edges of the cake so the cake pop filling is smooth and free of brown bits. Using a stand mixer, mix the cake and a small amount of buttercream. Add more buttercream as needed.
Cut pop sticks in half at an angle. The sharp edge will help when pushing the pops into the styrofoam.
Dip the straight side of the pop stick into the melted candy coating and stick into the pops. Chill the cake pops.
Start by melting your darkest color of candy melts and dip 30 pops. To achieve the next lighter shade, add white candy melts to the dark and repeat the dipping. Continue adding more white candy melts to achieve the graduating color. You will need around 24 of each of the lighter shades.
If the candy melts are too thick, use paramount crystals to thin it out. Allow the cake pops to dry.
Fill and hot glue the styrofoam into the container. The styrofoam must fit into the container very tightly. This cake pop tree is heavy so make sure your container is sturdy. Use tissue paper to cover the styrofoam.
Wrap ribbon around a thick wooden dowel. I recommend using a dowel that is even thicker than the one I used here. A thin dowel will not work.
Cover the cone in tissue paper that matches your cake pop color.
Push a hole into both styrofoams and squeeze hot glue down into the holes. Insert the wooden dowel into both styrofoams. Add a generous amount of glue to secure the dowel.
Starting at the bottom front, insert your cake pops in rows. Use the pop stick to push them in rather than the pop itself because it is fragile.
Always cover the front of your cone first so if they don't line up properly the gaps will be in the back.
Continue inserting the cake pops getting them as close together as you can. As you get to the very top of the tree, you will need to trim the pop sticks.
Embellish the cake pop tree with ribbon, silk flowers and moss.
Since the cake pop tree is so heavy I do not recommend traveling with it unless you are securing it in your lap.
I was pleased as punch at how this ombre cake pop tree turned out! I cannot wait to make another.