Cake pop creator Bakerella in a class of her own

First it was cupcakes, but now pop cakes are the latest craze. These little gems are the perfect on any party table and Bakerella (Angie Dudley) is behind the new craze, blogging all about it. Cake Pops Christmas is her third book. It features more than 20 cake pop decorations, all themed around Christmas. She chats to Linda Hall.

How did Cake Pops come to be?

I had been making cake balls for a while and wanted to find a way to make them cuter than just a ball covered in chocolate. I thought they would be cute with the balls right side up so they would resemble a lollipop.

Then I started experimenting and created a way to shape the balls into cupcakes using a cutter and then dipping them in multiple candy coatings decorated with sprinkles.

The resulting cupcake pop was really the start of the cake pop craze. People went crazy for them and I started experimenting with different designs and showing others how to make them as well. In 2010, my first book was published with all the tips and tricks people need for making successful pops.

Through my site and the book, they started popping up all over the world in homes, schools, bakeries, offices - anywhere people wanted to share sweet treats with others and make people smile.

Why the nom de plume?

When I first began my blog, I wanted to be anonymous. At first I thought I would be called Jane Dough, then Jane Fondant (a play on Jane Fonda), but I didn't just want to work with fondant. So with Jane Fonda in my mind, I thought of her movie Barbarella and immediately thought of Bakerella. I liked the name because it was so generic and didn't lock me in to one kind of baking.

What sparked your love of baking?

I took a cake decorating class in 2007 that really opened my eyes. I have always loved sweets, but it wasn't until that first cake decorating class that I learned how much I enjoyed baking and decorating.

Are cake pops just for children?

Definitely not. Actually, I think adults might enjoy them more because they can really appreciate the work that goes into them. It's amazing what can be done with a small ball of cake and candy.

And the feeling of pride and accomplishment when you make your own is great.

Who is your biggest fan?

I don't know really. I prefer to think of readers of the site as friends with a common interest and a big sweet tooth.

What ingredient could you not live without?

Chocolate. Definitely chocolate. And sugar. And butter. And chocolate.

What is your favourite cooking gadget?

I really love my KitchenAid mixer. I never knew what I was missing with my old hand-mixer.

If you're not baking what do you like to do?

Eat cookies. Just kidding. I like to do simple things like spending time with friends and family.

Tell us three things about yourself people may not know or may be surprised to learn. 

I've had two kidney transplants in the past 20 years.

My mum donated one of hers to me the second time.

Oh, and I don't really cook. I bake.

What's next for you?

I hope to do another book, but right now, Cake Pops Holidays and the Cake Pops Toy I had come out this autumn are keeping me busy. Happily and gratefully busy.

Cake Pops Christmas

By Bakerella, Bookreps.co.nz/Chronicle Books, $19.99