Recipe: Sugar Plum Pops, Cheesecake Pops, Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pops

SUGAR PLUM POPS
Source: Sandra Lee, Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee / FoodTV

1/2 cup finely chopped nuts
1 package premium white morsels, melted
1 cup melted caramel
1 small prepared cheesecake
5 lollipop sticks

Place nuts in a shallow bowl or dish. Melt chocolate in a bowl in the microwave on 50% power, and then whisk until smooth. Melt caramel in a separate bowl in the microwave on 50 percent power, and whisk until smooth.

With a mellon baller, scoop cheesecake into a balls. Insert lollipop sticks into cheesecake ball. Dip ball in either white chocolate or in caramel, and then roll in nuts to fully coat.

Notes:
Forget the mellon baller. Put cheese cake in a bowl, less the crust. With ele. beater whip, adding heavy cream to make a tooth paste consistency. With a plactic bag make a pipeing bag. On a plate covered with waxed paper pipe a small amount. Insert sticks. If sticks are not available, use straws. My chocolate (milk, semi, or white) was to thick. Per 12oz bag of morsels add 2 TBL spoons vegetable shorting (Crisco) to thin it out. After coating I put them in the freezer, for a quick hardining.

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CHEESECAKE POPS
Source: Wilton
Makes about 3 dozen

White Candy Melts*
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
Coarse graham cracker crumbs

In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in cooled melted candy; mix well. Pour into 9-inch square baking pan. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours or overnight until firm.

Scoop out chilled mixture and roll into 1-inch balls; roll in graham cracker crumbs to coat. Insert lollipop sticks. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*Brand confectionery coating.

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CHOCOLATE COVERED PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE POPS
Source: Food Network Kitchens

"Peanut butter, chocolate, and cheesecake? Put it on a pop and it's all our favorite things in a kid- and party-friendly form."

FOR THE CHEESECAKE:
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups creamy peanut butter
FOR THE CHOCOLATE:
5 tablespoons vegetable shortening
12 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

Wooden pop sticks

For the cheesecake: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a 8 by 8-inch baking pan with foil letting long flaps overlap on each side. Spray foil with nonstick spray.

Break up the brown sugar to remove all lumps. In a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until very smooth. Add the cream and beat slowly; then add the yolks and vanilla mixing until just combined. Gently stir in peanut butter. Take care not to over beat the mixture; this incorporates too much air and causes the cheesecake to crack.

Pour and evenly spread the batter in the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Open the oven to release some heat, then lower the temperature to 200 degrees F. Continue to bake the cheesecake until the outside is set but the center is still loose, for about 45 minutes. Turn off the oven, and cool cheesecake in the oven for 45 more minutes. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

Lift cheesecake from the pan by lifting up the foil. Transfer to a cutting board. Cut into
1 1/2-inch cubes. Stick a wooden pop stick halfway into each bar and freeze for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, put the shortening and chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue to heat until completely melted, about 1 minute more.)

Dip the pops into the chocolate mixture, and stand on waxed paper to set, about 5 minutes. Serve cold (straight from the fridge), or freeze up to 2 weeks. Frozen pops make a cool summer treat, or can be allowed to temper for 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.

Upgrade: Coat the pops with chopped nuts or candies for a really decadent finish. To do this let the dipped pops drip over a bowl for 15 seconds before rolling them.

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CHEESECAKE POPS
Source: Cher / Recipezaar
Yields: 24 servings

"Bake a crustless cheesecake, then scoop out rounded lollipops on a stick. Dip in white or dark chocolate, then decorate with mini chips, sprinkles or nuts. A fun twist on a traditional dessert, these fun 'lollipops' will impress your family and friends."
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
24 lollipop sticks
10 ounces white confectioners' coating
miniature semisweet chocolate chips
toasted coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Mix in the sour cream and blend thoroughly, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour, vanilla and salt and mix well. Add the eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly before adding the next egg, but do not overbeat. Pour batter into a 9-inch springform pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes or until the edges of the cake just begin to turn golden. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.

Use a small cookie scoop to scoop out round balls of cheesecake. Roll them into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Push a lollipop stick into each cheesecake ball. Place the tray in the freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.

Melt the white confectioners' coating (or semi-sweet chocolate). Dip each cheesecake pop into the melted coating. Then dip into one of the toppings. Place on waxed paper until coating is set. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Store in refrigerator.