If you’re looking for a fun, cute and bite-sized treat, look no further than the cake pop. The petite sweet on a stick can be decorated to highlight your favorite color, show support for your team of choice, or even resemble miniature animals. But, when it comes to friends and family members with a gluten allergy or intolerance, they’re often left out from the delicious fun that cake pops bring. Luckily, Pastry Chef Diane Eenigenburg of Westmont’s Lia P Gluten Free has the solution with several varieties of delectable gluten-free cake pops that are easy to replicate at home.
“With their creative and sometimes crazy designs, cake pops are the perfect treat for the entire spectrum of parties, including birthdays, baby showers, and even weddings,” says Eenigenburg. “While the standard version contains gluten, it’s easy to modify the recipe and create a delicious gluten-free alternative that everyone can enjoy.”
To create her popular gluten-free cake pops, Eenigenburg starts with a gluten-free cake mix made using rice and soy flours and combines the dry mix with a gluten-free frosting of your choice. The cake pops are then molded into a standard ball or can be formed to resemble various shapes, then place a stick in the middle of the cake to create a lollipop effect. Finish off the cake pops by dipping them in melted candy coating and placing them aside to dry.
“At Lia P Gluten Free we’ve had a blast creating tasty gluten-free cake pops for various holidays that really add an exciting element to the celebrations,” continues Eenigenburg. “For Easter we make ‘Bunny Balls’ that feature bunny ears and a tail, and around Thanksgiving we have ‘Turkey Pops’ that resemble turkeys!”
