Vegan Hot Chocolate Cake Pops

I saw the vegan challenge on this site and wanted to make a sweet treat for it. Although there was a wide selection of recipes to choose from, I didn't realize how difficult it was to make vegan food. I decided to make my own recipe for hot chocolate cake pops whiteout using butter, eggs, or milk. These turned out really delicious and super sweet! I hope you have fun making these and let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

Step 1: Ingredients

For the cake:

1. 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2. 1/2 cup granulated sugar

3. 1/4 tsp salt

4. 1/2 tsp baking soda

5. 1/4 cup hot chocolate powder (I used a packet from the grocery store for the exact amount)

6. 1/2 tsp white vinegar

7. 1/2 cup water

8. 2 tbsp and 1 tsp melted coconut oil

9. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For the Icing:

1. 3 tbsp coconut oil

2. 3/4 cup confectioners sugar

3. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

4. 1 tsp soy or almond milk

Step 2: Making the Cake

Preheat oven to 350*F.

Sift and whisk all of the dry ingredients together.

Completely melt the coconut oil in the microwave.

Pour all of the wet ingredients into the bowl and whisk together until smooth.

Step 3: Bake

Grease an 8 x 8 pan with spray oil or coconut oil.

Pour the batter into the pan and smooth it out with a spatula.

Put the pan into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

When finished, set out to cool for about 30-50 minutes.

Step 4: Getting the Right Consistency

Break up chunks of the cake and put it in a food processor.

Pulse until it is crumbly.

In a small bowl, mix together the icing ingredients.

Put the icing in the food processor and combine it with the cake crumbles.

It should hold it's form. If it is still too crumbly, add more icing.

Step 5: Rolling Technique

Since this recipe uses coconut oil instead of butter, you can't roll this like a normal cake ball or it will crumble too easily.

Take a clump and squish it together. The coconut oil melts naturally, so that is another reason you have to be careful.

Pass it between your hands and gently compress the cake together, making sure there aren't any cracks. It won't be as smooth as normal cake balls, but it will still work well if you push it together.

After forming a cake ball, place it on parchment paper on a baking pan.

Line all of the cake balls on the pan and put it in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes or until hardened.

Step 6: Coating

Put some vegan candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl and put it on high for 1 minute or until melted.

Drop a cake ball into the bowl and roll it around until it has a thin coating.

Scoop it out with a spoon and place it back on the pan.

After you finish all of them, put back in the fridge for about 10 minutes or until hardened.

Also these don't have to look really nice and smooth. This is all about having fun and making something yummy!

Step 7: Drizzle

Melt white chocolate chips in a bowl and put it in a piping bag.

Drizzle the chocolate over the cake balls or make a design if you want.

Make sure you read the ingredients on the chocolate to make sure they don't use milk.