Poké Ball Candy Piñatas

I don’t know about you but I’ve been on a big Pokémon kick lately. Also, I’ve been beyond-inundated with work lately (as I’m sure you’ve noticed with my late posts) and needed something fun. What could be easier or more fun than making Poké Ball Candy Piñatas? This recipe (if you can even call it that) is as easy as it gets: Candy shell, decoration, filling. Best of all, no actual cooking required! If you’d like, you could even get creative and use decorating icing to create other types of Poké Balls: Great, Ultra, Master… have fun with it! These would be perfect party favors at any Pokémon-themed birthday party or event.

Just… don’t throw these at people. Or animals. Or anything living, really. Non-gaming violence is bad, mmkay?

I decided to fill my piñatas with a playful combination of Nerds candies and Everlasting Gobstoppers, with a few of my favorite Gym Badges and The Boy’s Pikachu Amiibo. Because Pikachu, that’s why. You either love Pikachu or you’re lying.

Ready to catch your first Pokémon? Let’s go.

Gamers, grab your mats:

• Candy Melts – Since we’re making standard balls, we’ll be using Red and Bright White. About one bag of each.

TIP: For added stability, set aside 6 Candy Melts. Preferably white, or you can be a dope like me, forget, and have to sub in a few red… well, that works too.

• Filling- These can be candies, Amiibos, any trinkets that can fit into a 3″ sphere. Today we’re using Nerds, Everlasting Gobstoppers, Gym Badges, and a Pikachu Amiibo
• White Smarties candies, or similar sized white disc-shaped candies
• black decorating icing

Or as I like to call it, Halloween’s Come Early.

Melt white Candy Melts according to package instructions in your microwave. Great rule of thumb here is 30 seconds, stir, 30 seconds, stir… I usually don’t have to repeat this more than thrice. Yes, I said ‘thrice’.

Use a pastry brush to paint the cavities of your hemisphere mold. A thin coat will do as we’ll be doing layers. You should have six white hemispheres. Refrigerate for a few minutes.

Golly, does this seem familiar?

Repeat this process with your red hemispheres. When you put the red hemispheres in the fridge, take the white mold out. They should be cool and solid. Paint a second coat of white over the cooled candy.

The best part? No matter how awkward looking your paint job is, the outer shell is flawless.

Refrigerate white mold, take out red mold, and paint a second layer of red. Refrigerate. Sounds like a lot of refrigeration but by the time you finish with one mold you’re taking the other right back out again. You’ll love this, I promise.

TIP: If you ever find your Candy Melts are starting to solidify just pop them into the microwave for about 30 seconds and stir through.

We’re shooting for a full three layers for our candy shells here. For your third candy layer in your red mold, STOP! Turn off the autopilot. Your third layer of candy needs to be white if you intend on having a few open Poké Balls. See below:

C-c-c-c-c-combo breaker!

Refrigerate all shells for about 5 minutes. If you got any candy shell ‘paint’ outside of the mold cavities, carefully shave off the excess with a sharp knife. Unmold shells and place dome-up on lint free towel or a stable elevated work surface. Try to touch the outside of your shells as little as possible to avoid ugly fingerprints. I try to handle the shells from the inside. It is possible. You can do it. I believe in you.

For added stability, add a Candy Melt disc base. Apply a small amount of melted white candy to the top of an unmelted Candy Melt and gently apply to top of white candy domes. The flat side of the Candy Melt disc should be facing up (or, what will be the bottom). Refrigerate for a few minutes to allow bases to set up.

I might have run out of white Candy Melts. Oops?

Once the bases have solidified, remove from fridge. We’re doing a mix of open and closed piñatas. For the closed piñatas, turn 2-3 (or more) white shells so they’re sitting on their disc base. Fill 3/4 full with Nerds, about 3 heaping spoonfuls once you wise up and stop using your fingers.

Seriously, don’t use your fingers. You’ll get little sprays of candy everywhere.

Add 4-6 Gobstoppers on top of the Nerds:

I’m making so much of a mess right now.

Apply a thin line of white melted candy around the rim of your filled white shells with a toothpick or skewer. Place a red candy shell top over your base and gently press to seal. This will become tacky in a few seconds; banish it to the fridge one final time before decorating.

For a partially opened ball, get a small bowl and a couple lint-free washcloths. Fold washcloths and place in bowl for a nice cushion. Apply a bit of melted white candy to where you want your ‘hinge’ to be. Arrange your red top to the desired angle and push up against the white shell.

Probably the only truly tricky bit, this.

Apply a smallish amount of white to the seam, extending to the shells. You want a good, sturdy hinge:

Now’s a good time to be patient.

Pop this into the fridge until set. Again, just a few minutes.

To decorate, pipe a double line of black decorating icing to the seam. This should cover up any chips or inconsistencies nicely:

Applying the second line.

You can refine your lines with a toothpick or skewer as necessary.

Open up your Smarties candy and pick out the white ones. Apply a single white Smartie to the ‘front’ of your ball:

Press in gently to set. BOOP!

Add a curved line of black above and below the Smartie:

Nerds… Smarties… anyone seeing a pattern here? ^_^

Set completed sealed Poké Ball aside.

IMFUCKINGPORTENT: NEVER CARRY OPEN POKE BALLS  BY THE LID, ESPECIALLY IF FILLED. YOU ARE TEMPTING FATE. IT WILL BREAK. THERE WILL BE A MESS. YOU WILL BE ANGRY. ALSO, STEPPING ON NERDS CANDY WITH BARE FEET IS LIKE STEPPING ON FUCKING LEGOS.

When decorating the opened Poké Balls, fill with candies and trinkets before decorating. Depending on the angle these may be too unstable to stand on their own without being filled. If you plan on using an Amiibo, add a spoonful of Nerds first. It makes all the difference. Fill with trinkets and candies then decorate. When adding the Smartie candy button, remember that it should be placed on the red shell.

You’re done! You’re now fully equipped to brave the tall grasses in search of new Pokémon. Go forth, young trainer!

The full lineup.

Pikachu not actual size. Remember: Always ask your Pokemon before putting them in a Poke Ball. Don’t be that dick.

Yes, I was totally serious about owning Gym Badges.

I’m not gonna lie, I’d love to see one geek proposing to another with these edible Poké Balls. Make it happen, people. And I want pictures.

Insert all your unsolicited Pokémon-related memes in the comments below.

Coming Up Next: A “Japan Explosion” Surprise Inside Birthday Cake. Because The Boy just has to have a September birthday, too. After that, swearing off cake for a hot minute.

Cheers,

Leisel

Remember, cooking IRL doesn’t have to be a Feat of Strength!

Entry for #WeeklyChallenge for #FoodBloggers