Introduction: Make Clone Trooper (and Stormtrooper) Candy Pops
It amazes me how Star Wars is still going strong after all these years. And my 5 year old is a huge fan of both the original stuff and especially the new Clone Wars series. So for a treat for him and his friends, I made these chocolate/marshmallow Clonetrooper Pops (and a few retro old school Stormtroopers, too.)
The inspiration for this was a smaller and simpler version of the Clone Trooper cupcakes I created for my son's birthday party. These are not difficult to make, but could definitely be a little time consuming. But wouldn't these be awesome party treats for a SW themed birthday party?
Hope you enjoy them! And if you make them, I'd love to see pics!
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Step 1: Ingredients & Materials
You'll need:
12 Rolo candies (plus a few extras for mishaps)
Marshmallow fondant:
- 4 oz (by weight) marshmallows (1/4 of a 16oz bag)
- 8 oz (by weight) powdered (icing) sugar (1/2 of a 1 lb box)
- 1 Tbsp water
- Vegetable shortening (like Crisco)
Blue, green, or yellow food coloring if you're doing Clone Troopers
skewers or lollypop sticks about 6 inches long
Scrap styrofoam block or something else you can stick the skewers into to hold them upright.
Rolling pin (or something similar)
2 in circle cookie cutter or something else circular about 2- 2 1/4" in diameter.
Step 2: Make the Marshmallow Fondant
This is 1/4 of the recipe I usually make when I make this fondant. This was more than enough for a dozen trooper heads.
I have a full write up on making this fondant at Foodwhirl.com (with more photos), but here's a brief version.
Marshmallow fondant:
* 4 oz (by weight) marshmallows (1/4 of a 16oz bag)
* 8 oz (by weight) powdered (icing) sugar (1/2 of a 1 lb box)
* 1 Tbsp water
* Crisco or other solid shortening. Enough to grease your hands and the counter.
- In large bowl, melt marshmallows with ~1 Tbsp water in microwave -Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir, that should do it.
- Stir in about 3/4 of the powdered sugar.
- Grease your counter with Crisco, and grease your hands, and turn out the blob out onto the counter.
- Knead thoroughly for a minute, and then add the remainder of your sugar.
- Keep kneading. You are looking for a firm, elastic ball that will stretch without tearing.
- Wrap up into a ball, cover with more Crisco, wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Place in a ziptop bag in the fridge overnight.
Step 3: Prepare the Rolos & Fondant
Take your fondant out of the fridge about 30 before hand to get it to a more workable temperature.
Unwrap your rolos.
Split your fondant into 4 balls.
From Ball 1:
Make a small ball from your white fondant (see photo), and press it into the indentation on the top of the rolo. We're trying to get a more rounded, even top to your candies. It doesn't have to be perfect.
From Ball 2:
Take 1/2 of Ball 2 and knead it with black paste food coloring. Do wear gloves, or you'll end up with black on your fingernails like i did in the rest of the photos!
Take 1/2 of Ball 2 and knead it with blue / green / yellow food coloring, if you're doing Clone Troopers, in the color(s) you want your troopers helmet decorations to be.
Place your colored fondant in the fridge to keep it cool.
Balls 3 & 4 will be rolled in step 4.
PS, don't worry if you're running out of fondant (although you shouldn't be), you'll have lots of extra scraps once you start cutting out your circles out.
Step 4: Prepare Your Outer Coating
Spread cornstarch on your work surface to prevent sticking.
Rub some Crisco on your hands, and take about half of your fondant ball. Knead it to ensure a nice, pliable consistency. If it seems dry, dampen your hands to add a little moisture.
Press the ball flat, and add more cornstarch... then roll it out to about 1/8" thick.
Using a 2" to 2-1/4" cookie cutter (I used an old measure cup) cut out 12 rounds. (photo 3)
Step 5: Assemble the Heads on Sticks
Gently press your rolo heads on the your skewers.
Note: Be careful! Only press the skewer on just far enough to hold the rolo up straight. If you get the skewer too close to the top of the rolo, it will eventuallly work it's way through the chocolate the top of the head as it gets warmer.
Stick the skewers in a spare piece of styrofoam to hold them upright.
I found it easier to work on these in groups of 6, due to the size of my styrofoam.
Step 6: Cover With White Fondant 'skin'.
Place a round of fondant centered on on the top of each one. Let sit for a few minutes and let gravity be your friend.
Gently use your fingers to smooth the fondant down around the rolo, making a little 'ghost'. The fondant is elastic enough that if you work slowly, you will avoid seams.
Step 7: Complete the Helmet Base
Tuck the ends under the bottom and trim any excess with scissors as necessary.
Note: On a few of my first ones, the fondant was more pliable and maybe a little thinner, and the ends just tore off (see photo 3). This worked too, but you had to be careful that it didn't tear too short.
Step 8: Decorating: Clone Trooper Version
There are tons of designs for Clonetrooper helmets, as any perusal of google images will tell you, so feel free to have some fun with this.
Roll out a very thin sheet of your black fondant, and your colored fondant. You'll need a sharp knife of an exacto for cutting.
To 'glue' on the pieces, dampen your fingers in a little dish of water - you then dampen the back of the fondant piece (or the helmet where you want it to go) and press it on.
I tried several different techniques, but I'll review here the ones I though worked the best.
Determine the face side of the helmet, and using your thumbs, press in 2 small indentations for the cheeks. This will help you place your eyes and mouth.
The 'fin' on top of the helmet: Roll a small snake of white fondant and press into the top of the helmet. (photo 2)
Eyes/Mouth:
1. Black: Cut out a triangle for the eyes. Dampen the back of the fondant with water, and press on. Make a tiny snake for the mouth, and fold it in half to a point (see photos). Press in below the point of the eyes, point to point. Use a toothpick to press together if necessary.
or
2. Black: Cut out an hourglass like shape (as shown in photos 6 & 1) and adhere to the top.
The face option 1:
Black: Add your eyes/mouth using a method above.
Blue: Roll a tiny snake of blue and press along the top of the eyes. Add another snake of blue along the chin.
The face, option 2:
Blue: Cut out the shape seen is photo 7 from the blue fondant. Adhere to the head.
Black: Adhere eyes/mouth on top.
Step 9: Decorating: Stormtrooper Version
My son and his friends love Clone Wars, but if you're more into the old school Star Wars, you might like a stormtrooper instead!
For the Stormtrooper look, start with the same helmet base.
Pinch the front bottom of the face with your thumb and two fingers (as shown in Photo 1)
Directly below that place a ball of black fondant.
Roll a ball of white fondant, press a smaller ball of black fondant into it, and roll together. Repeat.
Place on either side of the black ball.
Rolls a small snake, crease in the center, and place above the bridge of the triangle.
Roll 2 small black balls into teardrops, flatten, and place on either side of the head for eyes.
Finally, roll a small snake of black fondant.
Roll a larger snake of white fondant. Roll together lightly, then flatten out the white side of the snake.
Press onto the top of the head, so that the black part comes above the eyes.
Step 10: Take Over the Universe!
With your own Clone Army, you're ready to take over the Universe and start your own galactic empire!
And if your army of kids (and geeky adults) is anything like mine, they'll eat them up!
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