cooking with popping candy/space dust

[TheHouseofMirth]

DS is having a science party for his birthday and I thought it would be fun to "embellish" some cakes with space dust. Can anyone suggest if I need to buy special cooking popping candy or if I can just use packets of Space Dust, or whatever it's called these days?

Sorry, definitely not a scientist ... Could you just put it on top of the cake? I had a creme brule recently with some on top - brilliant idea ... might go a bit soggy if inside the cake or left in contact with frosting for too long?
Useless response after all

I would buy some and sprinkle onto the cake, or cup cakes as it may loose its fiz if mixed in to the icing.

You could also make 'space rock' cakes, using mini marsh mellows and raisins.

Or decorate cupcakes with flying saucers?

Yes don't try mixing it in as it loses its fizz

Yeah, I think keeping it away from moisture is pretty crucial so I guess sprinkling it on almost-set chocolate would be the way to go. May conduct some "experiments" in the kitchen tomorrow...

You can get chocolate with popping candy though, somewhere - what about breaking it up and just sticking it on top of the icing?

Adding it to a crunchy base such as a cheesecake biscuity base works well, I think Nigel Slater did a popping candy cake in the Observer many moons ago, might be worth googling.

That funny almost-handsome French baking bloke who's on daytime telly did a cake with popping candy. Hmmm...that's not very helpful is it...

Maybe this will help: roastpotato.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/popping-candy-chocolate-cake/

Another link to Heston's popping candy extravaganza.

Another popping candy recipe although not for cake.

Will you be making honeycomb? That's a good kitchen science thing to do. There's a recipe here on MN for it somewhere. Hang on... here

daft question, but where can you buy it? Have looked in a couple of newsagents but not been able to find any?

There is a shop in my local shopping centre called sweets from heaven it sells american stuff, they sell it. Is there any where like that near you ?

don't think so cookielove (apologies for hijack TheHouseofMirth)

here on line

i have bought from this site before

I've seen it in newsagents and also Wilkinsons! There are lots of places you can buy it online (even eBay) but Waitrose also sells something called Popping Candy in their cake ingredients section.

Thanks for all the links but I don't think I can be bothered to make an elaborate concoction for philistine 6 year olds so I think I'm just going to make some cake pops and roll them in the popping candy as the chocolate begins to set. Will report back when done.

Reading this thread with interest. Can I ask what cake pops are and how you make them? TIA

Cake pops here and here

Very belated thanks TheHouseofMirth. Those sites look wonderful.