This cake pop recipe will guide you on how to make them without cracking. Many people complain about their homemade cake pops cracking but I will show you the trick to making them. It is a fun and easy way to celebrate any special occasion like birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, and holidays. These little bites of heaven are easy to make and require only a few basic ingredients. There are many different ways to make cake pops at home, as some people prefer to make cake pops with a mold, while others just use their hands to shape the cakes into small balls before dipping them in the coating.
A cake pop is a type of treat that is made from a cake, the ball is usually filled with cream frosting, and sugar, and then coated in candy melts before freezing. It can also be decorated in various ways, such as with sprinkles or sugar balls, and a cake pop stick or lollipop stick can be inserted into the ball to give it an exciting appearance. Some common cake pop shapes include hearts, stars, and star-shaped and there are many different flavors as well, but the most popular one is probably vanilla. Cake pops can be eaten as it is or dipped in chocolate or other flavors.
A lot of people think that you can only make cake pops using fresh cake, but that is not always the case as you can always make cake pops with leftover cake. These very cake pops were made using leftover cake and they came out really delicious just the way they would have with freshly baked cake. So, next time if you have leftover cake in the fridge and can’t figure out what to do with it, simply make some delicious treats like these pops and you will be surprised at the result you will get, which also ensures you don’t waste your leftover cake.
What is the trick to making cake pops?
The trick to making cake pops is to start with a well-crumbled cake batter, this will help form smooth cake balls, if you can not do this by hand, an electric mixer or a stand mixer can help in this process. Just whip it for 30 seconds until you have really tiny crumbs but not smooth. Another important trick is to make sure the cream frosting is evenly distributed in the cake and you have a moist batter that resembles a play dough, which will help to form smooth and perfect cake balls that would not crack.
Once the cake has been formed into balls, you need to work really quickly and keep the molded ball frozen until you are ready to coat them in candy melts. Also, make sure to dip the cake pops sticks halfway in the melted chocolate, which will help form a sticky paste that helps to glue the cake ball to the stick. This process helps prevents the cake pops from falling off the stick when left to stand upright.
There are many different things that can be used to decorate cake pops, below are the various decorative items for you to use.
- Multicolored sprinkles or jimmies
- Gel food colors
- Melted chocolate drizzles
- Colored candy melts
- Flavored syrups
You can even get creative and use different flavors of frosting to create unique combinations. If you like flavors, feel free to add custom flavors such as vanilla, peppermint, or strawberry extract to the mix.
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Cake pops ingredients
- 6 inches of leftover vanilla cake, or 1 box of cake mix and ingredients for cake mix
- 3 to 4 tablespoons buttercream frosting or canned frosting
- 1 Park of candy melt, candiquik, or baking chocolate bars
- Gel food color
- 1 Tablespoon of coconut or shortening
- 12 to16 Cake pop sticks or lollipop sticks
- 1/2 Cup of sprinkles
- 3 tablespoons dark chocolate for drizzle
How to make cake pops
- First of all, you will need to prepare your cake as you would any other recipe, or simply use any box cake mix from the store with the needed ingredients to bake the cake as instructed on the box.
- Once you have your already made cake on hand, cool it and then trim off the hard layer if necessary
- Crumble it into a large bowl with your hand. To hasten this process you can use a hand mixer to break it down into smaller crumbs.
- Add 3 tablespoons of any of your favorite frosting to the cake, beginning with 1 spoon first at a time, then mix until the batter resembles wet sand. You can make use of canned frosting, or cream cheese frosting.
- When you are done, use a cookie scoop to scoop the batter into equal portions.
- Now, roll the mixture into small balls about 1 inch in size, place the rolled balls on a lined tray and continue with the rest of the cake batter until you’ve finished up all of it.
- Refrigerate it for at least 2 hours to firm up, if you want this ready within a short time, freeze it for 30 minutes.
- Next, melt candy melts or chocolate wafers according to package instructions. If you cant lay your hands on candy melts, you can use baking chocolate bars, it will still give you a good result as well. To melt this, chop up the chocolates into small pieces and place them in a heat-proof bowl, drop the bowl over a double boiler, and add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to help thin it down and melt it faster.
- Pour the melted chocolate into a narrow dish or drinking glass and leave for a few minutes to cool down a little bit first before you begin dipping. If you rush this process your cake pops will crack and they won’t look appealing as they should. You can place the bowl containing the chocolate over another bowl of hot water to keep it melted all through the process.
- Once it has cooled slightly, take out a few cake balls from the fridge at a time, the rest need to stay chilled until you are ready to use them.
- Dip the tip of the cake pop stick into the melted chocolate just halfway to coat, this will help the sticks to bind with the cake balls and not fall apart. Gently insert the stick into the chilled cake pop just until it reaches the middle.
- Next, dip the cake balls into the chocolate and turn to coat evenly; gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of the bowl to drip off excess coating.
- Once you have a smooth coating, decorate it immediately with sprinkles before it sets.
- Stand the cake pops on a styrofoam block or in a glass jar filled with rice, this will help support the cake pops until they are completely set. Repeat this with as many cakes pops as you want.
- If you like different colors of cake pops, you can add some food colors to the melted chocolates and dip as many cake pops as you like. Place the cake pops in the freezer for nice finishing and stability.
- And once your cake pops are ready, enjoy them and save some for the next day.
Do you chill cake pops before dipping?
Chilling the cake pops first before dipping them in the chocolate coating is a great way to keep them firm and well stabilized, this helps the chocolate coating stick better to the cake pop and results in a smoother finished product.
If you don’t chill the cake pops first, the frosting will be too soft and will not hold up when you dip the cake pops. This process also makes it easier to dip the cake pops in the coating without it cracking or falling apart.
What is the best melting chocolate for cake pops?
When it comes to the best melting chocolate for cake pops, there are many options available for you to choose from. You can use chocolate wafers, candy melts, almond bark, or baking chocolate bars such as dark chocolate, semisweet chocolate, or milk/ white chocolate. Sometimes you will need to experiment with different types to see which one works for you; just make sure to use easy melting chocolate with a glossy consistency.
If using baking chocolate, first chop it into smaller pieces, and make sure to add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or shortening (Crisco) to help thin it down and prevent it from drying and you will end up with a smooth coating; you can start with a small amount and gradually add more if needed. For the best results, use a double boiler or microwave to melt the chocolate. Do not try heating it in a saucepan or else you will scorch the chocolate or have a large amount sticking to the bottom.
Why do cake pops crack?
Cake pops can crack due to certain reasons, the most important reason why they crack is when the coating is still super hot and you suddenly dip a very cool cake ball into it When this happens, it causes expansion of the cake ball thus resulting in a cracked surface. The best way to prevent this from happening is to cool the melted chocolate slightly first before dipping the cake pops; you can always place it over a bowl of hot water to keep it warm throughout the coating process if it is thickening up immediately.
What do you use to stick cake pops to dry?
To avoid your cake pops from sticking to each other and becoming soggy is to best to stand them on styrofoam, until they dry up completely. Another way is to stand them in a glass jar filled with rice or dried beans.
Do you refrigerate cake pops after dipping?
It is not really necessary to refrigerate cake pops after dipping in chocolate melting. It all depends if you’re going to eat them within a few days. Cake pops can be stored on the counter for up to a week and will still taste just as great as if they had been refrigerated. To store cake pops, keep them in a cool place all wrapped up with plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out until you are ready to eat them. However if you are not ready to use up your cake pops within a short time, it will be wise to refrigerate or freeze to keep them fresh and not gooey.
Why do my cake pops fall off the stick?
Some of the reasons why your cake pop falls from the stick are when the cake ball is too big or heavy, it tends to drag your cake pop down. This is because the cake pop stick doesn’t have as much weight as the cake balls. In order to avoid this, keep your cake pop moderate in size making sure they are not more than 1” thick. If you find it difficult to portion them into even sizes, simply use a moderate cookie dough scoop, spoon, or an ice cream scoop to scoop the cake batter. This will result in even lighter balls that won’t fall off the stick.
Finally, avoid using too much frosting for the cake batter as it will become too heavy and wet and cause the cake pop to fall off the stick.
Cake Pop Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Styrofoam box Or a glass jar filled with rice or a carton to help stand the cake pops while drying
- 1 Cookie scoop You can use an Ice-cream scoop or a medium spoon to scoop the cake
- 2 A glass bowls For mixing the cake and for melting the chocolate
- 12 to 16 cake pop sticks Lolipop sticks can be used instead
Ingredients
- 6 inches Leftover vanilla cake 1 Box cake mix from the shop and ingredients for cake mix.
- 4 tbsp Buttercream frosting Canned frosting will work too.
- 500 grams White chocolate bars Alternatively, use candiquick, chocolate wafers, almond bark, or candy melts.
- 3 drops Gel food color
- 1 tbsp Coconut You can use vegetable shortening like Crisco to help thin down the coating.
- ½ cup Sprinkles
- 12 -16 sticks Cake pop sticks Lolipop sticks can be used instead
- 3 tbsp Semi-sweet dark chocolate For drizzles
Instructions
- Prepare your cake as you would any other recipe, You can use leftover cake or any box cake mix from the store with the needed ingredients to bake the cake as instructed on the box.
- Once you have your already baked cake on hand, cool it and trim the top to remove the hard layer so they don't turn into hard lumps in your cake pops
- Crumble it into a large bowl with your hands. To hasten this process you can use a hand mixer to break it down into smaller crumbs.
- Add 3 tablespoons of buttercream frosting to the cake, beginning with 1 spoon first at a time, then mix with your hands until you have something like wet sand.
- When you are done, use a cookie scoop to scoop the batter into equal portions.
- Roll the mixture into a perfect small ball about 1 inch in size, place the rolled ball on a lined tray and continue with the rest of the cake batter until you've finished up all of it.
- Refrigerate the balls for at least 2 hours to firm up, if you want these to be ready within a short time, freeze it for 30 minutes.
Dipping the cake balls in melted chocolate
- Melt your chocolate in the microwave or using a double boiler. To melt, this, chop up the chocolates into small pieces and place them in a heat-proof bowl, drop the bowl over a double boiler, and add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to help thin it down and melt it faster. You can use candy melts or chocolate wafers, just melt according to the package instructions.
- Pour the melted chocolate into a narrow dish or drinking glass and leave for a few minutes to cool down a little bit first before you begin dipping. If you rush this process your cake pops will crack and they won't look appealing as they should. You can place the bowl containing the chocolate over another bowl of hot water to keep it melted all through the process.
- Once it has cooled slightly, take out a few cake balls from the fridge at a time, the rest need to stay chilled until you are ready to use them.
- Dip the top of the cake pop stick into the melted chocolate just halfway to coat, this will help the sticks to bind with the cake balls and not fall apart.
- Gently insert the stick into the chilled cake pop just until it reaches the middle.
- Next, dip the cake pop into the chocolate and coat evenly making sure the coating covers the base. Gently tap the cake pop on the side of the bowl to drip off excess coating. Once you have a smooth coating, decorate it immediately with sprinkles before it sets and if you are using chocolate, drizzle it on the cake pop at this time.
- Stand the cake pops on a styrofoam block or in a glass jar filled with rice. This will help support the cake pops until they are completely set. Repeat this with as many cakes pops as you want.
- If you like different colors of cake pops, you can add some food colors to the melted chocolates and dip as many cake pops as you like.
- Place the cake pops in the fridge for nice finishing and stability. or simply air dry them until they are set.
- And once your cake pops are ready, enjoy them and save some for the next day.
Video
Notes
Making the cake pops colorful
You can use gel food color to decorate cake pops; liquid food coloring is great too but it will give a thin consistency to the frosting. However, when using gel food color for cake pops, you will need to be careful not to over-add it. Too much of the gel food color can make the pops look unnatural and grainy. Just a few drops will go a long way. Alternatively, you can use chocolate drizzle on top of the cake pops after they’re coated with candy, it is another way of adding color and beauty to your cake pops. Make sure the cholate is melted to a thin consistency so that it can drizzle easily. Another way to add color to your pops is to decorate with sprinkles; you can use different colors of sprinkles for different flavor combinations.How to store cake pops
Cake pops can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 week and above. To do this, simply line an airtight container with a paper towel, place the cake pops in a single layer to help retain their appearance, and cover the top again with a paper towel, and finally with a lid. Make sure to keep the container away from direct sources of heat so they don’t melt and lose their taste. If you had had some perishable filling like cream cheese, heavy cream, fruits, eggs, or custard in your cake pops, you will have to store them differently. Make sure the cake pops are nicely wrapped and placed in an airtight container to prevent water from soaking in. Refrigerate the cake pops after that and if you have a large batch, use different containers for every batch of cake pops. You can also make the cake pops without dipping them in chocolate coating days in advance and store them too. The naked cake pops can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks and can be frozen for up to 1 month and above. Once you are ready to use them, it is simply a matter of dipping them in melted chocolate and sprinkling them with some colorful decorations. For the frozen ones just let them thaw in the fridge for a couple of hours before decorating.Variations
I used a simple vanilla cake for these cake pops, you can use chocolate cake, strawberry cake, or any kind of cake that you have at home. Also, you can use any flavor of box cake mix for cake pops, as long as you have the other ingredients to make it; and make sure to bake the cake according to the package directions. There are many types of cream frosting that can be used for cake pops. The popular one is buttercream frosting which was what I used in this cake pop recipe. Other options include cream cheese frosting, strawberry frosting, chocolate frosting, and whipped cream. Each has its own unique flavor and texture that will make your cake pop creations even more exciting and memorable. If you can’t make any of these at home, you can buy canned frosting at the store and use it for this.Cake pops are popular treats that can be made in a variety of ways. I hope you have learned how to make these easy homemade cake pops using some simple ingredients. This is much easier than you thought and is a great alternative to your traditional store-bought cake pops.
These cake pops are great and delicious treats to present as gifts at birthdays, baby showers, parties, bake sales, or for any occasion if you want to impress your friends and loved ones. They are super easy and fun to make, try them out, and let’s know if you love them.
I love cake pops; I love taking mine with some coffee, it helps to blend the sugar in the cake pops with the bitterness of the coffee, no need of adding sugar to the coffee when combined with the pops.