It’s possible that a lot of people don’t understand this, but making cake pops requires a little more skill than just shaping balls of cake batter into beautiful tiny circles. It is not quite simple to ensure that the cake does not fall out of its small shell while it is cooking and that it maintains its form throughout the process.
When making cake pops for the first time, there is a considerable probability that you may struggle with some of the more frequent issues.
Cracking is one of the most frequent issues that customers have with their cake pops, and it’s one of the most frustrating as well. When the cake dough has been shaped into small balls, it has been baked, and now you are ready to apply the icing, you may not believe that anything could possibly go wrong. Unhappily, this is where the beginning of a considerable number of difficulties might occur.
If you apply the frosting to your cake pops and then let them cool, you may start to wonder what the problem is if you see that your cake pops often break after you do so. Once you have determined what causes them and how you might adjust things to make the circumstances more favorable, it should be rather simple to make the necessary repairs.
Having said that, you will need to bear in mind that even under ideal circumstances, cake pops may sometimes shatter on their own for no apparent reason.
Having said that, even if you did everything correctly the first time, you should always know how to remedy a cracked cake pop so that your treats can look just as good as they will taste when you are ready to eat them. This is so that your cake pops can look as good as they will taste when you are ready to eat them.
There are a few various approaches that you may take to resolving the problem; however, you should begin by gaining an understanding of why it occurs.
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What Causes Cracked Cake Pops?
Even if you have been making cakes pops for years and have perfected the cooking process, they may and can break for apparently no reason at all.
Even though there isn’t much you can do to prevent these sad occurrences, you may lessen the likelihood that they will take place by making certain that you cook your cake pops in the appropriate manner each time. When you look at your cake pops, there is really a possibility that they are splitting because of one specific reason.
The temperature of both the cake ball and the icing that was put to it was too high, which is the most frequent cause of cracks in cake pops. Although it is possible for things to go in the other direction, it is more likely than not that the coating will have been too hot and the cake ball will have been too cold. What is the mechanism behind this?
When a substance is heated, its volume increases. In a similar vein, any item that is exposed to cold will experience a contraction. Even while these changes, which occur in most materials on a tiny scale, might occasionally be enough to produce fractures in your lovely cake pops, it is important to be aware of this possibility.
The cake ball will experience a very tiny expansion as a result of the heat that is transferred from the heated covering to the cold cake ball. The topping will become more rigid and securely adhere to the outside of the cake batter as the cooling process continues.
In the meanwhile, the cake batter will also begin to gradually cool down, since this is often the point at which the cake pops are placed in the refrigerator in order to let the frosting to entirely firm.
Unfortuitously, when the frosting cools down and solidifies, it will also transmit some of its heat to the cake batter, which will cause it to become somewhat warmer. Because of this, the cake batter will experience a very tiny expansion, which will result in cracks appearing in the layer of frosting when it sets.
Then, when you open the refrigerator to check on the progress of your cake pops, you will be met with this unwelcome shock.
In a nutshell, the most common reason why cake pops break is because there is a significant temperature difference between the cake mixture and the coating. The good news is that rectifying this issue is really simple; all you need to do is ensure that both components are at a temperature that is comparable before applying them the following time.
Find out the most effective method for storing cake pops (before or after dipping).
Fixing the Issue
When the cake pops have already broken, there is unfortunately not much that can be done to fix them. No matter what you do to correct problems, the change must be evident for it to be considered successful.
Instead of putting the faulty cake pops on display or giving them away as presents, many individuals are content to keep them as a pleasure for themselves at home and do not feel the need to hide their flaws.
You might try sliding the fractured item back into its original location and hoping that the cracks vanish once everything is back in its proper place, but the size and magnitude of the crack will determine whether or not this is a viable option. It is not always possible to do this when dealing with huge fractures that go over the majority of the icing.
You might try applying very thin layers of frosting over the crack in the same manner as you would paint, using very little quantities of the frosting each time. This will totally depend on the texture of the cake frosting that you choose as well as how thoroughly you are able to apply this cover-up. This may prove to be an effective approach to resolving the issue for some individuals.
If you have exhausted all of your options, you may want to try simply re-dipping the whole cake ball into the frosting and adding a second layer of icing. You can do this if you are at your wit’s end. It is possible that this will completely cover the crack, but it will also ruin whatever ornamental work you did in the area earlier and it will make the coating far thicker than it should be. Despite these potential drawbacks, there is still a possibility that this may be successful.
These are the three solutions that you may try to apply to a cake pop that already has cracks in it. By maintaining everything at a far more consistent temperature, the most effective method for resolving the issue is to make certain that it does not have the opportunity to manifest in the first place.
Making Sure it Doesn’t Happen
Using a thermometer to maintain everything at a more consistent temperature, which brings the risk of fractures to a level that is much lower, is the method that offers the greatest degree of assurance that this will not take place.
Placing the cake pops in the refrigerator is an essential step in the process of preparing cake pops. However, you may want to consider putting the cake pops in an airtight container so that the cold air does not effect the cake pops as much as it normally would.
You might also try heating the frosting up less often in order to get the desired consistency of the frosting. The majority of the time, this kind of frosting is simple to melt, and all it takes is holding it in your palm for a sufficient amount of time for it to start melting.
Due to the fact that every cooking equipment is going to be somewhat different, you should try experimenting with the various heating settings to determine the lowest level that you can get away with using.
The objective here is to prevent the icing from becoming too runny by overheating it while yet achieving the desired consistency for your cake pops. You can determine the ideal temperature of the frosting for your cake pops by using a thermometer and the “trial and error” method. This will help you get the best possible outcomes.
You won’t even have time to realize it, but before you know it, you’ll know the secrets of making cake pops that not only taste delicious but also look fantastic.
FAQs
How do I stop my cake pops from cracking?
Before you start dipping the balls, you need first set the stick by putting the cake pops in the freezer for about 15 minutes. This will allow the cake pops to hold their shape. In the event that you dip them while the candy melts are too hot, they will break as a result of the abrupt shift in temperature. If you put the cake balls in the freezer for more than 15 minutes, they may have been inedible due to the extreme cold.
Why do my cake pops always crack?
The temperature of both the cake ball and the icing that was put to it was too high, which is the most frequent cause of cracks in cake pops. Although it is possible for things to go in the other direction, it is more likely than not that the coating will have been too hot and the cake ball will have been too cold.
Will refrigerating cake pops make them crack?
Do let cake balls that have been stored in the refrigerator come to room temperature before dipping them in sugar coating. The better both of them are, the closer to room temperature they are. If you dip cold cake pops into a candy coating that is too heated, cracks will appear in the coating.
How do you make cake pops smooth?
The consistency of the coating is the most critical factor in achieving a smooth finish for cake pops, and melting candy melts in the appropriate manner is one of the simplest methods to assure that the coating will have the perfect consistency. It is really simple to burn candy melts if you heat them for too long.
Do you Chill cake pops before dipping?
Before dipping, the cake balls have to remain in the freezer for quite some time. Check to see that you have sufficient space in your refrigerator and freezer to accommodate them. I usually put them in the refrigerator on a big baking sheet coated with foil.