Cake pops live or die on the coating, smooth and glossy, or thick, lumpy and streaked.
Never use water-based color
Candy coating and melted chocolate seize on contact with water. A water-based gel will turn your smooth coating into a thick paste instantly, and there is no recovery.
Oil-based color is the only safe option. It disperses into the fat and keeps the coating fluid.
Getting the coating thin enough
Straight-from-the-bag coating is usually too thick for a clean dip, giving you a heavy, lumpy shell.
- Thin with a small amount of neutral oil, coconut oil or paramount crystals
- Never thin with water, milk or cream
- Add a little at a time, over-thinned coating runs off and pools at the base
Temperature control
Coating thickens as it cools, so it drifts out of the ideal window while you work. Keep it over gentle warmth, a heating pad, a warm water bath the bowl does not touch, or short low bursts in the microwave.
Dipping technique
- Chill the cake balls until firm but not frozen, frozen balls sweat and crack the coating
- Dip the stick tip in coating and insert it into the ball, then chill to anchor it
- Dip the pop straight down in one motion, fully submerging
- Lift straight out, no swirling
- Tap the wrist gently to shed excess
- Stand upright in a block to set
Why they crack
Temperature shock. A very cold ball meeting warm coating causes the cake to expand as it warms and split the shell. Let the balls come up slightly before dipping.
Color choices
Candy coating is white or ivory, so it takes color beautifully. You need far less than in buttercream. Start with a drop and build.
- Pastels look excellent and need almost no pigment
- Deep shades need more, and more stirring, keep it warm as you go
- Two-tone dipping: dip in one color, let it set, then half-dip in another
Finishing
Add sprinkles immediately while wet. For drizzle, let the base coat set fully first, then drizzle a contrasting color with a fork or piping bag.
Color With Confidence
Yeast Bakers is an Authorized Dealer for Colour Mill, so every bottle you buy from us is genuine stock. Shop the full Colour Mill oil blend range, free shipping on orders over $25.