Cake pops are a fun and delicious treat, but getting the timing right for refrigeration before dipping is important. Refrigerating cake pops allows them to firm up properly so they hold their shape during dipping. Here’s a quick overview of how long you need to refrigerate cake pops before coating them.
Quick Answer
You should refrigerate cake pops for at least 1-2 hours before dipping them in chocolate or candy coating. Allowing cake pops to chill thoroughly helps them hold their shape better during the dipping process.
Detailed Answer
When making cake pops, you start by crumbling cake and mixing it with frosting or other binders to form a dough. This dough is then rolled into balls and stuck onto lollipop sticks. At this point, the cake balls are quite soft and delicate.
If you tried to dip the cake pops right away into melted chocolate or candy coating, there’s a good chance they would fall apart or lose their round shape. This can lead to misshapen, messy looking cake pops. Refrigerating the cake pops first allows them to firm up.
The exact time needed to refrigerate cake pops depends on a few factors:
Size of Cake Pops
Smaller cake pops will firm up faster than larger ones. Mini cake pops may only need 30-60 minutes in the fridge before dipping, while standard sized pops likely need 1-2 hours.
Recipe Binders
Cake pops made with frosting or condensed milk firm up faster than those made with other binders like cream cheese or peanut butter. Sturdier binders like royal icing take the longest to harden.
Temperature of Refrigerator
Colder refrigerator temperatures around 35°F will firm up cake pops faster than warmer fridges above 40°F.
To test if cake pops are ready for dipping, gently squeeze one in your hand. It should feel solid all the way through. If the center still seems mushy or soft, refrigerate for another 30 minutes to an hour until firm.
Tips for Refrigerating Cake Pops
Here are some tips for properly refrigerating cake pops before dipping:
- Place cake pops on a baking sheet or tray so they aren’t touching each other.
- Cover the tray loosely with plastic wrap or foil so they don’t dry out.
- Chill cake pops on the center shelf of the fridge so they cool evenly.
- Once chilled, let them sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before dipping so the coating adheres better.
- Work in small batches when dipping so pops don’t re-soften.
Can You Refrigerate Cake Pops Too Long?
You don’t want to refrigerate cake pops for too long before dipping them. If chilled for more than 4-6 hours, they can become overly firm and dry. This can make the coating slide right off or make the pops crack when you bite into them.
If you made your cake pops more than 6 hours in advance, leave them out at room temperature for about 15 minutes. This allows the outer layer to soften slightly so the coating sticks better when dipping.
Storing Fully Decorated Cake Pops
Once your cake pops are dipped and decorated, they need to be refrigerated again until serving. Here’s how long dipped cake pops last in the fridge:
- 1-2 days: Cake pops dipped in candy coating or chocolate.
- 5-7 days: Cake pops dipped in candy coating and decorated with sprinkles or other non-perishable toppings.
For best results, store finished cake pops in a single layer on a baking sheet covered with plastic wrap. The refrigerator prevents any chocolate or candy coating from blooming.
You can also freeze dipped cake pops for up to 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
In Summary
- Refrigerate uncoated cake pops for 1-2 hours until firm before dipping.
- Colder fridge temps speed up chilling time.
- Don’t chill for more than 4-6 hours or pops can get too hard.
- Refrigerate coated cake pops for 1-7 days depending on decorations.