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How to Thin Candy Melts Three Ways for Dipping Cake Pops

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 14:00:05 +0000

Have you ever melted candy melts and it became a goopy mess? Totally undippable chocolate. I had the same issue. My very first time making cake pops, I decided to use real chocolate. Oh my, what a challenge that was… I had so much difficulty thinning out the chocolate. I cringe each time I think about it, but, the experience has been permanently singed into my brain. After that debacle, I decided to try the Wilton candy melts since it was available locally. I had the same issue it was way too thick (it was a goopy mess), after several attempts I knew I had to figure out how to thin the candy melts. Do you see the goop? All of that goop is fixable. Guess what, I am going to show you three ways to thin candy melts for the perfect consistency. No more goop or thick candy melts. The right consistency to make it is easier to dip, drizzle and coat cake pops, pretzels sticks or whatever your heart desires. Before we begin, lets talk a bit of about candy melts. What are Candy Melts? Candy melts are candy coating or wafers used to cover cake pops and other treats. They are not real chocolate. Unlike real chocolate, it does not contain cocoa butter. Instead, some have cocoa powder listed as an ingredient (not to be confused with cocoa butter) which is a cocoa solid i.e. what is left after the oil is removed. Other ingredients of candy melts are hydrogenated palm kernel oil and soy lecithin (more about that later). These two ingredients are the key to how we are able to thin candy melts. Nevertheless, there are some candy melts that doesn’t need to be thinned out, one that comes to mind is Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers (which are delicious by the way). The downside, they are expensive and are only available in dark and white wafers. Which means that you would have to color your own. As a side note, only color with oil based colors or the candy melts will seize. This page may contain affiliate links which means that I may earn a small commission if you purchase from any links directed from this website. I only recommend things that I use and the classes I have taken. Wowisthatreallyedible is a participant in the Amazon Services Associate Program. As an affiliate of Amazon, we place custom links in blog posts (such as this one). Thank you very much for your ongoing support. How to Thin Candy Melts Three Ways There are three ways I like to thin candy melts and they are listed below. In the photo above, I show the results using three different methods. The shortening and the vegetable oil were very similar in texture. Therefore, they are worth considering if you need a quick solution. For this project, I used one pack of yellow candy melts and two packs of blue candy melts. Each package was 12 ounces each, even though some candy melts come in 10-ounce packages. Vegetable Shortening Vegetable Oil Wilton EZ Thins/Paramount crystals How to Thin out Candy Melts with Vegetable Shortening Vegetable shortening is my go-to method when I run out of EZ Thins. If I had to place this list in order, shortening would come in at number two. I like it because it is something I always have on hand. It dries very well and I have not noticed any change in taste. To thin candy melt using vegetable shortening, I use 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening for each 12 ounces bag of candy melt. The package says two teaspoons, however, I find that is not to be enough and usually use more to get the right consistency. The key is to make sure to add at the right temperature and add a bit at a time. Of course, the temperature and age of the candy melt do affect the amount used. Directions using Shortening: Melt the candy melt in the microwave according to the directions on the bag, which is one minute at 50 percent power, then 30-second intervals thereafter. Then, melt the vegetable shortening in the microwave in 30-second intervals until fully melted. This is different from the package as well, but, it incorporates so much better. Remember to test the temperature, if it is too hot let it cool down before using. Don’t let it get too cold or it will solidify again. Add a tablespoon at a time and stir to incorporate. Continue to add the second tablespoon and stir, at this point the candy melt should be thin. You can add a little bit more if it is not thin enough. Keep in mind the thinner you make it, the faster it dries and that is a factor when you are adding sprinkle and other decorations. How to Thin Candy Melts with Oil Of all the ways to thin candy melts, this is my least favorite. However, oil works the same way as vegetable shortening. I used canola oil. Use up to one tablespoon of vegetable/canola oil to a cup of candy melts. In the project, I used four teaspoons which is equivalent to one tablespoon, plus one teaspoon. However, it could have used another teaspoon, but I didn’t want to risk affecting the consistency and the amount of time it takes to dry the candy coating. Adding oil did not affect how hard the candy dried. However, it does affect real chocolate. One thing to note, it did dry faster than the shortening. There is no noticeable change in taste. However, I don’t believe that an additional tablespoon would likely affect the taste either. You also cannot see make any distinction between the oil and the shortening. At least I didn’t notice one. EZ Thins/Paramount Crystals I saved the best for last. My absolute favorite method to thin candy melts is using Wilton EZ-Thins. It is a game-changer. EZ Thins and Paramount crystals are the same things, they are sold under different brands. Both are made up of two ingredients, you guessed it: hydrogenated palm kernel oil and soy lecithin (remember the reference above), similar to the candy melts. Use two tablespoons of EZ Thin or Paramount Crystals for every twelve ounces of candy melts. Directions for using EZ-Thins or Paramount Crystals: Melt the candy melts according to the instructions on the package. Melt the EZ-Thins/Paramount Crystals in a microwave-safe bowl. Then add to the melted candy melts (this is the secret). Of course, you may add unmelted EZ-Thins, however, I find that sometimes it doesn’t melt all the way and might not be as smooth. So, to avoid that I melt it every time. That’s it, now you know my secret for getting a perfect candy melt consistency the next time you get ready to make cake pops. For additional troubleshooting methods see 7 tips and tricks to make perfect cake pops. For even more tips check out my book, the ultimate cake pop guide. It is loaded with tips and tricks and even a few projects.

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How to make Pumpkin Cake Pops

Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:30:07 +0000

It’s been a while since I did a post on the blog about cake pops. Nevertheless, I couldn’t resist posting about these pumpkin cake pops. If you have been following my blog you know that I have a love-hate relationship with cake pops. I love making them, however, they sometimes don’t love me. These pumpkin cake pops are super cute and easy to make. Why pumpkin cake pops? Because I love everything pumpkin and I wanted to join the October pumpkin craze. And why not, even breakfast cereal is pumpkin flavored. Although there is a huge learning curve when making cake pops. To make cake pop easier I have created 7 tips and tricks to make perfect cake pops and the basics in how to make beautiful but simple cake pops. These two posts are filled with everything you need to know about making cake pops to get you going. If you need more Craftsy has a course Party cake pops that has many tips and tricks for beginners as well as advanced. This page may contain affiliate links which mean that if you make a purchase from any links directed from this website I may earn a small commission. I only recommend things that I use and love and the classes I have taken. Thank you very much for your ongoing support. How to make pumpkin cake pops To make pumpkin cake pops, I started off with a basic round ball and shaped it from there. Plus I measure everyone to have a uniform look and I know they won’t fall off the stick. The best thing about this no equipment needed. I used the lollipop stick Materials: Orange candy melt or white candy melt with orange candy color Green candy melt Wilton Ez-Thin 1 batch of butter based vanilla cake/chocolate (1 box mix) 1-2 tbsp buttercream or ganache lollipop sticks Cup/bowl Steps for making pumpkin cake pops Remove the crust from the cake and crumble until it is a fine crumb. Then add buttercream or ganache. Add a little at a time until it comes together. I prefer to use cold cake with cold buttercream, it comes together so much faster. Roll into a ball and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (to get more information on how I get perfect size cake balls to see how to make simple but beautiful cake pops). To make the shape like a real pumpkin, use your thumb to flatten the top of the cake ball, then use a cake pop stick and indent the cake pop all around. Add as many indents as you like. Melt the candy and dip cake pops Melt candy melts according to the instructions. If you are using Wilton candy melt, it will be too thick. Add Wilton E-Z thin to thin out the candy melt to a dipping consistency. Dip the cake pop stick into the candy melt and insert the stick into the cake ball. Do not remove the excess candy melt here (since the cake pop is not upside down), it becomes the vine. Follow the same step with the other cake balls. Then dip the cake balls into the candy melt. Make sure the candy melt is not too hot and the cake ball is not too cold. You will get some cracking. Shake off excess and place on a tray. I used a baking sheet with wax paper on top. Melt some green candy melt and place in a piping bag or ziplock bag. Cut a small hole at the bottom and pipe some “tendrils.” Shake your hand as you pipe to make it look like twists. I added four, but you can add as many as you like. Continue adding to all the cake pops. Clean off any extra candy melt that appears on the stick. Look how great they look. I added them to this cute box I bought at JoAnn. How about you, do you like making cake pops? If you do make them let me know how it turned out. Don’t forget to share. Until next time.

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How to Make Geode Cake Pops: Free Tutorial

Fri, 18 May 2018 13:30:07 +0000

I am a little late to the party with the geode cake trend. This week I will show you how to make geode cake pops. I love this cake trend because geode rocks are not perfect therefore, the geode cake pops do not have to be perfect. Geodes are basically rocks that have been hallowed inside that forms beautiful crystals. While I will not get into a geology lesson about geodes and their formation (not qualified in the least), you get the idea. Geodes are one of those beautiful things that depending on the tracing elements changes the color. Therefore, perfect for inspiration. Not all geodes are made equal. Which relieves the pressure of making all the geode cake pops the same shape or color. Are you ready? I know you are, let’s go. This page may contain affiliate links which mean that if you make a purchase from any links directed from this website I may earn a small commission. I only recommend things that I use and love and classes I have taken. Thank you very much for your ongoing support. How to make Geode Cake Pops In order to make this geode cake pops you need to know the basics of making cake pops. You also need to know how to fix the cake pops if it develops a crack or won’t come together. Now that we have that out the way lets begin. Materials Needed for Geode Cake Pops: Cake pops rolled into a ball Rock candy (I used purple and black) Sparkling sugar Sanding sugar Cake pop sticks Styrofoam block candy melts (black and white) EZ-thins Small piping bag (optional) Small paring knife or small spatula Once you have gathered all your ingredients, remove the rock candy from the sticks. Now this will not be an easy task. I used my fingers and it hurt like crazy when I was done. I also used the paring knife which produced the candy on the right. The rock candy as a bit too big so I had to break them down a bit. The first step is to cut a small hole in the center of the cake pops. Make some round and/or the shape similar to Mrs. Pac-Man. Did I just give away my age with that reference? the whole point is to create a hollowed center for the edible rocks to sit in. Remember it does not have to be perfect or the same shape. To make grey candy melts I mixed black candy melts with white. I started off with a small amount, then added more white to get the grey color that I wanted. Mix the candy melts until it is smooth and has no bubbles. Add the cake pop stick in the center like you normally would. Then dip the cake pop in the candy melts. Remove the excess candy melt then add the rock candy to the center of the cake pop. Add the cake pops to a styrofoam block to dry before adding the rocks around the outer edge. After the cake pop is dry, it is time to add the candy around the edge. Add some candy melt to a small piping bag and add candy melt all around the rock candy in the center, then dip the cake pop into the sparkling sugar. It should look something like this. Arrange the geode cake pops however you like. I used a vase and I also placed them in a box. That’s how you make geode cake pops. Simple right? Do to cake pops? If you love it share the love with your friends.

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How to Make Simple but Beautiful Cake Pops

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:30:06 +0000

This post should have been before cake pops tricks and tips. However, better late than never. To say that cake pops are easy is an oxymoron because there is nothing easy about the process. Correction, they are easy to make but are a bit time-consuming. But, the end result is a delicious cake on a stick. Plus, they are a great addition to any party, no cutting or cleaning up necessary. I do believe it is a good solution for those who are health conscious as they would prefer a cake pop over a slice of cake. Who can resist cake covered in chocolate right? I cannot remember how I started making cake pops and while I make them all the time they are not my favorite things to make. Why? Because I can decorate a few cakes much faster than it takes to make cake pops. However, they are just too cute and delicious to resist an opportunity to make them. My goal today is to convince you how easy it is to make cake pops *cough.* This page may contain affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase from any links directed from this website I may earn a small commission. I only recommend things that I use and love and the classes I have taken. Thank you very much for your ongoing support. What is a Cake Pop? A cake pop is a small piece of cake on a lollipop stick. The cake is crumbled and mixed with frosting or ganache and made into a truffle. Then dipped in chocolate. Cake pops can be shaped into anything such as animals, cupcakes, etc. Once you get the hang of it the sky is the limit. Schedule for Making Cake Pops Making cake pops requires a bit of patience and time because there is no way around all the necessary steps required (rolling and dipping). Therefore, it is much better to make them over a few days so that you can enjoy the process a bit more. I suggest: baking the cake and crumbling on day 1, adding frosting to the cake crumbles and rolling into a ball on day 2 and dipping and decorating day 3. This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to make cake pops that are simple and easy to decorate. There I go again with the word easy. Here you go let’s get popping. Supplies you will need to make cake pops Box mix of your choice or a butter-based 8-inch scratch recipe. (Makes between 20-24 cake pops) Cold frosting/buttercream (I use Italian Meringue Buttercream). I cannot give any insight on canned frosting because I have only used homemade frosting. Cake pop sticks Styrofoam block Candy melts (whatever color or candy colors to make your own) Plastic containers to melt the candy EZ thins if using Wilton Candy melt. A tablespoon or cookie scoop How to Make Cake Pops Step 1: Bake the cake then destroy it I mean crush it into fine crumbs Bake the cakes according to the instructions. There are some adjustments needed for the box mix, see it in last week’s post. Once the cake is cool, remove the crust from the side of the cake and break into pieces. Then crush the cake into fine crumbs by using either a food processor, a hand mixer or your hands. There should be no lumps in the mix. Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or so. If you are in a pinch add the frosting at this stage. Step 2: Add cold frosting a little at a time Remove the cake crumbs from the refrigerator and add frosting one tablespoon at a time. I suggest removing a cup of crumbs before adding the frosting. The cup of crumbs can be used later if you add too much frosting. Using a hand mixer or food processor mix the frosting into the batter. If you like to get your hands dirty you can use your hands. Mix until it comes together in a ball but does not crumble or crack. Be careful not to add too much frosting or your cake pops will become too moist. If for any reason you used too much frosting, add the cake crumbs and mix again. This step is the most important because it determines how your cake pops will look. Also, if it is too moist it will fall off the stick. See 7 tips and tricks for additional help if your cake balls keep crumbling. Step 3: Roll into a ball It is so much easier to roll the cake balls when the cake is cold. Your hands will thank me. You will know when it is ready when your cake pops come together without cracking or crumbling. Then use a tablespoon and measure two tablespoons. Squeeze the two together and begin rolling in the palm of your hands to form a ball. I usually place the cake pops back into the tablespoon to keep the roundness. Place the balls on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to an hour or overnight. Step 4: Add the sticks to cake pops Melt the candy melts 3o seconds at a time at 50 percent power until it flows like lava. If the candy melt is too thick add EZ thins or shortening to get it to a good consistency. Once the cake pops have been chilled, dip the cake pop stick into the candy melt and insert it into the cake pop. Then seal the stick in with the candy melt. Now is the time to cover any cracks with candy melts before dipping. If you want to be super careful you may put them back into the refrigerator. I tend to skip this step because I am usually pressed for time. Once the sticks are sealed it is time to dip the cake pops. Step 5: Dip cake pops Dipping the cake pops is very simple but this is where you will start seeing the most problems. Once the candy melts and the cake pops are at around the same temperature, dip the cake pops one at a time. Make sure the bowl is deep enough to cover the cake pops. This will make sure you only make one dip. Do not swirl when you dip. Use a spoon to add additional candy melts. Shake off the excess by slight tapping your wrist. Don’t forget to pop all the bubbles. Place the cake pops into a premarked hole on the styrofoam block. If you are going to add sprinkles, don’t wait too long because the candy melts dry quickly. Step 6: Decorate cake pops This is the most fun of all the steps because the possibilities are endless. You can use sprinkles, sanding sugar (my favorite), small candy pearls or leave it plain then add other candy decorations. Here, I added some sanding sugar. Another simple way to make decorations is to add some candy melt to any mold then place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. Here I used my bow mold. I also used a flower mold sorry I didn’t take a picture. Here is the final result. Simple but beautiful. The view from the top. That was easy right… As always don’t forget to pin for later and share it with your friends. Do you love or have any questions about making cake pops? Let us know… Comment below.

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7 Tips and Tricks to make Perfect Cake Pops

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 14:30:43 +0000

Let’s talk about cake pops for a minute. You know those delicious cake on a stick? Yes, that one… It’s no secret making cake pops can be quite difficult. I say it is difficult because so many problems can arise when making them. Some of the common problems include cake pops falling off the stick, cracking, air bubbles, leaking and the list goes on and on. I can see you shaking your head in agreement with me. Well… how do I fix all those things? Is it worth it to go through all this trouble? Of course, it is. The end result is a delicious work of art that is adorable. This page may contain affiliate links which mean that if you make a purchase from any links directed from this website I may earn a small commission. I only recommend things that I use and love and classes I have taken. Thank you very much for your ongoing support. Here are a few tricks that I have learned along the way to combat those problems that mess up our delicious cake pops. 7 Quick Tips and Tricks for working with cake pops Start with a good base Measure your cake pops Make sure your chocolate is the right consistency Dip the cake pops at the right time Do not overload with heavy decorations Pop the air bubbles How to fix the cracks Tip #1: Start with a good base Starting with a good base is crucial. Many recipes for cake pops recommend using a box mix. While I prefer to bake from scratch some from scratch recipes need some adjusting as well. I recommend using a butter-based cake or replace a few ingredients in your favorite box mix switch out melted oil with butter and the water with milk. Here’s why box mix cakes are really moist (the oil keeps it moist). A moist cake is very difficult to roll into a ball and you definitely cannot add any type of frosting to an already moist cake it is like asking the cake pops to fall off the stick. The more frosting you add, the moister the cake mix will become. Picture this a moist cake plus more moisture (frosting) equals disaster. Therefore, only add a small amount at a time. Stop when it comes together with no cracking or crumbling. A solid base is strong and makes rolling cake pops easy. Hence, preventing the cake pops from falling down or crumbling in your hands. Don’t you yell at me, I know I just used the word easy with cake pops. So, you made your favorite box mix and it’s way too moist what do you do? Add a little bit of flour (don’t go crazy here) and this will help with the moistness. Another trick is to refrigerate the cake crumble (butter-based of course) and the frosting. Then add the cold frosting to the cake mix and roll into a ball. Tip #2: Measure your cake pops Yep… You heard right, measuring the cake mix (cake and frosting) makes sure you have a consistent size every time. I use exactly two tablespoons (which is a decent size) for every cake pop including the shaped ones. An ice cream scoop will work just as well. Measuring guarantees that the cake pops will not become too heavy and fall off the stick. If this happens you can rule out the cake pop being too heavy and go back to tip #1. Check to see if the cake base is too moist. After you have rolled the cake balls in the palm of your hands it might not be an exact circle a good trick is to use the tablespoon or ice cream scoop to shape the cake pop into a smooth circle. This is another great tool especially if the cake mix just won’t come together and keeps crumbling. Just be prepared that it will not be as strong so watch it carefully. Tip #3: Make sure your chocolate is at the right consistency Getting chocolate to the right consistency is another crucial step to having great looking cake pops. Too thick and your cake pop will look awful, too thin and you can see all the lumps and you will need to redip or the candy coating will dry super fast. Save yourself a headache and spend some time getting the consistency right. Another thing to remember is to melt the candy melts at 50 percent power and in 30-second intervals to prevent burning. Also, stir each time until completely melted. So the million-dollar question is what do you use regular chocolate or candy coating? I use Wilton candy melts because they are available in a variety of colors at my local Michaels and Joann’s. When I say chocolate I am using that word loosely because I really mean candy coating. Here is the problem with Wilton candy melts, once melted it is way too thick and cannot be used to dip right away. Therefore, you either need Wilton EZ thins to help thin the candy melt or shortening. If you do not have EZ thin, just melt about a tablespoon of shortening and add a little bit at a time. Other candy melts that does not require thinning them out are Candiquick or Ghiradelli candy melts (these are expensive). I would not suggest using regular chocolate. Regular chocolate does not dry as quickly and you have to keep it refrigerated. Trust me, stick with the candy coating. Tip #4: Dip the cake pops at the right time When is the right time to dip cake pops? Well… when the cake pops and the candy melts are about the same temperature. The candy melt should not be too hot or too cold where you need to reheat. If the candy melt is too hot your cake pops are going to crack. When working with cake pops I always take out a few at a time. I used to add the sticks to the cake pops and then put them in the refrigerator. Nowadays I add the sticks and dip all at the same time. This method works for me and I have made dozens of cake pops at a time. If considering using this method you do have to make sure the cake pops do not get too warm. Also, when dipping cake pops do not swirl (or you will leave it in your chocolate). I always keep a spoon to help cover the cake pops with chocolate. Another thing to remember is not to bang the cake pop on the side of the bowl (another way to leave your cake pop in the chocolate). The proper way to get the excess chocolate off is to hold the cake pop in your hand and gently tap your wrist while you turn the cake pop. You can also shake the excess off right after dipping and then tap your wrist try not to do it too hard. I know this seems like a lot to remember, but if you keep practicing it will become second nature to you. Tip #5: Do not overload your cake pop with heavy decorations I cannot stress this more, do not add heavy decorations to cake pops or gravity will kick in and they will fall off the stick. Flowers like the ones below are great. Sanding sugar, tiny sugar pearls and/or jimmies (sprinkles) are perfect decorations to add. Also, add decorations such as sanding sugar, sprinkles, and sugar pearls at the right time or everything will slide off and mess up your nice candy coating. Flowers can be added later on or right away. Tip #6: Pop the air bubbles Sometimes when you mix the chocolate too much, you end up mixing in too much air. This forms air bubbles and you can definitely see them especially when you add in the EZ thins. Make sure you pop the air bubbles or they cause cracks and oil to leak out. I use one of my cookie decorating tool to pop the air bubbles with the pointed section. It is a lifesaver and very versatile. I call it my boo-boo stick because it fixes everything. If I cannot find my boo-boo stick I usually stop everything I am doing until I find it, it’s that important. Tip #7: How to fix cracks on cake pops Finally, we get to the best part, how to fix cracks. If you started with a good base, dipped at optimal temperature and popped the air bubbles then you are on your way to a beautiful beginning. If for any reason, the cake pop was too cold and you dipped it in warm chocolate guess what? You are going to get a crack, you will either see it right away or a few minutes later. There is one additional way to help prevent cracks if your cake ball itself has gaps fill with chocolate when you add the stick. It also helps with getting a smooth cake pop. Nevertheless, if you do get cracks do not panic. It can be fixed. Fix #1: add some chocolate to a ziplock bag or piping bag and pipe some chocolate in the crack and use your fingers to clean up. The warmth of your hands will help with smoothing. Fix#2: use the boo-boo stick, use the flat end of the stick and fill the crack and use it to smooth the cake pop. Voila, no one will ever know there was a crack. Wow, I feel like I just ran a marathon. I hope this was helpful. Remember to share with a friend or pin for later. As always happy caking. Additional posts that are super useful: How to make simple but beautiful cake pops How to make Geode cake pops

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