How to Store Cake Pops (Before or After Dipping)

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Cake pops are delightful treats that no one can resist; kids and adults alike! 

I, myself, am in love with these tiny desserts, so much so that I usually make them in very big batches. As a result, I often end up with many leftovers that I want to save for another day. 

Of course, I don’t want them to taste stale. So, is there a way to keep these tasty pops fresh?

Well, good news! It’s possible, and it’s easier than you think.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to store cake pops (before or after dipping). I’ll also let you in on my secret recipe that’ll leave your kids and guests wanting more.

Let’s dive into the details right away.

How to Make Cake Pops

There are two main ways to make cake pops, and both are definitely something that you can easily do at home. 

The Traditional Method

The first way is to take a baked cake or any flavor and mash it together with a small amount of buttercream frosting. The cake should have the texture of cookie dough, at which point you will mold it into any shape you like.

Roll the cake mix into balls for a basic cake pop or get creative, shaping it into something fun to fit into your party theme! Once the cake pop centers are shaped, let them cool off in the fridge or freezer, and then add a lollipop stick. 

Here comes the fun part! Grab your pops and dip them into melted chocolate or candy melts. Easy enough!

Pro tip: Struggling to secure the cake balls on the lollipop stick? Dip the first half inch of the stick into the melts for an extra layer of stickiness.

Using a Cake Pop Maker

The other way to make cake pops is to use a specially designed cake pop maker or mold. This is essentially just a pan where you will cook cake batter so that the baked cake is in the shape of a round cake pop.

When you use a cake pop pan or cake pop maker, you will get nice, fluffy balls of baked cake that you do not need to form into your desired shape—it’s already done for you!

The baked cake pops will still have a lollipop stick added and then be dipped in melted chocolate to give you a beautiful finished product. Let me tell you that this option made my life a lot easier!

How to Store the Cake Pop Centers

After rolling your cake pops into balls or preparing them in a cake pop pan, you can store them at this point. I actually prefer storing them without the candy melts, as they tend to taste better.

To do so, place the pre-made cake pop shapes in an airtight container and put them in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month.

When you are ready to finish the cake pops, take them out of the container and let them thaw in the fridge for around a day. Once they’re ready, add the lollipop sticks and dip them in the melted chocolate, et voilà.

If you dip frozen pops, there’s a good chance moisture will seep through the chocolate coating as the center chills. As a result, the chocolate may also crack as the center thaws and expands. That’s why thawing is essential! 

I found that it’s best to dip the centers right out of the fridge while they’re still cold. This will help them keep their shape in the warm melts, and the chocolate will also harden right away on the cool pop.

So, store the pop centers in the freezer to keep them good for about a month, then move them to the fridge the day before you are ready to dip.

Essential Tips for Storing Cake Pops

Here are some tips to help you keep your pop cakes as fresh as ever:

1. Wrap Your Pops Individually

Wrapping your cake pops in wax paper or small food-safe bags will ensure they stay fresh and tasty for longer periods of time. This works best if you’re keeping your cake pops at room temperature.

2. Create a Barrier Between Pops

Storing different pops with different decorative coatings together in the same container? Well, color bleeding can be a nightmare. For that reason, you shouldn’t store different-colored cake pops together. If you have to, you can separate them with wax paper or parchment.

3. Seal the Container

When storing your pops, you want to prevent air exposure. Air is your number one enemy that can dry out your delicious treats. That’s why you need to properly seal your container or use a premium, airtight one for storing your cake pops.

How to Store Dipped Cake Pops

What if you’ve already prepared your cake pops, dipping them in chocolate or candy melts and decorating them exactly as you imagined? Well, you can still store them successfully for several days!

The best way to store pre-made cake pops is to place them in an airtight container with a paper towel lining the bottom of the container.

To do so, place your cake pops on top of the paper towel in a single layer, then cover and store the cake pops in the fridge for five to seven days.

When you’re ready to eat the pops, take them out of the fridge about an hour or two before serving. It’s best to let these delicious treats come to room temperature (cake tastes best when served warm!).

Storing Cake Pops at Room Temperature

Dipped cake pops can last around one to two days at room temperature. In fact, cake pops will look the best (with no chance of condensation forming on the chocolate) when they are kept at room temp. 

However, it’s best to keep the dipped cake pops out of the sunlight or high heat where the chocolate has the potential to melt.

If you do plan to store your cake pops at room temp, make sure that the flavor you choose supports this as well. For example, basic flavors like vanilla and chocolate are perfect for storing at room temp.

On the other hand, certain ingredients might need refrigeration, like lemon curd or strawberries. In that case, you should not store the pop at room temp. Instead, follow the instructions I’ve mentioned above for keeping cake pops in the fridge.

How to Prevent Cake Pops from Cracking

So, you spend a lot of time and effort preparing and decorating your little treats, but a simple mistake can crack that sweet outer layer. It doesn’t have to be this way!

To overcome this problem, you should avoid storing them in the freezer after dipping. Here’s why: The cake center will shrink in the freezer. When brought back to room temperature, the pop will expand again, causing the candy-coating exterior to crack.

In addition, the moisture from the frozen cake will likely cause the chocolate pop to get wet and ruin your beautiful treat. So, skip the freezer after the cake pops have been dipped and store them only in the fridge or at room temperature.

Final Thoughts

Still wondering how to store cake pops?

You definitely do not need to wait until the last minute to make the perfect cake pops for your next big party or event. You can get baking now!

All you need to do is bake your cake pop centers well in advance and store them in an airtight container in your freezer. You can expect them to last for around a month in the freezer and a week in the refrigerator.

Once you’re ready to serve, dip them in chocolate and serve them warm. It feels good knowing that you have beautiful, homemade cake pops ready to enjoy at any time!

Happy baking!

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