Method 1 Method 1 of 2: Recipe for Cake Pops
- Bake a cake. It doesn’t matter what type.
- Allow the cake to cool completely. After taking the cake out of the oven, be sure it is totally cool before you start transforming it into cake pops.
- Use either your hands or a spoon to take the cooled cake out of the pan and place it into a large bowl.
- Choose a flavor of frosting that you like.
Can you make cake pops with a boxed cake mix?
You can make cake pops with your favorite homemade cake recipe; however, there’s no shame in using a boxed cake mix here. Boxed cake mix produces a moist cake crumb, perfect for cake pops. You can also add in your favorite mix-ins to make it feel a little more “homemade” (we suggest mini chocolate chips or sprinkles for a confetti look).
How do you use a cake pop Pan?
Directions To use a cake-pop pan, first spray the pan with cooking spray. Make a cake batter and spoon it into the bottom pan (no frosting ‘binder’ needed), filling to the top. Secure top half of pan and bake for 15-18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
How to make cake pops or cake balls?
There’s more than one way to make cake pops or cake balls, in fact we’ll show you four. For the first method, you’ll start with a baked cake (either made from scratch or using a cake mix), and the second and third methods start with unbaked cake batter.
How do you get cake pops to stick together?
If your cake balls are falling off your treat stick, they could be too heavy due to size or adding too much frosting. To help ensure your cake balls stay, be sure to dip the stick in melted candy before inserting it into the cake ball. This hardened candy coating acts as a glue to hold the stick in place.
How do you make easy vanilla cake pops?
How to Make Cake Pop Recipe
- Bake the vanilla cake, let it cool and remove the outer brownish layer with a knife.
- Crumble the cake into small pieces and mix it with the frosting.
- Form the crumbs into cake balls.
- Freeze the vanilla cake pops for 15 minutes.
What can I use instead of candy melts for cake pops?
What can I use instead of candy melts? The only substitute for candy melts would be chocolate. If you set out to make cake balls without candy melts, you will need to mix 1 tbsp vegetable oil for every 1 cup of chocolate chips.
What is the best melting chocolate for cake pops?
Wilton Candy Melts are probably the most readily available option for cake pop coating.
What size sticks for cake pops?
First things first when it comes to decorating your cake pops – you need to get them onto a stick. You can get your sticks in different sizes, with 4 inch, 6 inch and 8 inch being the most common. I tend to use the 6″ or 8″ sizes.
Why does my cake pop chocolate crack?
The most common reason why cake pops crack is because the temperature of the cake ball and the frosting you applied to it was too great. More often than not, the coating will have been too hot and the cake ball will have been too cold, although vice versa can happen.
Why are my cake pops not smooth?
The most important part of getting a smooth finish to cake pops is the consistency of the coating, and one of the easiest ways to guarantee this is by melting candy melts correctly. It’s suuuuuper easy to overheat candy melts. When they get too hot, they clump (so not good) and don’t fall off the spatula easily.
What are the ingredients in Starbucks cake pops?
Starbucks Birthday Cake Pops Ingredients
Can I use box cake mix for cake pop maker?
By making a few adjustments, you can convert any cake mix for use with a cake pop machine. If you use a standard size cake mix, be prepared to make about 9 dozen cake pops.
Are Starbucks cake pops raw?
While cake pops have a texture that some say resembles cookie dough, they Are Not Raw. We would never serve you a raw treat!
What is Candy Melts made of?
What are Candy Melts made of? The main ingredients in Candy Melts are sugar and oil. The sugar adds sweetness while the oil helps the candy break down when heated. Seasonal Candy Melts may also contain other added flavors, such as peppermint, cookie batter, peanut butter or strawberry.
What is the difference between Candy Melts and chocolate?
The main difference between candy melts and regular chocolate is the use of cocoa butter. Candy melts use palm kernel oil and other vegetable oils in place of cocoa butter. These oils eliminate the need to temper the candy melts.
Can I use vegetable oil to thin Candy Melts?
Vegetable or canola oil will also work and have no noticeable flavor. Just be sure to add ½ teaspoon at a time! Oil can be quite powerful. While all of these methods will work perfectly to help thin your candy melts, you may find that you love one option more than another.
How to make the best beautiful and easy cake pops?
How to make cake pops the fast, easy way?
What is the best recipe for cake pops?
How to make cake pops with unique flavors?
How to Make Cake Pops
- Article to be downloaded article to be downloaded Cupcakes are delectable, but cake pops are as delectable and far more entertaining!
- Cake pops are a delicious dessert made of cake that has been formed into a lollipop shape.
- Cake pops, which were made popular by Bakerella, are now available in Starbucks and bakeries nationwide.
- Making your own at home is simple, and it’s a lot of fun as well.
They’re also perfect for any occasion––from children to adults, everyone will appreciate the opportunity to bite into cake instead of hard sweets.
Ingredients
- You may use whatever cake mix you choose (or make your own)
- Frosting
- If you’d like, you may use milk or dark chocolate for melting, plus some white chocolate for decoration reasons if you choose.
- (Optional) White chocolate wafers
- Sprinkles
- White chocolate wafers (optional)
- 1Bake a cake in the oven. It makes no difference what kind. Make the cake in the taste that you prefer the best! Allow it to cool fully before serving. Prior to attempting to turn your cake into cake pops, wait until the cake has completely cooled before proceeding with the transformation. Promotional material
- 3 Take the cooled cake out of the pan and into a big mixing bowl, using your hands or a spoon to help you. Using an electric mixer or your hands, break down the cake into tiny crumbs until it is completely broken down. This is a lot of dirty fun. If you have children, they will almost certainly enjoy assisting you with this phase. Make certain, though, that their hands are clean! When it comes to cake pops, you don’t want to consume anything that has been handled by unclean fingers.
- 4Choose a frosting flavor that you prefer and set aside. Add roughly half of it to the crumbs and mix well. To put it simply, you want to recreate the doughy feel you had before. If you think you need to add extra icing, go ahead and do so. 5. Use a cookie scooper to scoop out little balls of cake crumb mixture. Check to see that everything is thoroughly blended and that there is no frosting left on any portion of the cake crumb mixture. Round them out with your hands so that they aren’t as sticky as they may be. Make sure that each one creates a beautiful tiny ball before moving on. 6Place each cake ball on a baking sheet coated with parchment paper. You want them to be evenly distributed when you dip them in chocolate. Instead of parchment paper, you may instead use oiled aluminum foil to make this recipe. After that, throw it in the freezer for about 10 minutes to harden it up. Melt some chocolate in a double boiler until completely melted. It is advised that you use dark chocolate to coat the strawberries with. If you want, you may use white chocolate wafers that have been crushed to form the outer layer of the cake.
- Insert the lollipop stick into the cake ball after it has been dipped in molten chocolate for a few seconds. 9Dip the cake ball into the molten chocolate. 10Set aside to cool so that the chocolate solidifies. 11Dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate one more time after they have cooled down. This is done in order to guarantee that they are completely covered. At this stage, you must exercise extreme caution since you do not want the balls to crack and fall into the chocolate. Remove any leftover chocolate by gently tapping them above the chocolate
- 13Use the Styrofoam block to insert the cake pops into and to display them
- 14Repeat this method until you have done all of the cake pops. After that, you may melt some white chocolate if you wish. Place it in a plastic bag and cut a hole in the corner of the bag to allow for drainage. Decorate each cake pop with the melted white chocolate in any manner you see fit using your imagination. Optional, but this stage gives an excellent chance to write a person’s name or the name of a sports team on the cake pops, as well as to design images, patterns, or symbols. 15Refrigerate the cake pops until firm. This will help them to remain firm and fresh until the time of serving
- 16Enjoy your meal! Advertisement
- 1 Prepare coconut cream cake pops in a muffin pan. Simply delicious, these cake pops are distinctive, moist, and creamy to the taste. Coconut has a delicious flavor that will have your taste buds begging for more. 2 Make s’more cake pops. These delectable cake pops are the perfect treat for family feasts and camping vacations. They are also great for parties. These will be a huge hit with any chocolate lovers in your household! 3Make blueberry muffin cake pops. What a delightful treat they are! They have the ideal combination of blueberries in them, which is what makes them so delicious.
- 4 Make hot chocolate cake pops. Sometimes all cake pops require is a smidgeon of chocolate to turn them into mouthwatering morsels. Make butterfinger cake pops and serve them on a chilly day with hot cocoa.
- 5 6 Make apple cinnamon cake pops. These cake pops are a terrific and unique way to indulge in cakes without having to adjust a recipe at all, as well as to be able to move certain ingredients around in a typical cake pop recipe. An apple cinnamon cake is something we’ve all heard of before, but have you ever considered shaping them into small balls for cake pops? These delectable delights are perfect for the fall season and for entertaining visitors. 7 Make French breakfast cake pops. They are both easy and unique, and who would have thought of duplicating cake pops with a combination of french toast as a unique and delicious treat? Prepare yourself for a delectable concoction! Advertisement
- Question Add a new question Question What can I do to prevent the candy melts from dripping down the popsicle stick? Do not thin the candy melts too much
- they are not intended to be thinned down to an excessive degree. Make sure to flip the cake pop gently and carefully when coating it
- don’t hurry the coating or stand the pop up too soon after coating it.
- Concerning the Question Can I use melted Wilton’s white sugar melts to cover the cake pops instead of piping them on top? In fact, because the sugar melts are thick enough, you only need to dip the cake pops in them once.
- Concerning the Question When should I put it in the refrigerator and for how long? When you are finished forming the cake pops, place them in the refrigerated for 10 minutes before dipping them in the chocolate and placing them back in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Question What store do I go to acquire the lollipop sticks? The supplies for manufacturing candy can be obtained from a variety of sources, including cake and baking supply stores, craft stores, candy-making supply stores, and internet vendors that provide such products. Another option is to look through generalist trade websites such as eBay. Every time I coat my cake pops with icing, they crack. What exactly am I doing incorrectly? This can happen if your cake pop isn’t heated enough and the candy coating is too warm at the same time, for example. It would be best if the cake pops were at room temperature or chilled (not frozen) before applying the candy coating to prevent the candy coating from melting.
- Question: Where can I find a store-bought cake that does not have icing on it? Simply inquire at your local market bakery. If you require one, they can manufacture one for you.
- Concerning the Question The cake balls aren’t going to remain on the sticks for long. What can I do to help? Take care not to over-coat the popsicle with candy coating and/or additional ornamental embellishments. Make sure the balls are completely cold before dipping or coating them. Otherwise, the balls will still be forming shape and will not be as firm when placed on the stick. Only add the balls after dipping or coating, since this provides the stick with more leverage to hold on to. What is the shelf life of cake pops? They are only good for as long as the cake is good. Cakes and cake pops are nearly identical, with the exception of a few components and the size of the pops. Cake pops should survive at least as long as cakes do, and they may stay much longer if they are coated with a protective coating. Store them properly, but use them while they are still fresh to get the finest flavor.
- Question Can you tell me how long the entire procedure will take? The entire procedure takes around 30-45 minutes, not including the time spent baking, cooling, and freezing the cake pops. Is it possible to prepare them ahead of time and freeze them? But I would recommend taking the pops out of the freezer 15-20 minutes before serving them so that they may defrost slightly.
More information can be found in the following answers: Inquire about something There are 200 characters remaining. Include your email address so that you may be notified when this question has been resolved. Advertisement submissions are welcome.
Video
Troubleshooting Problems: Trying to Fix Your Cake Pops
- My cake pops won’t stay on the stick, no matter what I do. Also, keep in mind that you must freeze your cake pops before sticking them onto the stick. It will just fall off and fracture if not done correctly. Fresh cake is too soft to hold the balls together on a stick, so they fall apart. Another suggestion is to use icing or frosting to adhere the tops of your cake pop sticks together. When you set the ball on top of the frosting/icing, it acts as an adhesive, and it should stay on better by not coming off
- my cake pops are breaking as a result. Cake pops that crack are not a huge concern
- you can quickly top them with icing or melted chocolate to disguise their imperfections. However, when you apply frosting or glaze to your cake pops (or even just eat them plain), you will see the cracks, which are not always pleasing to the eye. Make sure your cake pop balls are not too large
- the larger the pops, the more difficult it will be to make them seem round like a ball in the end. Cake pops should be the size of munchkins or slightly smaller. If you are still noticing cracks in the cake, it is possible that you did not put enough frosting in the cake before wrapping it up. Add 1/2 cup extra and try again
- my cake pops are far too sweet as they are. Either the cake or the icing was overly sugary, depending on your preference. It’s important to double-check that you used the correct amount of sugar and vanilla if you created the cake and icing from scratch. If the cake comes in a box and the icing comes in a can, you might want to experiment with preparing your own homemade frosting or purchasing a new box or can. Adding too much fondant or toppings to your cake pops can also make them excessively sweet
- I used melted chocolate to decorate the tops of my cake pops, but it’s cracking. Factories occasionally mistakenly use too much sugar in their food. Overheating the chocolate before dipping might cause the chocolate to fracture as a result of the high temperature. Furthermore, if you freeze your cake pops for an extended period of time, the chocolate will fracture due to the extreme cold. Remove the cake pops from the freezer as soon as the chocolate on them has become firm from freezing. Also, avoid melting your chocolate for an excessive amount of time
- once the chocolate is a liquid, it’s finished.
- Sprinkles, chocolate chips, and other decorations that I use to decorate my cake pops are slipping off the cake pops. Keep in mind to immediately cover your cake pops with the coating while it is still moist. Prepare your cake pop toppings on your work surface before you begin coating the cake pops with them.
- These bubbles develop after I’ve coated my cake pops with icing. Those are air bubbles, and they occur often. The oils or butter from the cake pops attempt to escape, resulting in the formation of those bubbles. You won’t be able to completely avoid air bubbles unless you completely eliminate the butter or oil from the recipe. When air bubbles strike, though, the grease leaks out of the pops and they don’t taste nearly as nice as they should have. While the coating is still wet, use a toothpick to burst each air bubble that emerges while the coating is still wet. The oil is still present, and the flavor of the cake pops has not been diminished
- Instead of regular cake icing, use candy melts (for dipping) to make your cake seem more professional. Candy melts are available in a variety of hues as well. Frosting has a clumpy texture and does not adhere nicely to the cake.
- Don’t keep the cake pops in the freezer for an extended period of time.
- It is possible to create many different variations on the exterior layer of a cake pop using different types of icing, for example. This chocolate-coated variant is one of the most delectable varieties.
- You might even combine two cake mixes, such as chocolate and vanilla, if you so choose.
- Make a marble cake to give the cake pops a swirled appearance on the interior and lovely patterns on the outside!
- Cake pops may be converted into more elaborate creations by including culinary paint and other cake decorations.
- Consider giving the cake pops to a trustworthy friend or family so that you can receive a fair assessment of how they taste.
- In addition, if you’re seeking for another cake pop topping suggestion, try adding crushed cornflakes.
- If the candy becomes too hot to handle and becomes difficult to deal with, try adding a few Paramount Crystals or a drop of Crisco to the mixture. Continue to stir in a small amount at a time until you have a smooth consistency again.
- Excessively much frosting can make the pops too sweet, so avoid using too much. Adding Crisco to the dipping chocolate helps smooth it out and make it more smooth. Don’t add Crisco to the white chocolate, on the other hand. This will completely demolish it.
- Alternatively, you may split a straw in half to use as a stick for your cake pops.
- After you’ve completed these, continue to experiment. Attempt to create animal forms with ears, beaks, and whiskers, as well as other unusual patterns.
- Sprinkle a small amount of salt on top of the chocolate coating. This might assist in bringing out the taste of the chocolate.
- To make it more interesting, experiment with different varieties of chocolate, hazelnut, and mint.
- A cake pop maker is available for purchase at a variety of retailers, including Walmart, Target, Sam’s Clubs, and many big pharmacy shops and department stores.
- The majority of them are inexpensive (less than $20).
Thank you for submitting a suggestion for consideration! Advertisement
Things You’ll Need
- Sticks for lollipop making, cake pans, cookie sheets, electric mixer, and a Styrofoam block (make sure it is acceptable for displaying at a party)
- Lollipop sticks
About This Article
- Summary of the Article XTo begin making cake pops, begin by baking your favorite cake and allowing it to cool completely before proceeding.
- To make the crumbs, place the cooled cake in a large mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer or your hands until fine crumbs are formed.
- After that, fold in half of the frosting container into the crumbs.
- Once the dough has reached a doughy consistency, scoop out balls and roll them in your hands before placing them on a cookie sheet and placing them in the freezer for 10 minutes.
In the next step, melt some chocolate and dip a cake ball into it before dipping it again in the chocolate (see step 3 for instructions).Once the pops are cold, dip them in the chocolate again before adding the toppings and placing them in the refrigerator.Continue reading for suggestions on how to present your cake pops!Did you find this overview to be helpful?The writers of this page have together authored a page that has been read 1,514,047 times.
How to Make Cake Pops – Easy Cake Pops Recipe – Wilton
- To make these simple cake pops, you’ll need some ideas on how to prepare your cake, as well as instructions on how to properly melt Candies Melts candy for quick and easy decoration.
- Cake pops are a terrific edible present or party treat since they are simple to create and entertaining to design.
- They’re simple to make and can be customized with your favorite tastes and colors.
- They’re also great for when you just need a tiny taste of something sweet.
Although you may use your favorite handmade cake recipe to make cake pops in this recipe, there’s no shame in using a boxed cake mix instead.Baked cake from a box yields a moist cake crumb that is ideal for cake pops.To make it feel a little more ″homemade,″ you may also use your favorite mix-ins (we suggest mini chocolate chips or sprinkles for a confetti look).So roll up your sleeves and let’s get this party started!
How to Make Cake Balls
- Using a measuring spoon to produce regular, homogeneous cake balls is the quickest and most efficient method. You may get anywhere from 16 to 48 pops out of a single batch, depending on the size of the mold. Using the following method, you may produce tiny, medium, or giant cake balls: Cake balls are small: one tablespoon-sized cake ball (each about 1 1/4 in. diameter) yields around 48
- Medium: 2 tablespoons sized cake balls (each about 1 1/2 in. in diameter) yields approximately 24
- small: 2 tablespoons sized cake balls (each about 1 1/2 in. in diameter) yields approximately 24
- large: 2 tablespoons sized cake balls yields approximately 24
- small: 2 tablespoons sized cake balls yields approximately 24
- large: 2 tablespoons sized cake balls yields approximately 24
- small: 2 tablespoons sized cake balls yields approximately 24
- large: 2 tablespoons sized
- Extra-large: 3 tablespoons-sized cake balls, each about 2 inches in diameter, yields around 16 servings.
How to Dip Cake Pops Using Candy Melts Candy
- In order to dip your candy, we recommend melting it in a Candy Melting Pot along with a small amount of EZ Thin Dipping Aid.
- The melting pot will aid in maintaining the proper temperature of your candy, and the EZ Thin will ensure that your candy has the appropriate consistency for dipping.
- With Candy Melts, it is simple and enjoyable to design and personalize your cake pops.
- They’re simple to melt and are available in a range of colors and flavors to suit your taste.
See our How to Utilize Candy Melts for Baking and Decorating tutorial for step-by-step instructions on how to melt, use, and create cake pops made with Candy Melts.When melting chocolate, you can use either dark chocolate or white chocolate.Both of these are excellent coatings!
How to Store Cake Pops
Cake pops that have been dipped and decorated with Candy Melts candy can be kept at room temperature for up to a week. Cake pops should be stored in the refrigerator if they were dipped or decorated with melted chocolate or white chocolate. This will prevent the chocolate from melting.
Can You Freeze Cake Pops?
Simply place your cake pops in a big resealable freezer bag and freeze for several hours. Cake pops may be stored in the freezer for up to 6 weeks at room temperature.
Easy Cake Pop Ideas & Recipes
Busy Bee Donut Pops
In the event that you’re too busy to prepare cake pops for your celebration, you may substitute store-bought doughnut holes instead of baking them yourself. These lovely Busy Bee Donut Pops are perfect for baby showers or birthday parties, and all you have to do is dip them in chocolate and garnish them with sprinkles.
School Spirit Cake Pops
These Team Spirit Cake Pops are the perfect way to show off your team spirit. These snacks, which are made with two different colors of cake and candies, are perfect for any sporting event or school function!
Sprinkled Succulent Cake Pops
With these adorable Succulent Cake Pops, you can start your own food garden.
Blue Marbled Cake Pops
Using these adorable Succulent Cake Pops, you can create your very own delicious garden!
Cake Pops Tips and Troubleshooting
How Far in Advance Can You Make Cake Pops?
- You may create your combination a couple of days ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
- You can even make the cake balls a day ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator to make dipping them simpler.
- In order to prepare your cake balls and freeze them, place the cake balls in a big freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 weeks at room temperature.
- Allow the cake balls to come to room temperature before dipping them in the chocolate.
Why Are My Cake Pops Cracking?
- Cracking in your candy shell is almost often caused by a sudden shift in temperature (cold cake balls being dipped into hot candy).
- Hot candy or chocolate that has been placed in a chilly refrigerator or freezer might likewise result in this situation.
- Allowing your cake balls to come up to room temperature before dipping them in heated caramel or chocolate can help to prevent shattering.
- Allow your cake pops to remain at room temperature for 5 to 7 minutes before putting them in the refrigerator or freezer to allow the candy to cool completely before serving.
Getting a Smooth Finish
In order to achieve a good, smooth finish, consider rolling the cake ball once more to smooth off the sides before inserting the stick into the center. We also recommend using EZ Thin to thin out your candy, resulting in a consistency that is ideal for dipping and dunking in liquids.
Why Do My Cake Pops Fall Off the Stick?
- If your cake balls are slipping off your treat stick, it might be because they are too heavy owing to their size or because you have used too much icing.
- Make careful to dip the stick in melted candy before putting it into the cake ball to assist guarantee that your cake balls remain in place better.
- When the hardened sugar coating hardens, it works as a glue, holding the stick in place.
- Adding a bit additional cake to the mix will assist to balance out the texture if you believe you’ve used too much frosting.
The Frosting to Cake Ratio
When it comes to putting frosting on your cake, you just want to put on enough to make it wet. The importance of this is especially significant if you’re using a boxed cake mix, which is already rather wet, since it will make a difference. Start with a little quantity and gradually increase the amount as needed.
Have Fun Experimenting with Flavor!
- Are you a fan of buttercream frosting but not the texture?
- Instead of using buttercream frosting, try using cream cheese frosting!
- When making red velvet cake pops, cream cheese frosting is a terrific choice, but it may also be used with your favorite dark chocolate cake mix.
- What are some of your favorite cake pops that you’ve created throughout the course of your career?
Post a photo of them on social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and tag us @wiltoncakes to be featured.
How to Make and Decorate Eye-Popping Cake Pops
- Allow them to eat cake — on a stick, of course!
- Each product that we showcase has been picked and vetted by our editorial staff after being thoroughly researched and tested.
- If you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links on this page, we may receive a commission.
- It’s common knowledge that everything tastes better when served on a stick, and cake is no exception to this rule.
Cake pops are popular for a variety of reasons, including the following: Because they’re so beautiful and versatile, they don’t require any additional serving utensils or plates, and they’re the perfect size for little hands (or anyone trying to keep themselves from eating a whole cake).So why are people so apprehensive about making them?According to the results of the experiment, cake pops are a very simple activity that falls halfway between cake mix cupcakes and fondant-covered wedding cake in terms of both time and baking expertise.Simply follow the directions and watch the video to get started, and you’ll have lots of ideas for producing these cake cuties in no time.Pink, yellow, and white icing is used to decorate cake pops, which are then topped with crushed cookies and candies.
4 Ways to Make Cake Pops
Make cake pops or cake balls in a variety of ways. We’ll teach you four different ways to do it in this article. The first way begins with a cooked cake (which can be created from scratch or from a cake mix), while the second and third procedures begin with unbaked cake batter, respectively. And what about the fourth approach? Cake pops that don’t need to be baked!
1. How to Make Cake Pops Without a Mold
Instead of making a cake from scratch, use a boxed cake mix to create the quickest and most delicious cake pops possible. Alternatively, you might prepare a cake from scratch if you want. You don’t need any special equipment to make these cake pops; you can simply form them with your hands.
Easy Cake Pops
- Three chocolate-covered cake pops with glitter frosting on top are served. Make use of this highly rated recipe as a guide and experiment with different cake mixes, frostings, and icings to create unlimited possibilities. In addition, don’t underestimate the dramatic effect of biting into an iced cake pop and discovering a buried red velvet or funfetti cake within. Ingredients 1 (15.25 ounce) box cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 3 big eggs
- 12 cup vegetable oil
- 1 (8 ounce) package softened cream cheese
- Lollipop sticks
- 1 (15.25 ounce) packet cake mix
- Handmade chocolate confectioners’ coating, or 1 (14 ounce) bag chocolate confectioners’ coating Glaze with hard chocolate
- candy sprinkles, crushed sweets, and crushed cookies (optional)
- hard chocolate glaze
Into a large mixing basin, crumble the cake. In a large mixing bowl, combine the frosting and cake crumbs. Cake pops are made by rolling the cake and frosting ingredients into little balls and baking them. Meredith is credited on the left; Meredith is credited on the center. Right: Image courtesy of MeredithDirections
- Prepare the cake mix according to the directions on the package. When the cake is finished baking, allow it to cool for 30 minutes before crumbling it into a large mixing bowl and stirring in the cream cheese until thoroughly combined. To achieve the finest results, chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least three hours or overnight before serving.
- Use a melon baller or a tiny scoop to shape balls of the cake mixture that are approximately 1 inch in size. Each cake ball should have a lollipop stick inserted into it. Place the balls on a baking sheet coated with waxed paper and place in the freezer for 1 hour.
- Using a microwave-safe glass bowl or a glass bowl put over a small pot of simmering water, heat the chocolate until it is completely melted and smooth, about 30 seconds. Alternatively, prepare Hard Chocolate Glaze.
- Each cake ball should be dipped into the melted chocolate, with the cake ball being spun slightly to provide an even and smooth coating. Cover the entire ball as well as around 14% of the lollipop stick. Place on a piece of waxed paper to dry. Decorate your cake balls with melted chocolate, sprinkles, and other embellishments. Repeat with the remaining cake balls. Place the cake balls with the decorations in the freezer and allow them to set for at least one hour.
Cake pops on a platter, baked from scratch.
2. How to Make Cake Pops Using a Cake-Pop Pan
- Baking cake pops on a cake pop pan (such as this Amazon top seller from Nordic Ware) will ensure that the cake pops are precisely round each and every time. The cake batter for this approach can be produced from a boxed cake mix or from scratch, and it will be baked in a special pan designed specifically for this purpose. pan for making cake pops Ingredients Cake batter (you may use a cake mix or a cake recipe from scratch, whatever you choose)
- 1 (24-ounce) container vanilla almond bark, or make your own Hard Chocolate Glaze using this recipe.
- 1 package paper lollipop sticks (approximately)
Directions
- Use a cake pop pan after spraying it with cooking spray to prevent cake pops from forming.
- Cooking Instructions: Prepare a cake batter and spoon it into the bottom pan (no ″binder″ icing required), filling the pan almost completely with it
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
- secure the top half of the pan.
- Allow for 5 minutes of cooling time in the pan before removing. When the balls have cooled fully, use a sharp knife to delicately cut away the raised edge around the centre of the balls, ensuring that they are perfectly spherical. The end product should look something like the photo below when completed. To make the cake pops, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for inserting the lollipop stick and dipping them. Allow yourself to relax once more and decorate with abandon
Cake pops made from cake balls cooked in a cake pop form
3. How to Make Cake Pops Using a Cake-Pop Appliance
If you’re like gadgets, check out this video on how to operate an unique cake-pop device, the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker (which can be purchased on Amazon for just $23), which works in a similar way to a waffle maker and can be purchased for just $23. Starting with the cake batter of your choosing, you’ll proceed to the next step.
Video: Using the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker
4. No-Bake Cake Pops
- You remember how I claimed the cake mix cake pops were the simplest thing I’d ever made?
- These no-bake cake pops, on the other hand, are a piece of cake.
- Cookie crumbles are muddled with mascarpone cheese and Irish cream liqueur before being covered in white chocolate and drizzled with dark chocolate to make this dessert.
- To make them into cake pops, just insert lollipop sticks before freezing and dipping them in the chocolate.
No-Bake Baileys Cheesecake Balls
Baileys Cheesecake Balls that don’t require baking Cheesecake Balls Made Without Baking | Recipe courtesy of Allrecipes.com
How to Decorate Cake Pops
- Everything is possible when it comes to adorning these delectable little bites of heaven.
- Cake pops may be made for any occasion, including birthdays, holidays, and simply because you want to create them.
- Here are some ideas to get you started on your creative journey: It takes very little effort to decorate cake pops.
- Look through your cupboard for quick and simple decorations such as biscuits, nuts, and sweets to use.
Cook a piece or two of bacon until crispy and crumbly.And if you want to go all out, look for or make candied flowers or citrus curls to serve with your dessert.Cake pops that have been dipped in frosting and garnished with crushed cookies, chopped candies, bacon pieces, almonds, and candied flowers.Christmas-themed cake pops adorned with crushed peppermints, toasted coconut, chopped almonds, and candy sprinkles are a sweet treat to serve over the holiday season.Cupcake pops that have been dipped in chocolate and vanilla frosting and then garnished with candy.
- Christmas cake pops for youngsters – and, who are we fooling, they’re also a hit with the grown-ups!
- The snow figure, reindeer, Santa’s stomach, and a Christmas tree ornament are all made out of cake pops for Christmas.
- Cupcake pops that have been strung onto lollipop sticks and then painted to appear like happy snow people.
- Cake pops that have been strung onto lollipop sticks and adorned with crushed coconut, candies, pretzel sticks, and frosting to resemble snowmen These Halloween cake pops will be a hit with all of your tiny ghosts and goblins.
- You know what would be entertaining on the inside?
Perhaps pumpkin cake pops would be appropriate?Pumpkin spice cake pops that have been arranged to appear like ghosts, witches, and spiders are perfect for Halloween.You might also be interested in:
Ingredients
For the cake
- The ingredients are as follows: 100 g butter, 100 g caster sugar, 12 tsp vanilla essence, 2 eggs, 100 g self-raising flour
For the buttercream
- Recipe calls for 75g butter, 150g icing sugar, 12 tsp vanilla essence, 1 tablespoon milk, 200g white chocolate, heated and ready for dipping, and sprinkles for dipping.
Method
- STEP 1: Begin by baking the cake. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius (170 degrees Celsius fan/gas). 5. Prepare the base of a 20cm sandwich pan by greasing and lining it with parchment paper. In a large mixing basin, combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract and beat thoroughly until the mixture has a creamy consistency. Slowly beat in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined. Fold in the flour until completely combined. Pour the batter into the cake tin and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cake is risen and golden brown. Remove from heat and allow it cool fully
- STEP 2: While the cakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream to ice the cakes. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and icing sugar until creamy. Add the vanilla extract and milk and blend until well combined. Set aside. Once the cake has been allowed to cool, crush it into big bits. Stir in the butter cream until everything is well-combined. Take portions of the cake mixture and roll them into balls, moving each ball to a lined tray or plate, inserting a lollypop stick into each ball, and placing each tray or plate in the refrigerator for an hour to set
- STEP 3Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, blasting it and stirring it at 10-second intervals, until it is smooth and completely dissolved. Transfer the sprinkles to a separate bowl. To assemble, take each of the chilled cake pops and dip it into the white chocolate, allowing some of the chocolate to drop down the sides of the dish. Dip the cookies into the sprinkles and set them upright in a mug to dry at room temperature for an hour or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Vanilla Cake Pops- Starbucks Copycat (VIDEO)
- Make the cake as a first step.
- preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas mark 5.
- 5.
- Prepare the base of a 20cm sandwich pan by greasing and lining it with baking parchment.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla essence and beat until smooth and creamy.After adding the eggs one at a time, slowly fold in the flour until everything is thoroughly combined.Fill your cake tin and bake for around 20 minutes, or until the cake is risen and golden brown in color.After cooling fully, remove from heat.STEP 2: While the cakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream to ice the tops.
- Using either a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and icing sugar until smooth.
- Then, add the vanilla extract and milk and whisk until well combined again.
- The cake should be crumbled into large pieces as soon as it has been allowed to cool completely.
- Stir in the butter cream until it is well incorporated into the dish.
- To make the lollypops, take portions of the cake mixture and roll them into balls, moving them to a lined tray or plate, and placing them in the refrigerator for an hour to set;
STEP 3Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, blasting it and stirring it at 10-second intervals, until it is smooth and completely melted through.
Fill another basin with the sprinkles.Put one cold cake pop in the white chocolate, allowing some of the white chocolate to drop off onto a plate or into a dish.Dip the cookies into the sprinkles and set them upright in a mug to dry for an hour at room temperature or 30 minutes in the refrigerator;
How to Make Cake Pop Recipe
- STEP 1: First and foremost, make the cake. Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas 4. 5. Prepare the base of a 20cm sandwich pan by greasing and lining it with baking paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Slowly beat in the eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Fold in the flour until well combined. Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cake is risen and golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully
- MAKE THE BUTTERCREAM WHILE THE CUPCAKES ARE COOLING. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and icing sugar until creamy. Add the vanilla extract and milk and blend until well combined. After the cake has been allowed to cool, crush it into big bits. Mix in the butter cream until everything is well-combined. To make the lollypops, take bits of the cake mixture and roll them into balls, moving them to a lined tray or plate, and placing them in the fridge for an hour to set
- STEP 3Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, blasting it and stirring at 10-second intervals, until smooth. Pour the sprinkles into a separate basin. Take each of the chilled cake pops and dip it into the white chocolate, letting a bit of the chocolate to drop from the top of the pops into the bowl. Dipped in the sprinkles, the cookies should be left to dry at room temperature for an hour or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes
What is a Cake Pop
To make a cake pop, you just need to take a cooked cake and tear it into little pieces before mixing it with icing. After that, it’s crushed into a cake ball for serving purposes. A stick with candy melts is then used to hold it while it is being decorated.
TIPS to make perfect Starbucks cake pops
- One technique to determine whether the frosting and cake crumbs have been well blended is to compress a handful of them and check to see that there is no more marbled icing visible
- Remove the outer layer of the cooked cake and set it aside for later use. Given that it is often dryer than the remainder of the cake, it is possible that the cake ball will come apart
- however, this is rare.
How to melt Wilton candy melts
If the candy coating is too thick after melting, thin it down with some form of shortening, such as Crisco or coconut oil, to make it more manageable.
TIPS on dipping the cake pops
- It is not necessary to swirl the cake pop around once it has been dipped in the sugar coating. Bring it straight down, dip it, then carefully bring it back up, so that it does not fall apart.
- As soon as the cake pops have been dipped into the melted candy, immediately tap the hand that is holding the cake pop to help release any extra candy melt
- this will help prevent the cake pops from becoming soggy.
Ingredients to make cake pops
- A white cake mix (which requires the addition of eggs, water and oil), vanilla icing, candy melts, and Crisco shortening are required.
- Cake pops are made with special equipment. Cake pop sticks, a cake pop formed 11/4 inch in diameter (or a tiny cookie scoop), sprinkles, and Styrofoam are all required.
How to store cake pops
- Keep the cake pops at room temperature in an airtight container until ready to serve. Condensation will occur on top of the cake pop after it has been refrigerated. 24 cake pop sticks
- a cake pop former 11/4 inch in diameter or a tiny cookie scoop
- a deep narrow cup
- white sprinkles
- Styrofoam
- a cake pop former or a small cookie scoop Cake:
- \s▢ 1 box Pillsbury classic white cake mix
- 2 tablespoons Pillsbury creamy supreme vanilla frosting
- 1 cup Pillsbury classic white cake mix Ingredients for the candy coating: 1 12 oz bag Wilton candy melts
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Crisco shortening
- 1 12 oz bag Wilton candy melts
- In an airtight container, keep the cake pops at room temperature for up to a day. Ice will condense on top of the cake pop as it is being refrigerated. White sprinkles
- Styrofoam
- 24 cake pop sticks
- cake pop former (11/4 inch in diameter or tiny cookie scoop)
- deep narrow cup
- cake pop former (11/4 inch in diameter or small cookie scoop)
- 24 cake pop sticks Cake:
- \s▢ 1 box Pillsbury classic white cake mix
- 2 tbsp Pillsbury creamy supreme vanilla icing
- 1 tbsp Pillsbury classic chocolate cake mix 1 12 oz container Wilton candy melts
- 1 1/2 tsp Crisco shortening
- 1 1/2 tsp Crisco shortening
- Keep the cake pops at room temperature until ready to serve. Condensation will occur on top of the cake pop after it has been refrigerated. Serving size: 1 cake pop | 119 calories | 22 grams of carbohydrates | 3 grams of fat | 2 grams of saturated fat | 157 milligrams of sodium | 13 milligrams of potassium | 13 grams of sugar | 47 milligrams of iron Take a picture of it and tag me on Instagram @simplyhomecooked or use the hashtags simplyhomecooked so that I may see it and showcase it. Please note that some of the photographs in this recipe have been changed
- nevertheless, some of our older photographs are included below. Recent Posts by the Author
- Hello, my name is Dina, and I’m delighted you’ve dropped by!
- I feel that life is too short to waste time drinking lousy coffee and eating dull meals.
- You’ll be astonished at how fast a clean and tasty supper can be put together with my simple step-by-step recipes, which are easy to understand and follow.
- I hope you are able to discover something you like!
Dina’s most recent blog entries (see all)
How to Make Cake Pops (easy and fool-proof)
- Learn how to create cake pops in the comfort of your own home! This simple and fool-proof cake pop recipe is guaranteed to turn out perfectly every time you make it! These delectable candy-coated cake balls make a wonderful party treat for just about any get-together or event. Whether you’re creating my Starbucks copycat vanilla birthday cake pops, red velvet cake pops, or no-bake oreo cake pops, this straightforward tutorial will have you producing cake pops like a pro in no time at all. To the Table of Contents: What are cake pops composed of?
- What supplies are required to produce cake pops
- Instructions on how to create cake pops
- How to melt the candy melts
- how to keep the cake balls on the stick
- and other helpful hints.
- The easiest way to create cake pops
- what can I use in place of candy melts
- and more.
- What is causing my cake pops to crack?
- Creating cake pops ahead of time
- Keeping cake pops fresh
- Instructions for the entire recipe
What are cake pops made of?
To make cake pops, you just need a few ingredients, including a boxed cake mix cooked in the oven and vanilla icing. They are then coated in melted candy melts, which is a simple and delicious finishing touch (the kind you can pour into molds).
Supplies you need to make cake pops
- If you want to make cake balls, all you actually need is a cooked cake prepared from cake mix and icing, as well as sugar melts to coat the outside of the balls.
- You may form the cake balls with your hands or with a meatballer to ensure that they are the same size and shape each time you make them.
- Pour the batter into a cake pop mold and set it aside until it hardens.
- For cake pops, use the same ingredients as above, but add cake pop sticks and a styrofoam block to keep the pops upright until they solidify.
How to make cake pops
Listed below is a brief explanation on how to prepare these addicting and delectable confections. The entire, thorough recipe may be found at the bottom of this page, on the printable recipe card, which you can download and print.
- Bake the boxed cake according to the package directions, allow it to cool, and then cut away the dry outer layer. Then either trash those portions or set them aside for later consumption.
- Finely crumble the cake and combine it with the vanilla frosting in a large mixing bowl. Create cake pops by rolling the batter into balls using your hands or using a cake pop maker
- Cake pop sticks should be inserted into the cake balls– Before inserting the sticks, you’ll need to dip the ends of the sticks into some melted caramel melts to seal them in place. After that, put it in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Dip the cake balls into the candy melts– Once the candy melts have been well melted and thinned down with shortening or dipping aid chips, you may dip the cake balls into the candy melts and allow them to set upright on a styrofoam block to dry.
Tips to melt the candy melts
- When melting candy melts, take careful not to overheat the candy coating by heating it too quickly.
- If this occurs, the material will become too hard.
- To create a smooth candy coating that will ensure that your cake balls have a beautiful exterior shell, you must thin it down a little bit at first.
- If you want a runnier consistency, you can add Crisco shortening, coconut oil, or EZ-thin dipping aid to the recipe.
How to Keep the cake balls on the stick
- To keep the cake balls from slipping off the stick, make sure you have enough icing on the cake balls and flatten down the sugar coating before putting them on the pole.
- If the chocolate coating is too thick, it will be heavy and will cause the cake balls to sink to the bottom of the pan.
- TIP: If you don’t want to use the stick, you may just bake cake balls instead of using it.
- Right here on my blog, you’ll find a simple recipe for red velvet cake balls as well as a no-bake oreo cake ball recipe.
How to make the EASY version of cake pops
Try my no-bake oreo cake pops if you’re searching for a super-fast and quick variation of my original vanilla cake pops. They’re delicious! (VIDEO). All you need are Oreos, cream cheese, and candy melts to make this dessert. That’s all there is to it!
- Combine the Oreos and cream cheese in a food processor and mix until smooth.
- Roll the dough into cake balls and insert the melted candy-dipped stick into the center of each cake ball. After that, put it in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Now dip the cake pops into the melted candy melts and carefully place the sticks into a styrofoam block to allow the candy to harden. If the candy melts are too thick, you may thin them out with dipping aid chips.
What can I use instead of candy melts?
The only thing that could replace candy melts would be chocolate. To produce cake balls without the use of candy melts, you will need to combine 1 tablespoon vegetable oil for every 1 cup of chocolate chips in your recipe.
Why are my cake pops cracking?
- The majority of the time, there are two causes for them to break.
- Prior to dipping the balls in the chocolate, you should freeze the cake pops for 15 minutes to solidify the stick.
- If you dip them in candy melts that are excessively hot, the candy melts will fracture as a result of the quick temperature difference.
- If you kept the cake balls in the freezer for more than 15 minutes, they may have become too cold.
The cracking effect can be caused by a sudden temperature shift in this case as well, as was the case previously.
Make them ahead of time
Prepare them several days in advance and store them at room temperature in an airtight container.
Storing cake pops
- You may store them already dipped at room temperature for up to a week
- however, refrigeration is recommended.
- Refrigerator– Store the undipped cake balls in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer– Alternatively, you may preserve the cake balls without the icing in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. Don’t forget to defrost them in the refrigerator before using them.
Full Recipe Instructions
- 24 cake pop sticks
- a cake pop former 11/4 inch in diameter or a small cookie scoop
- white nonpareils (optional)
- a Styrofoam block (to lay the dipped cake pops)
- a cake pop former 11/4 inch in diameter or a small cookie scoop
- Cake pops should be formed by trimming off the outside golden layer of the cake once it has cooled to room temperature as recommended on the boxed cake mix.
- By crumbling the cake into fine crumbs with your hands, place it in a large mixing basin. Mix in 2 tablespoons of vanilla frosting with a spoon or your hands until well combined.
- Form the cake into balls and set them in the cake pop mold. Repeat with the remaining cake. Make sure the cake ball is slightly larger in diameter than the size of the pressing machine. Once the cake ball has been pushed tightly together, remove any excess cake from the edges and roll the ball with your hands to smooth out any faults that may have occurred. This step is completely optional. You can always simply finish it off with your hands if you want to.
- Place the sticks in the appropriate positions – In a small basin, heat 1/4 cup of candy melts until completely melted. Heat in 30-second intervals to avoid the candy from being overheated
- dip the tip of each cake pop stick into the melted candy and put it into the cake ball about halfway through
- cool completely before serving. Each cake pop should be placed on a baking sheet and placed in the freezer for about 15- 20 minutes before serving. Keep them there for no more than a few minutes or they will become too cold, causing the hot melted candy to break once you have dipped them.
- Thin out the candy melts before dipping them– In the meantime, melt the remaining candy in a separate basin. Make careful to melt them in 30-second intervals with frequent mixing in between each one. Once it’s completely melted, add 1 1/2 teaspoons Crisco shortening or melting aid chips (whatever you like) and stir until thoroughly combined. Then, using a tall narrow cup, pour the melted candy into it.
- Remove the cake pops from the freezer and dip each one into the cup, tilting the cup carefully to the edges to ensure that the entire cake pop is coated with frosting. Then gingerly lift the cake pop out of the pan. Using one hand, hold the cake pop and tap your wrist so that all of the additional melted candy drops off
- (do not twirl the cake pop)
- While the candy coating is still wet, garnish the cake pops with sprinkles or nonpareils while they are still warm. This will ensure that the sprinkles adhere nicely.
- Prepare your Styrofoam block and set it aside for approximately one hour. Refrigerate or store at room temperature
- Is it possible to prepare them ahead of time? Yes, I prefer to prepare cake pops a few days ahead of time and store them at room temperature in an airtight container. Making candy melts smoother and thinner I strongly recommend that you use dipping aid chips to make the melted candy melts more smooth and thinner in consistency. 88 calories | 19 grams of carbohydrates | 1 gram of protein | 1 gram of fat | 1 gram of saturated fat | 152 milligrams of sodium | 13 milligrams of potassium | 1 gram of fiber | 10 grams of sugar | 47 milligrams of calcium | 1 milligram of iron Take a picture of it and tag me on Instagram @simplyhomecooked or use the hashtags simplyhomecooked so that I may see it and showcase it. Recent Posts by the Author
- Hello, my name is Dina, and I’m delighted you’ve dropped by!
- I feel that life is too short to waste time drinking lousy coffee and eating dull meals.
- You’ll be astonished at how fast a clean and tasty supper can be put together with my simple step-by-step recipes, which are easy to understand and follow.
- I hope you are able to discover something you like!
Dina’s most recent blog entries (see all)
The Best Chocolate for Cake Pops – A Dipping, Taste & Price Comparison
- (As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions from qualifying purchases purchased via the links provided here.) ″I’m never going to make cake pops again.″ If you’ve ever said those words out loud, it’s most likely because you had a disappointing experience dipping your cake pops.
- In this article, you will get an up-close and personal look at six popular dipping chocolates that have been tested based on their consistency, convenience of usage, and overall flavor.
- Following the receipt of more information about their availability and pricing, you’ll be able to select which brand is the most suitable for your cake popping experience.
***As a special bonus, I have a coupon code to share with you for a discount on my favorite dipping chocolate for cake pops. So make sure you scroll through to the end of the blog post to take advantage of the limited time offer before it’s too late!***
What Is Compound Chocolate?
- If you believe that genuine (or couverture) chocolate is the greatest type of chocolate to use for coating cake pops, it’s time to learn about compound chocolate, which is a simpler alternative to real chocolate.
- Real chocolate is made up of two major ingredients: chocolate liquor and cocoa butter, both of which require an unique melting procedure known as tempering in order to be consumed.
- In compound chocolate, the chocolate liquid is substituted with cocoa powder, and the cocoa butter is substituted with vegetable or olive oil.
- As a consequence, melting the compound chocolate in the microwave is a simple process for most people.
Choosing the correct compound chocolate will ensure that your coating is delectable and that you do not feel as though you are compromising taste for convenience.
Chocolate Dipping Comparison
- It is important to note that, just as the consistency of your royal icing dictates how much trouble you will have decorating sugar cookies, the thickness of your dipping chocolate is a significant contributor to your success while producing cake pops.
- To ensure that the dipping comparison between our six compound chocolates was as fair as possible, each was cooked using the identical procedure as the others.
- A 14-ounce glass was filled to the brim with chocolate wafers or cubes, then the glass was sealed (depending on how the chocolate is packaged).
- Using ordinary power, each glass of chocolate was heated for 30 seconds on regular power, then swirled, and then warmed in 15-second intervals at 50 percent power until melted, stirring in between each interval.
The importance of avoid overheating your chocolate should not be underestimated.As a result, pieces of chocolate will develop in your chocolate, rendering it unfit for consumption.Maintaining the temperature of the coating during the whole dipping procedure is critical to obtaining a nice coating on your cake pops.A chocolate melting pot is an excellent tool for avoiding the need