Cooking With Etsy Dallas: Cake Balls

Cake Balls have been around for many years, but this is my take on them. Nope, they are not dietetic, but a great treat when you feel like you deserve it. The possibilities are endless: chocolate dipped in chocolate, red velvet or carrot cake dipped in white chocolate. Top with sprinkles, chopped nuts, chocolate shavings...you get the idea!

One of my favorite baking blogs at the moment is http://www.bakerella.com/. Check out how she decorates red velvet cake balls in December '07. Like I said, the possibilities are endless! Beware: While cake balls are easy to make, they are a tad time consuming. Now go make some balls!

YOUR BASIC CAKE BALLS

(1) 18.25 oz box chocolate cake mix
(1) 16 oz container chocolate frosting at room temp
(1) lb bag chocolate candy wafers

Prepare the cake mix according to package directions in a 13 x 9 x 2. First important tip: let the cake cool completely! Crumble in a large bowl and stir in frosting with a fork until well blended. Will not be pretty! Place in refrigerator to chill before rolling into balls.

Use a tablespoon to scoop and form balls of the chocolate cake mixture and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. If mixture becomes too soft, return to the fridge to chill. Once balls are rolled, place in freezer and leave overnight. If you do not have time to freeze overnight, leave in the refrigerator for several hours. This makes them easier to dip without breaking. If you prefer to make "cake pops," insert a lollipop stick into each cake ball before chilling.

Melt chocolate wafers in a large pyrex measuring cup in the microwave, stirring occasionally until smooth. Once the balls are chilled, dip with a toothpick in melted chocolate (only use about 1/4 of the batch at a time while the rest are in the fridge or freezer). Dip and place on wax paper to set. Add sprinkles as each ball is dipped since the chocolate sets very quickly.

GOOD TO KNOW
*Dip two different ways - (1) dip each ball in chocolate and add sprinkles quickly, before the chocolate sets, or (2) dip and leave the toothpicks in while they dry and then gently twist to remove and add a little melted chocolate and sprinkles to the top of each one.

*If making red velvet cake balls with cream cheese frosting and dipping in white chocolate candy wafers, you will need to double-dip. The first dip will be pink!

*You can mix and match cake and icing flavors, as well as different colored chocolate wafers. Bags of the candy wafers are available at Michael's, JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby in the Wilton candy section.

Sometimes I make these the size of quarters - sometimes the size of golf balls. Either pile on a cake plate or place each one in a paper muffin cup. This recipe yields approximately 72 small cake balls. Enjoy!

by brendaswhite

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Too lazy to make cake balls yourself?
Visit The Cake Ball Company in Dallas on the southeast corner of NW Hwy and Easton. In Austin, pull on into the best dang trailer lot in town and step up to Holy Cacao's counter, located on South First Street.