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Cake balls coated in light brown candy melts and colorful sprinkles, with one cut open.

Cake Balls Recipe

Sharon Best Profile PictureSharon Best
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling and Chilling Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36 cake balls
Calories 108 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box cake mix any flavor, prepared according to package directions
  • 1 cup frosting any flavor, homemade or store-bought, plus more if needed
  • 16 ounces candy melts
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • Sprinkles optional, for decorating

Instructions
 

Bake And Cool The Cake:

  • Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions (typically by combining the mix with eggs, water, and oil) and bake in the pan specified on the box until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
    Cake batter in a parchment-lined pan for cake balls.
  • Place the pan on a wire rack and cool the cake in the pan for about 15 minutes. Turn the cake out onto the rack, remove the pan, and let the cake cool completely to room temperature, about 30-45 minutes.

Prep For Shaping:

  • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Transfer the cooled cake to a large mixing bowl. Using your hands, break the cake into large chunks, then rub and press them between your fingers to form fine, even crumbs. Alternatively, pulse the cake in a food processor in short bursts until evenly crumbled, being careful not to overprocess into a paste.
    Ingredients for Cake Balls Recipe: cake crumbs, frosting, candy melts, sprinkles.
  • Add about 1/2 cup of the frosting to the cake crumbs and mix with a spoon or your hands until evenly combined. Continue to add more frosting, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds together when pressed and forms a moldable dough. You may need a bit more or less than 1 cup of frosting total, depending on how moist the cake crumbles are.
    Adding frosting to cake crumbs for Cake Balls Recipe.

Shape And Chill The Cake Balls:

  • Using a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop, portion the mixture into 36 equal-sized mounds. Roll them into smooth balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, spaced about 1 inch apart.
    Rolling Cake Balls Recipe mixture into smooth balls and arranging them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Cover and chill until firm, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

Dip And Finish The Cake Balls:

  • Once the balls have chilled, place the candy melts and vegetable oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20- to 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes total. The coating should flow easily from a spoon and have a shiny, pourable consistency. If it seems too thick for dipping, add 1/2 teaspoon more oil and stir to loosen.
    Adding vegetable oil to candy melts for Cake Balls Recipe.
  • Working with one ball at a time, use a fork to dip each chilled cake ball into the melted coating. Turn to coat evenly, then lift and tap gently against the side of the bowl to let excess drip off.
    Dipping a chilled cake ball for Cake Balls into melted yellow candy coating.
  • Place the dipped cake balls back on the parchment-lined sheet. Immediately top with sprinkles if desired.
    A hand sprinkling colorful sprinkles onto yellow Cake Balls.
  • Let the coating set at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, or refrigerate for 5-10 minutes until firm. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 117mgFiber: 0.2g
Keyword Cake Balls
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