Making Cake Balls is a piece of cake, literally.
Small
handfuls of crumbled cake are rolled into balls, dipped in chocolate, and
decorated.
Similarly, Cake Pops are cake balls on lollipop sticks with a candy coating. They're a tad more tricky to prepare but, as you will see, the decorating possibilities are endless because the candy coating comes in many, many colors, even chocolate. Great leftover cake idea.
They start the same way. In short, cake crumbles are held
together by frosting and rolled into balls. Any variety or flavor of cake will
do; red velvet cake balls are very popular, though, for their rich color. Likewise,
the frosting may be store-bought or homemade. A half-recipe of my cream cheese
frosting works well.
Makes 4 to 5 dozen
1 cake (1 box cake mix size) prepared, baked and cooled
1/2 to 1 cup frosting
Line 2 baking sheets with wax paper and set aside. Cut the
cake into large squares and crumble it by
hand, not too finely, into a large bowl. (Forgo the food processor this
time.)
Stir in 1/2 cup of frosting and test the consistency. It
should smoosh together without being
sticky. Add more frosting, a little at a time, only if necessary. Form the
cake mixture into walnut-size balls with a cookie scoop, mini ice cream scoop, tablespoon,
or by hand. Place them on the baking sheets and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
For Cake Balls:
1 16 ounce pkg. Baker's Semi-Sweet or White Chocolate
Sprinkles or 6
ounces Baker's chocolate (contrasting color) for garnish
Melt the Baker's chocolate in a deep bowl according to
package directions. Working with 1 sheet of balls from the refrigerator and 1
ball at a time, plop the balls into the chocolate and remove them with a fork.
Gently tap the fork on the edge of the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Return them
to the wax-papered baking sheet and garnish:
1. Sprinkle with sprinkles while still damp or...
2. Let the coating harden then drizzle with a little
contrasting, melted chocolate using a squeeze bottle or like this: Pour the melted
chocolate into a re-sealable plastic baggie, snip a very small bottom corner
off, and drizzle.
Repeat with the other sheet. Refrigerate.
For Cake Pops:
1 16-ounce pkg. candy coating
1 tablespoon shortening, give or take, optional
Lollipop sticks
Styrofoam block or cake pop holders
Decoration ingredients of your choice
Melt the candy coating according to package directions in a
deep bowl, adding a little shortening to thin the coating. Insert a lollipop
stick half way into a cake ball, then remove it. Drizzle a drop of the candy
coating into the hole, dip the top of the lollipop stick into the melted candy
and insert again. Stand the cake pop up in a holder or styrofoam to harden.
Repeat the process with all the cake pops. Chill them for a few minutes if need
be.
When the sticks are "glued" in, dip the balls
straight down into the candy coating and back out. (Keep the candy warm and
melty.) Gently tap the stick on the edge of the bowl to remove any excess
coating. Return the pops to their styrofoam stand and decorate as desired. If
you're using sprinkles, remember to dip the pops in them while still gooey.
Here are some more decorating ideas:
Top of Cake Balls and Cake Pops
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