Red Velvet Cake Balls hide a sweet and festive scarlet treat inside! This easy dessert recipe is perfect for the holidays.
A couple of weeks ago I tried making one of those peekaboo pound cakes. You know, a pound cake that reveals a fun, holiday-themed shape in the center when you slice into it?
The directions in the recipe I followed were clear, but the execution was flawed. Horribly, wretchedly flawed.
Instead of slicing into a moist and luscious cream cheese pound cake to reveal a red velvet cake-flavored, Christmas tree-shape inside, I sawed into a burnt brick to find a maroon-colored blob in the center. FAIL.
The upside to my baking disaster? I had almost an entire red velvet cake leftover to make Red Velvet Cake Balls with!
Start with 1 box red velvet cake mix. Bake the cake according to package directions then, when it’s completely cool, crumble the cake into a very large bowl.
This will feel so wrong — but that’s showbiz, baby!
Next, make a cream cheese frosting which will act like glue to hold the cake crumbles together. You could also buy this pre-made, but frosting is one thing I always make from scratch. It’s easy!
Just cream together 1/4 cup softened butter with 4oz 1/3-less fat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, then 1 cup powdered sugar.
Add half of the icing to the cake crumbles then incorporate it with a spatula or your hands.
Add more icing until the cake crumbles just come together to form a smooth NOT TOO STICKY paste.
Scoop the cake mixture by the Tablespoon then roll into balls and place on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, 1-2 hours.
Once the cake balls are firm, pull them out and melt their yummy chocolate coating. I love Baker’s chocolate because it melts perfectly in the microwave and stays silky smooth for a long time after warming.
For the cake balls, microwave 16oz Baker’s semi-sweet baking chocolate in 30 second increments, stirring between increments, until smooth.
Use two forks to dip each cake ball in the melted chocolate. Pass the cake ball from fork to fork once or twice, then place back on the wax paper.
After all the balls have been dipped, melt 6oz Baker’s white chocolate to drizzle on top. This is totally optional, but I think it adds a little somethin’ somthin’. Follow the same melting instructions as the semi-sweet chocolate, then use a small spoon to drizzle the melted chocolate over the cake balls.
Finally, for a little extra holiday cheer, dust with colored sprinkles on top!
Refrigerate the cake balls until the chocolate has hardened, then you are ready to ROCK!
Perfectly pretty and festive — I hope you love each and every Red Velvet Cake Ball!
Psst! These make great homemade holiday gifts, too!
Ingredients
- 1 box red velvet cake mix, plus ingredients required on back of box
- 16 oz Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate
- 6 oz Baker's White Chocolate
- colored sprinkles, optional
For the cream cheese frosting (could use store-bought):
- 1/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 4 oz 1/3-less fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Directions
- Bake red velvet cake according to package directions. Let cool completely then crumble into a very large bowl. In a separate large bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add vanilla then beat until combined. Add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, then beat until combined. Incorporate half the cream cheese frosting into the cake crumbles, then add more frosting until the cake crumbles just come together. Scoop by the Tablespoon then roll into balls and place on a wax-paper lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cake then refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
- Melt semi-sweet chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring between increments, until smooth. Dip cake balls in chocolate using two forks, then place back on wax paper. Melt white chocolate in 20 second increments, stirring between increments, then use a spoon to drizzle over cake balls. Sprinkle with colored sprinkles, if desired, then refrigerate until chocolate is hardened.
Notes
- Serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Oh! And if you’re using store-bought, use half of the container. Worked perfect for me.
Oh my gosh! I ran out to Hy-Vee and bought all of the ingredients for this today. Am making them right now! For all you locals, the red velvet cake *and* store-bought cream cheese frosting are on sale right now. Additionally, if you received coupons in the mail for Hy-Vee’s “week” sales, you can use the 99 cent coupon for white chocolate to drizzle over them. I’m cheap and went that route, instead of the Baker’s white chocolate — I did buy the Baker’s semi-sweet, though. :)
These look absolutely wonderful…can hardly wait til morning to try these out…Thanks for great directions
Such awesome nuggets of pure pleasure. Will have to try making these cake balls. You’ve given me courage to try out the recipe.
Oh I am so going to try your two forks method so next time I make truffles or cake balls mine will be as pretty as yours hopefully!
How do you store the cake balls after they are made? Assuming they aren’t all eaten immediately. :). Fridge?
I am pretty sure I saw this recipe on Bakearella like 5 years ago:)
Well, there aren’t too many different ways to make cake balls, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they are similar!
I’m in Des Moines. Where did you see Duff Goldman’s cake mix?? Freaking cool. R.
I’ve just found your blog!!
um , wow! These look AMAZING! Thanks for sharing.
Oh no! You made me laugh out loud at the Swedish Meatball cake ball!
On the plus side, looks like you redeemed yourself!
I am so glad to know I am not the only one who can’t melt chocolate. I thought there was something wrong with me. ;) I also can’t do a thing with those darn candy melts either. But I will definitely use the bakers chocolate next time. Oh, and these look delish by the way!
Candy melts have never worked for me either!!
Thanks for the cake ball recipe. I have made them before with success but my daugther loves red velvet and this will be perfect for the holidays.
My mom LOVES red velvet cake. I’ve never been brave enough to try making cake balls. You make it seem easy!