1boxed cake mix in any flavormade with ingredients listed on package, baked and cooled
Cream Cheese Frosting
4ozcream cheeseroom temperature
¼cupbutterroom temperature
1 ½cupspowdered sugar
½teaspoonvanilla extract
Dipping Chocolate
12-24ozWhite Chocolate such as GhiradelliCandy melts may also be used. Follow directions on package for melting. Amount of chocolate depends on how thickly you coat the cake balls.
Garnish: sprinkles
Instructions
Bake cake according to package directions and let cool.
Place cake in large bowl and crumble with fingers into medium coarse crumbs.
Cream Cheese Frosting
In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. This should take about 3 minutes. Continue beating while adding vanilla extract until mixed well.
Turn mixer to low and slowly add confectioner’s sugar. When it is mostly incorporated turn mixing speed higher and beat until fluffy, about 1 minute.
To Assemble
Starting with 2 tablespoons of frosting, add to cake crumbs and mix well. I like to use my hands to get it fully mixed with crumbs. Check to see if you can roll a portion into a small ball. If the cake does not hold together, add more frosting until it holds its shape.
Roll balls about the size of a ping pong ball with your hands. Place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet(s).
Chill balls for about 20 minutes in freezer. You want them to chill not freeze!
When you are ready to coat, melt white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments until almost all of chocolate has melted. Remove from microwave and stir to melt remaining chocolate. Do not overheat!
Remove cake balls from freezer. Using a spoon, dip into chocolate to coat then place back on cookie sheet. Immediately sprinkle with seasonal sprinkles.
Continue until all cake balls have been coated then let them sit until set, about 1 hour.
They can be placed in the refrigerator once set for up to one week
Notes
Variations for every season
These cake balls work well any time of year and can be decorated for any special occasion. Change up the color or flavor of the cake balls by choosing different cake mixes and types of sprinkles. Think Halloween cake balls in orange and black, Christmas cake balls in red and green, and red, white, and blue for July 4th for a variety of seasonal twists.
Prefer dark chocolate over white chocolate? Go for it by coating with Ghiradelli dark chocolate.
Want a little different flavoring? Start with a white cake mix and sub in flavored oil for the vegetable oil, or try a couple of tablespoons of Kahlua, Grand Marnier, or Baileys in place of some of the water.
Love chocolate? Go wild and add melted chocolate in place of frosting.