Wednesday, March 23, 2011

And Sarah Said: Let them Eat Cake (Balls)

After last week's cake ball post y'all BEGGED for a tutorial.... and apparently I had forgotten I posted one in 2009. Oops.

Tis neither here nor there.

Ok, here goes the cake ball tutorial. I stole my moves from Beach Bum & Baby, who actually makes cake pops. But those require sticks and I used to be a broke college graduate who didn't want to buy sticks so cake balls they became.

Everybody loves balls!

Step 1: Bake a cake. I use a boxed mix because it is easy and tastes amazing.

Let it cool, preferably overnight. Then slice it up into nice small pieces.


Step 2: Dump all those pieces into a mixing bowl. Add a scoop of frosting from a can from the grocery store. Mix mix mix.

Note: This batch actually turned out a bit over-mixed. It was too smooth. I actually prefer if there are still bits of dry cake mixed in. But to each her own.

Step 3: Use an awesome cookie scooper to make nice little balls on a cookie sheet. No need to space them apart because you won't be baking them.

Step 4: Pop that cookie sheet in the fridge for an hour or so. Tweet and watch TV.


Step 5: Time to get that chocolate ready! This is the most stressful part.

First of all, I know that Crisco is the devil's plaything but it is necessary for nice balls. Heh.

And the chocolate is actually "candy melt" which I purchase at either Hobby Lobby or JoAnn Fabric. The almond bark white chocolate you buy at Meijer does not work nearly as well. I've tried! And failed.

Ok, now that you've got the right ingredients.

Throw about half the candy melts into a microwave-safe container. Add a scoop of Crisco. No, I don't measure.

FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR MELTING. This crap burns so I usually use even less time than suggested. And stir, reheat. Repeat.

If you follow the pictures below, I actually didn't microwave between the 2nd and 3rd pics. Just stirred the crap out of it.


Step 95: Dunk your balls. I use a fork which results in imperfect cake balls but nobody cares by the time they are eating them.

See also: this picture is chronologically backwards. Try reading it from right to left. Like Arabic. See, I didn't mess up the pictures, I just arranged them in Arabic.

Booyah.

Step 99: Dump that bad boy from your fork back onto some waxed paper. I forgot to mention it above, but waxed paper is a gift from Jesus. Makes cleanup a breeze.

Step 100: Sprinkle immediately or they won't stick. That stuff hardens fast. (That's what she said.)

Put them in the fridge to harden and I bet you don't make it 15 minutes without consuming at least half the balls.

They're so delicious.

Go forth and cake pop. And mail me some while you're at it.

22 Classy Comments:

the girl in the red shoes said...

I LOVE cake balls! I brought them to work last year and ever since people keep begging for them! Yours look delicious!

The Shabby Princess said...

You know that I've never made these? I just look longingly at peoples blog posts about them. Perhaps I shall remedy that this weekend.

the workaholic momma said...

yum-oh, how i love cake balls!!! And yes, the chocolate is by far the toughest part - but sooo worth it:)

stephanie said...

Yum! And I love the precision of your recipe- it's my kind of "cooking" :)

Carrie said...

i see myself being an absolute hot mess with the chocolate melting ... but i might just have to give it a whirl!

California Wife said...

I've been dying to make cake balls, but the recipe just seems so overwhelming!! Your picture tutorial definitely helped, maybe I'll give them a try soon! :)

Unknown said...

A) I want some balls. B) That's what she said. C) I giggled when I typed that. D) I love this post!

Anonymous said...

holy mama those look good!!! and now I have to go eat my salad. great.

Anonymous said...

Nom nom nom!!! I love cake balls!

Harper said...

Your blog is so adorable! I just did a post on my spring Lilly Pulitzer picks that I think you might like! :)
Those cake balls look so so yummy! I may have to try a recipie for my next get together!

Prepster Royalty

Cole said...

I made cake pops for the first time about a year and a half ago...and now everyone demands them from me for holidays, birthdays, bad hair days, etc. :-)

d.a.r. said...

you are so freaking adorable, seriously.

and these look amazing!!!

Gwen said...

YUM!!!! I could totally chow on some cake balls right now. :)

Abby said...

OH MY! I am SOOO making these for my friends party this wknd! Love your blog, excited to be a follower ;)

Kristen said...

ok, i think that hunk of crisco is the secret ingredient! i have made these before and they are so hard to dunk...i'm trying it this way next time! thanks :)

the blogivers said...

Just found your blog, and as someone who is 8 months pregnant and very hungry at the moment, having to look at pictures of those yummy cake balls was cruel and unusual punishment :) They look really good though!

Jenni@Story of My Life said...

OMG. CAKE BALLS. ME NEEDS SOME.

Meg @ write meg! said...

Oh, I'm lovin' this post! I've seen cake pop recipes everywhere (who hasn't?), but I'm not going to lie -- they all sound so freakin' complicated. I'm thinking, "Hey, it's cake -- why mess with a good thing? Keep it simple."

And that's just what you did.

Bless you, Sarah. I have a new weekend project! (And I just bought a can of Crisco for those Mexican chocolate cupcakes, so at least I can put the rest of that wicked stuff to use.)

Sara said...

I can't believe this, but I've never eaten a cake ball (or pop, for that matter). I feel deprived. I'm going to make these this Spring -- maybe for Easter? Thanks for the tutorial...you have convinced me that I actually can do it!!! Love your blog, btw.

Lis said...

OH cake balls, pops, just cake.

All of these things take so much time, and energy. I have neither.

Can you please ship me some? LOL

Seriously great post, I like your skills (that's what she said.... ha ha) and thanks for the shout out!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!! xoxo

...just another preppy shopaholic said...

OMG, you make the process look so easy! I have tried twice and failed both times! Love the photo step-by-step!!

Naturally Caffeinated Family said...

haha! I've been meaning to comment on this post (I'm so behind), it's been in my reader and each time I've seen it but haven't been able to comment, I got excited ;). I've never made cake balls! but I am bookmarking right now! I need to make them for an occasion or event otherwise I will eat 90% of them myself! :)

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