Description
Decadent red velvet cake balls coated in rich chocolate and festive sprinkles. A perfect bite-sized treat!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) red food coloring
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2–4 tablespoons milk (optional, for desired consistency)
- 12 ounces melting chocolate (white, dark, or milk chocolate, your choice!)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening (optional, for smoother melting)
- Sprinkles, for decoration (optional)
Instructions
- Bake the Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Combine Dry: Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder in a large bowl.
- Combine Wet: In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, oil, eggs, red food coloring, vanilla extract, and vinegar.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour and Bake: Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Completely: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make Frosting: Beat softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined. Stir in vanilla extract. Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
- Crumble Cake: Once the cake is completely cool, crumble it into a large bowl.
- Add Frosting: Add about 3/4 of the cream cheese frosting to the crumbled cake and mix well with your hands until evenly moistened and holds together when pressed. Add more frosting gradually if needed.
- Chill Mixture: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll into Balls: Remove cake mixture from refrigerator. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Chill Again: Place the baking sheet with the cake balls back in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes.
- Melt Chocolate: Melt chocolate in a double boiler or microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Add vegetable shortening if needed.
- Dip Cake Balls: Remove cake balls from refrigerator. Use a fork or dipping tools to dip each cake ball into the melted chocolate, making sure it is completely coated. Gently tap off any excess chocolate.
- Decorate: Immediately sprinkle with sprinkles or other decorations.
- Set Chocolate: Place the dipped and decorated cake balls back on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, or until the chocolate is set.
- Enjoy: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Cake Variations: Use a store-bought red velvet cake mix.
- Frosting Variations: Experiment with different frosting flavors.
- Chocolate Variations: Use any type of melting chocolate you like.
- Decoration Variations: Get creative with your decorations.
- Adding Extracts: A tiny drop of peppermint extract in the chocolate coating during the melting process can add a festive touch.
- Liqueur Infusion: For an adult version, brush the crumbled cake with a tablespoon or two of your favorite liqueur.
- Preventing Cracking: Ensure the cake balls are thoroughly chilled before dipping.
- Dipping Tools: Invest in a good set of dipping tools.
- Melting Chocolate Tips: Use short intervals (30 seconds) and stir frequently to prevent burning.
- Storage: Store the cake balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. They can also be frozen for longer storage.
- Making Ahead: You can make the cake and frosting a day or two in advance.
- Troubleshooting Sticky Mixture: If your cake ball mixture is too sticky, add a little more crumbled cake or powdered sugar.
- Troubleshooting Dry Mixture: If your cake ball mixture is too dry, add a little more frosting.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes