Valentines Day is just days away, We really dont make a big deal on Valentines Day at our house. We usually buy something small for each of the kid's and have a nice family dinner. But what I really enjoy is making all the baked sweets and fun items for my family and for all the teachers at school. It is so nice to let everyone know how special they are.
There is still time to make something sweet for your Valentine or for family and friends. Why not make them Chocolate Covered Strawberries or Strawberry Cheese Cake, Cake Ball style!!! These little devils are so sinful and good all rolled up in one. After I made Cake balls back at Thanksgiving, I have been dying to try out some new flavors.
I thought the strawberry cake being pink in color would be perfect for Valentines Day. I have to admit the chocolate covered ones are my favorite they really do taste like chocolate covered strawberries. I used cream cheese frosting for both of the cake balls, the chocolate coating just really took them over the top tasting just like a chocolate covered strawberry.
Using the vanilla coating made the pink ones taste like strawberry cheesecake. You really cannot go wrong with either one. Why not surprise your sweetie, they will be glad you did. These would look so pretty in a heart shaped box or tin lined with tissue paper.
strawberry cake mix, prepared cream cheese frosting, oil, eggs and water. (follow cake mix ingredients & directions each cake mix is different) also vanilla almond bark or candy coating, milk chocolate candy coating (pictured below) and icing color paste or candy coloring (rose) do not use food coloring. I found the icing paste at Walmart in the cake decorating supply isle in the arts and craft section.
Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. (adding eggs, oil, cake mix and water)
using a hand mixer, blend well.
I usually use a 9 x 13 in baking dish, but it was being used at that time. Any pan or two round cake pans will work since you are crumbling up the baked cake anyways. Make sure to spray your pans with baking spray and dust with flour.
bake the cake according to package directions. Remove from oven and let cool a bit. I used a knife to remove the brown exterior of the cakes on the sides ad the bottom, so it would not get mixed in with the cake and show. Crumble in a large bowl.
add the frosting and mix together. I prefer not to use the whipped frosting as it tends to make the cake lose it's cake like texture and be a bit wet, but that is all i could find. I used only 1/2 - 3/4 of the can of frosting.
roll into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. You will have to wash your hands about every 6-7 balls because it starts to become a sticky mess. Place in the freezer for a couple hours or overnight.
~ Time Saver ~ At this point in the recipe, I froze the cake balls for a couple hours. I then added them to a large (gallon size) zip lock bag and placed them back in the freezer. That way I can dip them at a later date, the most time consuming part is baking and preparing the balls for dipping.
Melt vanilla coating in a glass bowl in the microwave on the DEFROST selection or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Dip the balls in melted candy coating using a toothpick or fork to hold them.
Place on waxed paper to set.
I tinted the vanilla coating light pink (for the cheesecake balls) and and then drizzled dark pink on top in a swirl shape. You only need just a tiny bit of the icing paste so really watch it when you add it. I used a toothpick and dipped it in the icing paste) You can use a pastry bag or just a sandwich size zip lock bag. Add the melted coating and cut a tiny hole at the end. It is so much easier with a zip lock bag, you can just toss it in the trash after.
There is still time to make something sweet for your Valentine or for family and friends. Why not make them Chocolate Covered Strawberries or Strawberry Cheese Cake, Cake Ball style!!! These little devils are so sinful and good all rolled up in one. After I made Cake balls back at Thanksgiving, I have been dying to try out some new flavors.
I thought the strawberry cake being pink in color would be perfect for Valentines Day. I have to admit the chocolate covered ones are my favorite they really do taste like chocolate covered strawberries. I used cream cheese frosting for both of the cake balls, the chocolate coating just really took them over the top tasting just like a chocolate covered strawberry.
Using the vanilla coating made the pink ones taste like strawberry cheesecake. You really cannot go wrong with either one. Why not surprise your sweetie, they will be glad you did. These would look so pretty in a heart shaped box or tin lined with tissue paper.
Full recipe is at the end of the post.
These are the ingredients you will need:strawberry cake mix, prepared cream cheese frosting, oil, eggs and water. (follow cake mix ingredients & directions each cake mix is different) also vanilla almond bark or candy coating, milk chocolate candy coating (pictured below) and icing color paste or candy coloring (rose) do not use food coloring. I found the icing paste at Walmart in the cake decorating supply isle in the arts and craft section.
Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. (adding eggs, oil, cake mix and water)
using a hand mixer, blend well.
I usually use a 9 x 13 in baking dish, but it was being used at that time. Any pan or two round cake pans will work since you are crumbling up the baked cake anyways. Make sure to spray your pans with baking spray and dust with flour.
bake the cake according to package directions. Remove from oven and let cool a bit. I used a knife to remove the brown exterior of the cakes on the sides ad the bottom, so it would not get mixed in with the cake and show. Crumble in a large bowl.
add the frosting and mix together. I prefer not to use the whipped frosting as it tends to make the cake lose it's cake like texture and be a bit wet, but that is all i could find. I used only 1/2 - 3/4 of the can of frosting.
roll into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. You will have to wash your hands about every 6-7 balls because it starts to become a sticky mess. Place in the freezer for a couple hours or overnight.
~ Time Saver ~ At this point in the recipe, I froze the cake balls for a couple hours. I then added them to a large (gallon size) zip lock bag and placed them back in the freezer. That way I can dip them at a later date, the most time consuming part is baking and preparing the balls for dipping.
Melt vanilla coating in a glass bowl in the microwave on the DEFROST selection or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Dip the balls in melted candy coating using a toothpick or fork to hold them.
Place on waxed paper to set.
I tinted the vanilla coating light pink (for the cheesecake balls) and and then drizzled dark pink on top in a swirl shape. You only need just a tiny bit of the icing paste so really watch it when you add it. I used a toothpick and dipped it in the icing paste) You can use a pastry bag or just a sandwich size zip lock bag. Add the melted coating and cut a tiny hole at the end. It is so much easier with a zip lock bag, you can just toss it in the trash after.
I dipped some in chocolate (for the chocolate covered strawberry ones) and did a swirl of the dark pink on top or you can roll them in sprinkles as well. It is really up to you. I think dipping them in plain vanilla and swirling light pink on top would be pretty as well.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries & Strawberry Cheesecake Cake Balls
1 - (18.25 ounce) package strawberry cake mix + cake mix ingredients
1 - (16 ounce) container prepared cream cheese frosting (I use only half)
1 - 24 oz package vanilla flavored almond bark
1cing paste or candy coating paste
1cing paste or candy coating paste
sprinkles (optional)
Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes.
When cake is done, crumble while warm into a large bowl, and stir in the frosting until well blended.
Melt vanilla coating in a glass bowl in the microwave on the DEFROST selection or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
Use a melon baller or small cookie scoop to form balls of the cake mixture. Dip the balls in melted candy coating using a toothpick or fork to hold them.
Place on waxed paper to set. Roll in sprinkles or leave plain. I tinted the vanilla coating pink and swirled dark pink over that.
For the chocolate covered strawberry cake balls, I dipped them in chocolate and swirled dark pink on top of that.
One recipe yields: about 36 cake balls
One recipe yields: about 36 cake balls
39 comments
Just a note that I changed my blog address: http://www.megansmunchies.com/
Stephanie, my favorite part was tinting the candy coating. I never knew you could not use regular food coloring, what a mess it made. Now I know to only use icing or candy paste. It was fun decorating them.
Meg I got your address change thanks for letting me know.
Mary I wish i could send you some, but they wont last long at my house.
Melissa I visited your site, thanks for stopping by.
~ingrid
Maria
x
~Liz
I used icing paste. I think it is pictured above. I get mine at Walmart in the cake decorating isle. They have all sorts of colors. I made the same mistake you made with food coloring, but it doesn't work because it adds water to the almond bark. Use icing paste and that will solve your problem. You need just a bit to tint the bark.
I made 4 batches of the Valentine Cake Balls and have gotten rave reviews. Thank you. It is such a simple recipe.
I did have one thing...after I dipped the frozen balls some of them expanded and cracked the chocolate or some of the cake found a way out (made out like a worm). I also had more success with the vanilla than the chocolate. I don't know why. I am not complaining, just wondering if there was something else I could do to keep this from happening. Or I probably just need to keep trying. Practice makes Perfect.
I made the balls for my children's daycare staff, my people at work and for my husbands office.
I found your page by accident about a month ago and have enjoyed it. Your ideas and recipe posts have been great.
Thank you for taking your time to inform, help, inform, etc…. I cannot wait for the day I can spend more time experimenting in the kitchen and less time at work. SOon!
Thank you again, Tina. Have a great V-Day!!!
Stina :)