The holiday season brings a special kind of magic, often made sweeter with delicious treats. These Christmas Cake Balls are the perfect addition to your festive spread, combining ease with irresistible flavor. They offer a delightful, moist texture and are incredibly versatile for decorating.
Get ready for a simple guide to creating perfect, crowd-pleasing homemade holiday treats everyone will adore.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Cake Balls
These delightful Christmas Cake Balls quickly become a holiday favorite for many reasons:
- They use simple ingredients and require minimal effort, perfect for busy schedules.
- You can customize their festive decorations to match any holiday theme.
- These treats often become a beloved holiday tradition for families.
- Their rich, moist texture makes every bite a pure joy.
- Unlike cake pops, these require no sticks, making them easier to handle and less messy.
Ingredients
Gather these simple ingredients to create your moist and delicious Christmas Cake Balls:
- 1 15.25 oz. Box Moist Yellow Cake Mix (Betty Crocker’s Super Moist works great)
- 1 16 oz. Container Cream Cheese Frosting
- 12 oz. White Chocolate (Chocolate Chips or Candy Melts)
- 1 Tbsp. EZ Thin Dipping Aid (see notes below)
Notes & Substitutions
- Feel free to customize these cake balls! Swap the yellow cake mix for red velvet, spice, or even chocolate for different flavor profiles.
- Instead of cream cheese frosting, try vanilla, chocolate, or a rich buttercream. Experiment with various candy melt colors like green or red, or use dark chocolate for a classic look. :
- Don’t forget to adorn your creations with seasonal sprinkles, edible glitter, or crushed candy canes.
Equipment
You won’t need many special tools for this recipe.
- A 9×13 inch baking pan for the cake.
- A large mixing bowl and spatula for combining.
- A mini ice cream scoop helps create uniform balls.
- Parchment paper prevents sticking.
- Toothpicks are essential for dipping.
Optional Tools for Perfect Cake Balls
Consider using a food processor for crumbling the cake into fine, consistent crumbs. A mini crockpot keeps your chocolate perfectly melted and warm for dipping. For more intricate designs or specific shapes, specialized cake pop tools like stands or molds can be helpful, but are not necessary.
Instructions These Christmas Cake Balls
Follow these steps for preparing your moist Christmas Cake Balls:
- Prepare the cake: Mix the boxed cake mix according to package directions, but omit the oil. Bake the cake in your 9×13 inch pan until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely: Let the baked cake cool completely on a wire rack. This prevents the frosting from melting when you mix it in.
- Crumble the cake: Once cooled, crumble the cake into a large bowl. Aim for fine crumbs; you can use your hands or a food processor for this.
- Mix with frosting: Add about ¾ of the tub (12 oz.) of cream cheese frosting to the crumbled cake. Use your hands to thoroughly mix the cake and frosting until well combined and moldable. A stand mixer works too.
- Scoop and roll: Use a mini ice cream scoop to portion out the mixture. Roll each portion between your palms to form uniform Christmas Cake Balls.
- Chill the balls: Place the rolled cake balls in a Tupperware container, layering them with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Freeze them for about 30 minutes until very firm. This chilling is crucial for easy dipping.
- Melt the chocolate: While the balls chill, melt your white chocolate. If using a mini crockpot, turn it on low. Otherwise, use a thick coffee mug and microwave the chocolate in 30-second increments, stirring well after each interval until smooth.
- Add EZ Thin (optional): Stir a spoonful of EZ Thin Dipping Aid into the melted chocolate until it’s silky smooth. This helps achieve a thinner, more professional coating.
- Dip the cake balls: Take the chilled balls from the freezer. Stick a toothpick into one ball, dip it completely into the melted chocolate. Immediately turn the ball upside down at a 45-degree angle, rotating it gently to let any excess chocolate drip off.
- Place and decorate: Drop the dipped cake ball onto parchment paper or a nonstick surface. Quickly add sprinkles or other decorations while the chocolate is still wet.
- Patch holes: When you remove the toothpick, a small hole will remain. Dip a tiny spoon or your clean finger into the melted chocolate and gently patch the hole while the coating is still wet.
- Set and store: Allow the chocolate coating to set completely, which typically takes about 15 minutes.
Following proper food safety guidelines, such as those provided by the Partnership for Food Safety Education, is crucial when preparing homemade treats. Understanding safe food handling practices can help prevent foodborne illnesses, especially when baking with ingredients like raw flour and eggs.
Store your finished Christmas Cake Balls properly for freshness.
Pro Tips for Perfect Christmas Cake Balls
- Achieving professional-looking Christmas Cake Balls is easy with these insider tips. Avoid dipping overly cold cake balls; letting them sit out for a few minutes before dipping helps prevent cracking.
- Always use quality candy melts or baking chocolate for the best finish. EZ Thin creates a smooth, thin coating, but you can use a touch of shortening instead.
- Process cake crumbs for maximum consistency. Keep your hands clean and slightly damp for easier, less sticky rolling.
- Use small skewers or sturdy toothpicks for dipping. Maintain the chocolate’s temperature; if it thickens, rewarm gently.
- Never overheat chocolate, as it can seize. Skip oil in the cake mix for the best texture in your cake balls. Crucially, always drip off excess coating thoroughly for a clean finish.
Serving, Storage, and Variations
Present your beautiful Christmas Cake Balls on festive platters for an eye-catching display at any holiday gathering. For short-term storage, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.
For extended freshness, refrigerate them for up to a week. You can also freeze “naked” (undipped) cake balls for up to a month, then thaw and dip them when ready.
For optimal freshness and safety, it’s recommended to store cake pops and similar treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Proper storage techniques for cake pops can help them stay fresh for up to two weeks.
Flavor Variations
Get creative with your Christmas Cake Balls! Pair lemon cake with raspberry frosting for a tangy treat, or chocolate cake with peppermint frosting for a holiday classic. For a sophisticated twist, try a champagne cake with white chocolate ganache. Experiment with toppings like crushed pistachios, finely chopped nuts, cocoa powder dust, or even a drizzle of contrasting chocolate color for stunning effects.
Nutrition Information
Here is the estimated nutritional information per serving for these Christmas Cake Balls:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 0.1 kcal |
| Carbohydrate Content | 0.02 g |
| Fat Content | 0.01 g |
| Saturated Fat Content | 0.002 g |
| Sodium Content | 0.1 mg |
| Sugar Content | 0.02 g |
| Unsaturated Fat Content | 0.003 g |
| Serving Size | 1 serving |
Disclaimer: These values are estimated and may vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any cake mix for Christmas cake balls?
Yes, most boxed cake mixes work well! Just ensure it’s a moist variety for the best texture in your finished treats.
Why do you recommend omitting oil from the cake mix?
Omitting oil helps create a denser cake, which combines better with frosting to form a firm, moldable consistency. This prevents your Christmas Cake Balls from being too crumbly.
What is EZ Thin dipping aid, and is it necessary?
EZ Thin is a coating aid that thins candy melts or chocolate, making it smoother and easier to work with. It’s not strictly necessary, but it helps achieve a professional, crack-free finish.
How do I prevent the chocolate coating from cracking?
Ensure your cake balls are chilled but not frozen solid right before dipping, and make sure your melted chocolate is not too hot. Drastically different temperatures can cause cracking.
Conclusion
These Christmas Cake Balls are truly a holiday delight, offering a perfect blend of simplicity and deliciousness. They are incredibly easy to make, even for beginners, and always impress with their moist texture and festive appeal.
Share these joyful treats with family and friends this holiday season. You’ll love making these scrumptious Christmas Cake Balls part of your yearly traditions!
Christmas Cake Balls
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prepare the cake mix according to package directions, omitting the oil. Bake in a 9×13‑inch pan and cool completely.
- Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs and mix with about ¾ of the frosting until a moldable dough forms.
- Use a mini ice cream scoop to portion the dough, roll into balls, and freeze on parchment paper for about 30 minutes until firm.
- Melt the white chocolate or candy melts, and stir in EZ Thin if using, until smooth.
- Insert a toothpick into a chilled cake ball, dip completely into melted chocolate, let excess drip off, then place on parchment.
- Remove the toothpick, patch any holes with a dab of melted chocolate, then immediately decorate with sprinkles or candy cane pieces.
- Let the coating set fully for about 15 minutes before storing or serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use any boxed cake mix and frosting combination you prefer.
- Omit oil in the cake mix for better texture.
- Add holiday colors or crushed candy canes for flair.
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