Halloween Cake Balls

I often dream up ideas for recipes I want to try. Sometimes they don't work out as planned and sometimes they do!  This idea turned out to be incredible!  The other week my husband told me he was in charge of bringing treats to his work and mentioned how much he loves my cake balls so I told him about this fun orange and black cake ball idea I had and he said that'd be great! It was really fun to make and turned out even cooler than I had dreamed up.

Cake balls can be time consuming but the more I make them the faster I get.  If you haven't made cake balls before I promise it's not as complicated as it may seem.  These Halloween cake balls as you see have black on the outside and surprise orange on the inside!  Plus fun Halloween sprinkles on top to complete the look.  I used a yellow cake mix and just added a little orange food coloring and for the candy coating I used dark chocolate melts and added a little bit of black food coloring.  This is a great treat for any Halloween party.  Derek took these to work and it was a hit!  Everyone loved them and thought they were so fun.  They were gone in no time.

Here is a little cake ball 101 and a how to make these cute Halloween cake balls.

Step 1: Mix up a yellow cake mix according to package directions and add a little orange food coloring. You don't need much.

Step 2: Bake cake according to package directions in a 9 x 13 inch cake pan.

Step 3: Meanwhile make vanilla frosting: Cream 6 tablespoons of butter with 1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla. Add 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar slowly then add 1 teaspoon of milk and beat for 1-2 minutes.  Or you can just use store bought frosting. But I recommend making your own. It uses basic ingredients, is very easy to do and saves you a lot of money. Plus it tastes better.

Step 4: When cake is baked remove from oven and let cool.    I highly recommend making both the frosting and cake the day before to save you from doing too much at once.  Once cake is cool, or the next day  cut cake into big pieces.

Step 5: Pick up 2 pieces of cake and rub together, crumbling cake into a bowl. Continue with the entire cake making sure there are no large pieces.

Step 6: Using the back of a metal spoon slowly mix in the frosting.  Do not make the mistake of adding in too much frosting. If you made your own frosting using my recipe you will use almost all of it but not the entire amount. If using a store bought frosting you will use 1/2-3/4 a container.  You know when you've added enough when you can make a round ball without it crumbling.

Step 7: Line a baking sheet with wax paper and roll the cake/frosting mixture into round cake balls.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours or freeze for 15 minutes. Do not leave in freezer for too long.

 Next step is melting the candy melts. I used dark chocolate because that seems to be every ones favorite kind and added black food coloring.  You can find these both at craft stores like Hobby Lobby etc.  They do sell black candy melts I've seen at Michael's but they are vanilla flavor and every one I know prefers chocolate.

Step 8:Once the cake balls are ready to remove from the fridge or freezer take your candy melts and place in a small deep microwave safe bowl.  Add 1-2 teaspoons of shortening to help thin out the candy melts and if using chocolate melts add a little bit of black food coloring.  Note that when the chocolate dries on your cake balls it will be a slightly darker color so do not add too much food coloring.  Microwave 30 seconds at time until melted.  Mix together after each 30 seconds.  Do not microwave them for too much time.

Step 9: My favorite part! Remove half the cake balls from the fridge or freezer and dip in the melted chocolate one at a time. Make sure you cover the entire cake ball with chocolate.  I use a dipping tool but a spoon will work too.  Once cake ball is covered in chocolate lift out of chocolate and tap the handle of the spoon on the edge of the bowl removing excess chocolate and then place the cake ball on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.  Immediately sprinkle on your sprinkles and continue until all the cake balls are done. Let dry completely.

Now your amazing Halloween cake balls are ready!  They can be stored in an airtight container or the fridge for a couple of days.  

Here is the complete recipe and instructions:

Halloween Cake Balls
Ingredients:
1 yellow cake mix
orange food coloring
black food coloring
dark chocolate or black candy coating
Halloween sprinkles
vanilla frosting (store bought or the following recipe)

Vanilla Frosting
Adapted from Cake Pops

6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon milk

Cream the butter with the vanilla. Add the powdered sugar slowly then add the milk and beat for 1-2 minutes. 

Directions:

Step 1: Mix up the yellow cake mix according to package directions and add a little orange food coloring. You don't need much.

Step 2: Bake cake according to package directions in a 9 x 13 inch cake pan.

Step 3: Meanwhile if making vanilla frosting make it according to above directions.  

Step 4: When cake is baked remove from oven and let cool.    I highly recommend making both the frosting and cake the day before to save you from doing too much at once.  Once cake is cool, or the next day  cut cake into big pieces.

Step 5: Pick up 2 pieces of cake and rub together, crumbling cake into a bowl. Continue with the entire cake making sure there are no large pieces.

Step 6: Using the back of a metal spoon slowly mix in the frosting.  Do not make the mistake of adding in too much frosting. If you made your own frosting using my recipe you will use almost all of it but most likely not the entire amount. If using a store bought frosting you will use 1/2 - 3/4 a container.  You know when you've added enough when you can make a round ball without it crumbling.

Step 7: Line a baking sheet with wax paper and roll the cake/frosting mixture into round cake balls.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours or freeze for 15 minutes. Do not leave in freezer for too long.

Step 8: Once the cake balls are ready to remove from the fridge or freezer take your candy melts and place in a small deep microwave safe bowl.  Add 1-2 teaspoons of shortening to help thin out the candy melts and if using chocolate melts add a little bit of black food coloring.  Note that when the chocolate dries on your cake balls it will be a slightly darker color so do not add too much food coloring.  Microwave 30 seconds at time until melted.  Mix together after each 30 seconds.  Do not microwave them for too much time.

Step 9: Remove half the cake balls from the fridge or freezer and dip in the melted chocolate one at a time. Make sure you cover the entire cake ball with chocolate.  I use a dipping tool but a spoon will work too.  Once cake ball is covered in chocolate lift out of chocolate and tap the handle of the spoon on the edge of the bowl removing excess chocolate and then place the cake ball on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.  Immediately sprinkle on your sprinkles and continue until all the cake balls are done. Let dry completely.