cake truffles
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Cake truffles are rich decadent desserts. These easy cake balls are super simple to make. A crisp white-chocolate shell encases a tender cake center. Garnished with chocolate drizzles and sprinkles, they look and taste divine.
❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE CAKE TRUFFLES (cake balls)
- Versatile Ingredients. We use a box of strawberry cake mix. But you can use whatever flavor you like best. We use a container of cream cheese frosting. But you can use vanilla or chocolate frosting instead. We use white melting wafers. But feel free to use dark chocolate wafers.
- Quick easy recipe. Prep these tasty treats in just 20 minutes then chill. The taste and mouthfeel is heavenly.
- Cost-effective treats. These luxurious cake truffles look chic and expensive. Like those from a specialty bakery. But don’t be fooled. This recipe won’t break the bank. During hard economic times, we all need special recipes that make us feel good, pampered, and prosperous.
- Make them into cake pops! It’s so simple. Just push lollipop sticks into the center, and wallah – the cake balls become cake pops!
- Ideal for gifting. This recipe yields 48 cake balls. Enough to divide into small batches for several gifts. Strawberry cake truffles are ideal boxed treats for teacher appreciation, hostess gifts, and Christmas.
- Special-occasion desserts. Like red velvet cake balls, these are perfect mini desserts for Valentine’s Day, Easter, and holiday parties. Make them for special occasions like birthdays, graduations, baby showers, wedding showers and anniversaries.
🛒 INGREDIENTS
- Boxed Strawberry Cake Mix: Or any boxed cake mix in the flavor you prefer! Prepare the cake according to package directions. Or make a homemade cake, any flavor, and use the crumbs from that.
- OPTIONAL – Freeze Dried Strawberries: Add a deep strawberry flavor to strawberry cake truffles. Look for packets of this product in the snack aisle at the grocery store. But you can also order them online.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: Binds the cake crumbs together so they form into cake balls. It makes the truffles rich, tangy and flavorful. Buy a container at the market, or make frosting from scratch. If desired, switch things up by using vanilla or chocolate frosting instead.
- Whipped Cream Cheese: Look for whipped cream cheese in a plastic container at the market. This product is located next to the blocks of cream cheese. Make sure it’s fully softened so it incorporates smoothly. To make whipped cream cheese at home from a block of cream cheese – see the “Recipe FAQ” section below for how to do it.
- White Chocolate Candy Coating: I prefer using white chocolate candy melts, or Ghirardelli white vanilla-flavored melting wafers. They melt smoothly and don’t need to be tempered. If using regular white chocolate, it must be tempered. The Spruce Eats has a great tutorial: how to temper white chocolate. If desired, you can substitute with Ghirardelli dark melting wafers instead of the white.
- Sprinkles or Jimmies: Use your favorite type to match the occasion, or use whatever type you have on hand. For strawberry cake truffles, I use a few pinches of freeze dried strawberries instead of sprinkles.
📖 RECIPE STEPS
RECIPE PREP: Prepare the boxed cake mix according to package instructions. Transfer cake to a metal rack and let it cool completely.
- STEP 1: Add freeze dried strawberries to the bowl of a food processor.
- STEP 2: Pulse for about 20 seconds, or until they become fine crumbs.
- STEP 3: Crumble the prepared cake into a large bowl. Add in the freeze dried strawberry powder. Mix briefly to blend.
- STEP 4: Add softened whipped cream cheese to the bowl. With a rubber spatula, gently mix the ingredients until a dough forms.
- STEP 5: Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Scoop out 48 (1-tablespoon-sized) portions of dough. Between the palms of your hands, roll them into smooth spheres. Arrange them on the prepared tray. Freeze for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for 1 hour). Re-roll the chilled balls to further smooth out the sides. Return them to the freezer.
- STEP 6: Once the balls are chilled, heat the white chocolate candy coating according to package directions. (I’ll usually put them into a microwave-safe bowl, like a large glass Pyrex measuring cup and microwave at 30-second intervals until the chocolate has melted.)
- STEP 7: Line a second tray with parchment paper. Remove 5 cake balls from the freezer at a time. Dip each sphere into the melted chocolate. Tap off any excess. Arrange the cake truffles on the fresh tray. Garnish with drizzles of white chocolate, freeze-dried strawberry crumbs, or candy sprinkles before the chocolate shell coating sets.
- STEP 8: Let the truffles set completely. For serving, arrange them inside a special dish with fresh strawberries. To enjoy the cake balls later, store them in an airtight container.
FOR GIFT GIVING: For special occasions like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and hostess gifts, place the cake truffles into foil or paper candy wrappers. Arrange them in a single layer inside a lovely box. Tie the box with a bow.
🤔 RECIPE FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions when making the BEST cake truffles and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
Absolutely! Crumbs from leftover cake from the previous day (like a giant Costco cake) can be used to make cake balls. Repurposing this type of leftover dessert to make treats for another occasion is a fantastic way to prevent food waste.
No. It will not work. Fresh strawberries have a lot of liquid. They’re very wet. For making strawberry cake balls, use freeze dried strawberries (ground into a powder) instead of fresh.
You’ll need 2 ingredients: a block of cream cheese (1 cup), and whole milk (1 tablespoon). Whip these ingredients together in a stand mixer with whip attachment (or with an electric hand-held mixer) for about 2 minutes on medium-high, or until light and fluffy.
Line an airtight container with parchment paper. Once the coating on the cake truffles has completely set, arrange the balls in a single layer inside the container. Store them in a cool room-temperature environment for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.
Yes. To save time, you can form the cake ball centers 1 day in advance and refrigerate. The following day, dip the cake balls into melted chocolate and decorate as desired.
More SPECIAL desserts
Below is a collection of easy recipes for impressive-looking desserts! They’re ideal for special occasions, holidays and parties. Save your favorites for later. Pin them to Pinterest.
- Red Velvet Cake Balls
- Raspberry Macarons
- Pastry Cream Tartlets
- Strawberry Donuts
- Lemon Curd Cookies
- Red Velvet Cupcakes
- Chocolate Ganache Tarts
RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Flavor testers rated these the BEST cake truffles! They loved the soft tender centers and the crisp white chocolate coating. The zig-zag drizzles of white chocolate over the top make them look like expensive bakery treats.
If you agree these luxurious-looking cake balls are fantastic, give them a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share this super easy recipe on Facebook. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.
Cake Truffles
- Total Time: 50 Minutes
- Yield: 48 Cake Truffles 1x
Description
Cake truffles (cake balls) boast a crisp chocolate coating with a tender center. Make any flavor truffles you desire – use your favorite cake mix and frosting flavors, and a white or dark chocolate coating.
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 oz) box strawberry cake mix, (plus ingredients for the cake like water, oil and eggs)
- 1 (1 oz) package freeze dried strawberries, optional
- 1 (1 oz) container cream cheese frosting
- 4 oz whipped cream cheese, softened
- 16 oz Ghirardelli white chocolate melting wafers (or white chocolate candy melts)
- Optional: Candy sprinkles or jimmies, for decorating
Instructions
RECIPE PREP: Prepare the boxed cake mix according to package instructions. Transfer the cake to a metal rack and let it cool completely.
- Add freeze dried strawberries to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse for about 20 seconds, or until they become fine crumbs.
- Crumble the prepared cake into a large bowl. Add in the freeze dried strawberry powder. Mix briefly to blend. Add softened whipped cream cheese to the bowl. With a rubber spatula, gently mix the ingredients until a dough forms.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Scoop out 48 (1-tablespoon-sized) portions of dough. Between the palms of your hands, roll them into smooth spheres. Arrange them on the prepared tray. Freeze for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for 1 hour). Re-roll the chilled balls to further smooth out the sides. Return them to the freezer.
- Heat the white chocolate candy coating according to package directions. (I’ll usually put them into a microwave-safe bowl, like a glass Pyrex measuring cup, and microwave at 30-second intervals until chocolate has melted.)
- Line a second tray with parchment paper. Remove 5 cake balls from the freezer at a time. Dip each sphere into the melted chocolate. Tap off excess. Place them onto the freshly-lined tray. Garnish with drizzles of white chocolate, freeze-dried strawberry crumbs, or candy sprinkles before the chocolate shell coating sets. Let the truffles set completely. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
FOR GIFT GIVING: For special occasions like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and hostess gifts, place the cake truffles into foil or paper candy wrappers. Arrange them in a single layer inside a lovely box. Tie the box with a bow.
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Chill Time: 30 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
cake truffles 👉🏻 JOIN THE CONVERSATION
What are your favorite cake and frosting flavors for homemade cake balls? Do you prefer a white chocolate coating, or a dark chocolate coating? Share your thoughts on this recipe in the comments below.
