Baking - Cake Balls!

I cracked up when Devon asked if I was going to submit my lamb cupcakes to the Martha Stewart Cupcake Episode. Two reasons for the laughter on my part: first of all, I gleamed the recipe directly from the MS site when searching for something cute to do at Jen's baby shower. Secondly, I had plans to do a fun project with my friend and her 2year old daughter and had just found out that the author was making her Martha debut a couple of days later! I try to not be Martha obsessed and have been diligently exploring projects+recipes other than hers, but somehow they end up on her show/site anyway. What is up, Martha?

CAKE BALLS

pic from Bakerella

Check it out. Bakerella is a blog author who started putting up pictures and posts last October. I found it in December and bookmarked the recipe below specifically to make with Aimee and her daughter during our next visit (thought little M could participate in the mashing part). A few days before our visit, I went back to the site to print out the recipe and discovered an even cuter version of Cake Balls!

Dudes, how CUTE are these?
pic from Bakerella

Turns out I wasn't the only one reading her blog as she was identified by a Martha staff member to be a guest on her show...because of her cake bites! Ain't that amazing? The so-easy-you'll-think-I'm-kidding recipe is based on cake mix from a box and canned frosting (EASY). If you want to make it more difficult on yourself, make your own cake + frosting and just follow the directions below. PLEASE try it with whatever cake combo you want and be sure to let me know how it goes!

"I love cake balls!" -M.

Cake Balls
1 box cake mix (cook as directed on box for 9x13 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.) -- do NOT get the whipped kind.
1 package chocolate melts (lots of colors available)*
wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl. It might be worth it to leave out the outer edges if they're overcooked, but we decided to not waste a single bit of it.
2. Mix in 1 can cream cheese frosting with a spatula or wooden spoon. It'll look relatively disgusting, but keep mixing until fully incorporated. No more white streaks of frosting.
3. Roll dough into quarter-size balls and set onto a wax-lined cookie sheet that fits in your fridge or freezer. The warmer your hands, the messier it'll be. Just make half, wash hands in cold water, and make the rest of the balls.
4. Chill for several hours in the fridge. If in the freezer, leave in about one hour.
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package. Again, if you want to make it more difficult on yourself, use a double-boiler.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and set back on wax paper until firm. We used a teaspoon to gently roll the balls in chocolate and tap on side of bowl to remove excess.

• Most light colored melts will require a double-dip. Wait until first layer is firm and just dip again!
• If you want to add sprinkles, make sure to do so immediately after dipping (that way they'll stick to the chocolate). Chocolate drizzles will stick no matter what (whether first layer is firmed up or not).
• *I grabbed packages of chocolate melts from my local crafts store
  

mix the frosting into cake crumbles.
pic from BakerellaCAKE BALLS prior to dipping.
pic from Bakerella
Aimee and M mixing up her special batch.
Lots of fun for this 2yr old!dipped and ready to munch on!
could be prettier, but man, are they surprisingly yummy.
jen says they taste like cake donut holes.