Red Velvet Cake BallsΒ hide a sweet and festive scarlet treat inside! This easy dessert recipe is perfect for the holidays.

How To Make Red Velvet Cake Balls

This tasty creation is made out of red velvet cake that is bonded together with homemade cream cheese frosting and coated in white chocolate. For an extra decadent finish, we used Ghirardelli white chocolate and dusted the top with sprinkles for a stunning polish. Full instructions are below, but here’s a brief recap before you get started:

  • Step 1.Β Make the cake mix, but don’t follow the box’s instructions Instead, beat cake mix, milk, melted butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until blended, then for 2 additional minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan.
  • Step 2.Β Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan, then turn onto a rack to cool completely.
  • Step 3.Β Make cream cheese frosting.
  • Step 4.Β Crumble cake, and stir in 2 cups frosting. Roll into 48 balls and transfer to baking sheets. Cover and chill 8 hours or overnight.
  • Step 5.Β Melt 1 package melting wafers in microwave according to package directions. Dip 1 ball at a time into the melted wafers using a fork, letting any excess drip off. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and decorate as desired. Chill until ready to serve.

Tips for The Best Red Velvet Cake Balls

For the best red velvet cake balls, keep these tips in mind:

  • Cool cake before crumbling:Β For the lightest, fluffiest texture.
  • Add frosting gently:Β Avoid overworking the mixture, which could cause a gummy result.
  • Use a scoop:Β To portion equal size balls, use a scoop, then roll by hand for consistent balls.
  • Chill until firm:Β The softer the cake balls, the more difficult to dip (and the more likely they’ll fall apart).
  • Keep cake balls chilled:Β Dip a few cake balls at a time to keep the remaining balls from coming to room temperature.
  • Add sprinkles quickly:Β Make sure to sprinkle before the coating dries.
  • Theme your sprinkles:Β We chose red and white, but any array of sprinkles and sanding sugars can be used to match a party theme, team uniforms, or holiday.

Ingredients

  • 1Β (15.25-oz.) pkg. red velvet cake mix (such as Duncan Hines)
  • 1Β cupΒ whole milk
  • 1/3Β cupΒ (2 2/3 oz.) salted butter, melted
  • 3Β tsp.Β vanilla extract, divided
  • Vegetable shortening, for pan
  • All-purpose flour, for pan
  • 1Β (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2Β cupΒ (4 oz.) salted butter, softened
  • 4Β cupsΒ (about 16 oz.) powdered sugar
  • 3Β (10-oz.) pkg. white (vanilla-flavored) melting wafers (such as Ghirardelli)
  • Red and white sprinkles and sanding sugars

Directions

STEP 1

  1. Make cake batter:Preheat oven to 350Β°F. Beat cake mix, milk, melted butter, and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla in bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on low speed until well blended, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium, and beat 2 minutes. Pour batter into a greased (with vegetable shortening) and floured 13- x 9-inch baking pan.

STEP 2

Bake cake:

Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 24 to 28 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Turn cake out onto wire rack, and let cool completely, about 2 hours.

STEP 3

Make cream cheese frosting:

Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and softened butter with heavy-duty stand mixer fitted paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low, and gradually add powdered sugar and remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla, beating until blended. Increase speed to medium-high, and beat until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

STEP 4

Combine cake crumbs and cream cheese frosting:

Crumble cooled cake into a large bowl. Stir in 2 cups of cream cheese frosting. (Reserve any remaining frosting for another use.)

STEP 5

Roll cake balls:

Roll cake mixture into 48 balls, about 1-inch in diameter. Place balls on baking sheets, and cover with plastic wrap. Chill 8 hours or overnight.

STEP 6

Dip cake balls in white chocolate:

Melt 1 package of the melting wafers in a medium-size microwavable bowl in microwave according to package directions. Start with 16 cake balls (continue to chill remaining 32 cake balls). Using a fork and working with 1 cake ball at a time, dip ball into melted wafers, allowing excess to drip back into bowl.

STEP 7

Add sprinkles:

Place ball on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and immediately sprinkle with desired amount of sprinkles or sanding sugars. Repeat with remaining 15 cake balls and melted wafers in bowl, cleaning fork between each dip. Wipe bowl clean, and repeat 2 more times with remaining chilled cake balls and 2 packages of melting wafers, and desired amount of sprinkles. Chill until ready to serve.