Creating A Cake Ball Wedding Cake

Making a cake ball wedding cake is a unique and fun way to celebrate a wedding. It is a cake made of cake balls arranged on a dummy cake, creating a beautiful and edible display. The process involves baking cakes, making cake balls, and dipping them in chocolate. The cake balls are then attached to the dummy cake using toothpicks, creating a stunning and delicious wedding cake. This cake is perfect for those who want something unique and memorable for their special day.

Cake ball recipe

Ingredients

• 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ White Cake Mix
• 1 tub (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy Vanilla Frosting
• 16 ounces white-chocolate candy (as for almond bark)
• 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (for tux coats on grooms)
• 48 sucker sticks (found in craft stores)
• 48 small plastic bags (found in craft stores, for packaging)
• Ribbon for packaging
• Food glitter and mini chocolate chips as sprinkles for decorating as desired
• Large Styrofoam block to hold pops upright while drying

Method

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare a 9x13 cake pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Prepare cake mix according to the package directions (using egg whites to make the cake as white as possible). Bake as directed, removing from the oven when a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean and the cake springs back to the touch.
• Allow to cool completely, then cut the cake into 12 big pieces. For perfectly white cake pops inside, skim off the golden tops and bottoms of the cake pieces with a sharp knife. Finely crumble the remaining white cake into a large bowl.
• Add 3/4 of the tub of frosting to the cake crumbs and mix it in with the back of a big spoon.
• Roll cake mixture into 48 balls, each about 1-1/2 inch in diameter. Place balls on a wax-paper-lined tray or baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to cool in the refrigerator for an hour.
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between each 30 seconds until mostly melted. Continue to stir until the remaining chocolate chips have melted.
• Using a fork or a chocolate dipping tool, dip and coat the cake balls in chocolate.
• Arrange on a parchment-lined cookie sheet to let them set up and top immediately with sprinkles (or other toppings), if desired.

Tips

For a unique presentation, use a dummy cake underneath the cake balls. Cover the dummy cake with fondant and use piping gel as "glue" so the fondant adheres to the dummy cake.

Troubleshooting

• If your cake balls are not firm enough when you dip them, they may fall apart, causing them to crack.
• If you don’t give your chocolate enough time to set before serving, you may also find more breakage.
• Make sure to pour your cake into the mixing bowl straight out of the oven and then make your cake ball mixture immediately. This will create a consistency that is easily compressed to hold its shape.
• You can definitely shape with your hands, but using a cake pop kit creates even balls that are less likely to fall apart.
• And again, make sure the balls are chilled and slightly firm before trying to dip! That is HUGE in keeping them together.

Cake ball preparation

The first step in making a cake ball wedding cake is to bake the cakes. You can use any type of cake mix you prefer and follow the package directions. Once the cakes are baked, let them cool completely before crumbling them into a large bowl.

The next step is to mix the crumbled cake with frosting. For a standard-sized cake, you will need about 3/4 of a tub of frosting. Mix it into the cake crumbs until well combined.

Now it's time to form the cake balls. Use a cookie scoop or a cake pop press to portion out the dough and roll it into balls. Aim for a size of about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Place the cake balls on a wax paper-lined tray or baking sheet and chill them in the refrigerator for an hour.

While the cake balls are chilling, you can melt the chocolate. You can use white, milk, or dark chocolate, or even coloured candy melts to match your wedding colours. Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 50% power, stirring at 30-second intervals until it is smooth and fluid.

To make the cake balls easier to dip and prevent them from falling apart, insert a lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and then push it into each cake ball. This will create a hole that you can use to secure the cake balls onto the cake later. Dip the cake balls into the melted chocolate and tap off the excess. Place them on a parchment-lined sheet to set.

If you want to add some decorations to your cake balls, such as sprinkles, edible glitter, or mini chocolate chips, be sure to add them before the chocolate sets. You can also pipe additional chocolate onto the cake pops to create designs.

Once the chocolate has set, carefully remove the lollipop sticks from the cake balls. You can now arrange the cake balls onto the dummy cakes, which have been covered with fondant or modelling chocolate. Use toothpicks to secure the cake balls in place, pushing them into the holes created by the lollipop sticks.

Start at the bottom tier and work your way up, staggering the cake balls to create a close-knit pattern. Fill any gaps with extra cake balls. You can also add some fresh flowers or other decorations to the cake for a finishing touch.

And that's it! Your cake ball wedding cake is now ready to be displayed and enjoyed by your guests.

Cake ball coating

The coating is a crucial part of the cake ball-making process. It adds a layer of flavour and texture, and it also helps the cake balls to maintain their shape. There are a few different options for coatings, and each has its own unique set of advantages and considerations.

Candy Melts

Candy melts are a popular choice for coating cake balls. They come in a variety of colours and can be easily melted and thinned out with shortening, coconut oil, or EZ-thin dipping aid. This helps to create a smooth and thin coating that ensures your cake balls have a gorgeous outer shell. It is important not to overheat candy melts as they can harden too much.

Chocolate

Chocolate is another option for coating cake balls. You can use white, dark, or milk chocolate, and it is recommended to mix in a small amount of vegetable oil to thin out the chocolate and make it easier to work with. Chocolate coating can also be doubled-up by dipping the cake balls in both white and dark chocolate for a unique flavour and appearance.

Tips for Successful Coating

• Ensure that your cake balls are very cold when dipping them into the coating. This helps to prevent cracking.
• Before inserting the cake pop sticks, dip the ends into some melted coating. This helps to secure the cake balls to the sticks.
• Allow the coating to dry and set by placing the cake pops upright in a large styrofoam block or box.
• If desired, top the cake pops with sprinkles or other decorations while the coating is still wet so that they adhere well.
• Cake pops can be stored at room temperature for up to a week, in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 weeks before dipping.

Cake ball decoration

Cake balls are a fun and unique way to decorate a wedding cake. Here are some tips and ideas for creating a beautiful and tasty cake ball wedding cake:

Flavours and colours:

The first step is to decide on the flavours and colours of your cake balls. You can use any type of cake mix you like and get creative with the chocolate and toppings. For example, you could use a chocolate cake mix with white chocolate, or a lemon cake mix with white chocolate. You could even dye the chocolate pink and use a strawberry cake mix! The possibilities are endless.

Making the cake balls:

Prepare the cake mix according to the package instructions and bake the cake. Once the cake is out of the oven, crumble it into a large bowl and mix in some frosting. The amount of frosting will depend on the consistency you want for your cake balls, but be careful not to make the mixture too moist. Roll the mixture into balls and place them on a tray. You can use a cookie scoop to get uniform sizes, or a cake pop kit for even balls. Chill the cake balls in the fridge or freezer while you melt the chocolate.

Dipping the cake balls:

Melt your chosen chocolate in the microwave or a double boiler. Dip each cake ball into the melted chocolate and tap gently to remove any excess. You can use a fork or a chocolate dipping tool for this step. Arrange the coated cake balls on a parchment-lined tray and add any desired sprinkles or toppings before the chocolate sets.

Assembling the cake:

Start with a "naked" cake made from styrofoam dummies, or real cake tiers if you prefer. Cover the dummies with fondant, buttercream, or modelling chocolate. Then, using toothpicks, poke a hole into the cake/styrofoam and push the cake ball onto the toothpick. Space the cake balls evenly, staggering them on each row to stack them closer together. You can also create a topper with a few cake balls and some flowers or other decorations.

Transporting the cake:

If you need to transport your cake, it's a good idea to assemble it on-site to avoid any cake balls falling off during the journey. Bring the covered cake dummies, pans of cake balls, and plenty of toothpicks. Attach the cake balls to the cake just before serving, and you're done!

Cake ball storage

Storing cake balls is easy, whether you've decorated them or not. If you've already dipped and decorated your cake balls, you have three options:

• Store them at room temperature for one to two weeks.
• Store them in the refrigerator for two to four weeks.
• Store them in the freezer for a month or more.

If you're storing your cake balls at room temperature, use an airtight container with a paper towel underneath and on top of the cake balls. If you can, try to store the cake balls in a single layer, so they retain their appearance. Keep the container away from any sources of heat and light, which could melt the chocolate coating.

If you're storing your cake balls in the fridge or freezer, use an airtight container with a paper towel underneath and on top. If you don't have one, a freezable plastic bag will work—just wrap the cake balls for extra padding and security.

If you haven't dipped your cake balls in chocolate yet, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to a month. Make sure they're stored in an airtight container. When you're ready to dip your cake balls, remove them from the refrigerator if they're chilled, or let them thaw in the refrigerator if they're frozen.

Frequently asked questions