Creating Cake Balls: A Wedding Treat

A wedding cake is a centrepiece at any wedding, but have you ever considered a wedding cake made of balls? This unique and fun idea is a great way to add a bit of creativity to your special day. Making a wedding cake out of balls can be a fun DIY project, or you can enlist the help of a professional baker. Either way, it's sure to be a show-stopper!

Choosing your cake flavour and mix

Once you've selected your cake flavour, it's time to bake! Follow your chosen recipe carefully and ensure your cake is baked thoroughly. Allow the cake to cool completely before proceeding to the next step.

If you're short on time or prefer the convenience of a cake mix, there are plenty of options available. Boxed cake mixes are typically easy to prepare and yield consistent results. Simply follow the package instructions to bake your cake. Again, it's important to let the cake cool completely before moving on.

After your cake has cooled, it's time to crumble it! This step will create the base for your cake balls. Use your hands or a potato masher to break down the cake into fine crumbs. Ensure there are no large pieces remaining, as you want a uniform texture for shaping your cake balls.

The next step is to add moisture and flavour to your cake crumbs. This is typically done by mixing in frosting or icing. You can use store-bought frosting or make your own. If desired, you can also add extracts or flavourings to enhance the taste. In the wedding cake bites recipe, almond extract is mixed into the icing to give a unique flavour.

Once your cake crumbs and icing are combined, it's time to shape your cake balls. Use a scoop or spoon to portion out the mixture and roll it into balls with your hands. Place the shaped cake balls on a parchment or wax paper-lined baking sheet. Chill them in the freezer for about 15 minutes before transferring them to the refrigerator until you're ready for the next step.

Now, it's time to dip your cake balls! Melt your chosen coating, such as chocolate or almond bark, in a deep bowl. You can use a microwave or a double boiler for this step. Dip each cake ball into the melted coating, using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Return the coated cake balls to the lined baking sheet and allow them to set.

If desired, you can decorate the tops of your cake balls with sprinkles, sanding sugar, or edible pearls while the coating is still wet. Get creative and add your own personal touch! Once your cake balls are dry, store them in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Making the cake balls

Once your cake is cooled, crumble it into a large bowl. You can use your hands or a potato masher to get it into fine crumbs. Next, you'll mix in some icing. You can use store-bought frosting or make your own, but be sure to add in some extra flavourings like almond extract to really make the cake balls pop. Mix until all the crumbs are moistened, and the mixture can be formed into balls.

Chill the mixture for about 15 minutes in the freezer, then roll it into balls, placing them on a lined baking sheet. You can use a cookie scoop or melon baller to get evenly-sized balls, and this is a good time to be precise, as you want all your cake balls to be the same size.

Now, melt some chocolate or almond bark. You can do this in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water, stirring until it's smooth. This is what you'll dip your cake balls into, so make sure you have plenty. You can add in some extra flavourings to the chocolate if you like, or even double-dip your cake balls in white and dark chocolate for a more impressive finish.

Use a toothpick or fork to dip each cake ball into the chocolate, making sure they're completely covered, then return them to the tray to set. You can decorate them with nuts, sprinkles, or coconut at this stage, or even add some food glitter for a wedding sparkle!

Melting the chocolate coating

Preparing the Chocolate:

• The type of chocolate you use is important. White chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or confectioners' coating (also known as almond bark) are popular choices.
• Finely chop the chocolate or use chocolate chips for easier melting.
• The amount of chocolate needed will depend on the number of cake balls you're making. As a guide, a 3-ounce bar of chocolate coating will cover about 36 cake balls.

Melting Techniques:

• You can melt the chocolate using a double boiler or a microwave.
• For a double boiler, fill the bottom pot with a few inches of water and bring it to a simmer. Place a heat-safe bowl on top, ensuring it doesn't touch the water. Add the chocolate to the bowl and stir occasionally until smooth.
• If using a microwave, place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each interval, until the chocolate is smooth and fluid.

Dipping the Cake Balls:

• Once the chocolate is melted, keep it warm while you work.
• You can use a toothpick, fork, or skewer to hold the cake balls as you dip them. Alternatively, you can dip the end of a sucker stick into the melted chocolate and insert it into the cake ball before dipping. This provides a handle and makes it easier to coat the cake balls evenly.
• Dip each cake ball quickly and completely into the melted chocolate.
• Gently tap the stick on the side of the bowl to allow excess chocolate to drip off, then place the coated cake ball on a wax paper-lined tray.
• If you want to add sprinkles, edible glitter, or other decorations, do so while the chocolate is still wet.
• Repeat this process until all your cake balls are coated.

Allow the chocolate coating to set completely at room temperature before packaging or serving your wedding cake balls. Enjoy the sweet results of your hard work!

Decorating the cake balls

Decorating cake balls is a fun and creative process that can be tailored to your unique style and preferences. Here are some detailed instructions and ideas to help you decorate your wedding cake balls:

Dipping and Coating:

Start by melting your chosen coating, such as chocolate or almond bark, in a glass bowl in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth. Then, using a toothpick, fork, or stick, dip each cake ball into the melted coating. Tap the stick gently on the side of the bowl to allow the excess coating to drip off, and return the coated cake ball to a tray lined with wax paper or baking sheet. You can also use two spoons to lift and transfer the coated cake ball, gently turning it between the spoons to remove excess coating before placing it on the tray. This method helps avoid fork marks and leaves the bottom of the cake ball uncoated, which is useful if you plan to attach sticks or toothpicks later.

Adding Sprinkles and Decorations:

While the coating is still wet, you can decorate your cake balls with various toppings. Roll the cake balls in toppings like nuts, sprinkles, coconut, or sanding sugar. You can also add decorative edible pearls or use food glitter to make the cake balls pop like lace. Get creative and experiment with different combinations of coatings and toppings to find your favorite look.

Creating Designs and Patterns:

Pipe melted coating onto the cake balls to create unique designs. For a bridal theme, pipe white candy onto the cake pops and sprinkle with food glitter or white sugar. Add dots to the top to resemble a necklace. For a groom theme, dip each side of the cake pop into melted semi-sweet chocolate to create a tuxedo coat. Decorate with piped chocolate or mini chocolate chips to form a bow tie and buttons. You can also create swirls on top of each cake ball by swirling the spoon as you move it away after dipping.

Storing and Packaging:

Allow the decorated cake balls to set and dry completely. You can place them in small plastic bags and tie them with ribbons or beads for a stylish presentation. Store the cake balls in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Assembling the Cake:

If you plan to create a cake tower with the cake balls, as described in the Rose Bakes blog, you'll need dummy cakes or real tiers as a base. Cover the tiers with fondant, buttercream, or modelling chocolate. Then, using toothpicks, carefully attach the cake balls to the tiers, staggering them for a closer stack. You can also add flowers or other decorations between the cake balls for a gorgeous finishing touch.

Assembling the cake

To assemble the cake, start by covering the dummy cakes in fondant. You can use marshmallow fondant or modelling chocolate. Alternatively, you can use buttercream, but this may not adhere to the styrofoam as well. To make the fondant stick to the styrofoam, you can use piping gel or melted chocolate as a "glue".

Next, you'll need to attach the cake balls to the dummy cakes. Using a toothpick, poke a hole into the styrofoam, then push a cake ball onto the toothpick. Make sure to use the hole that was created by the lollipop stick when you were dipping the cake balls in chocolate. This will ensure that you don't crack the chocolate coating.

Stagger the cake balls on each row so that they stack closer together. You can also leave small gaps between the cake balls to add fresh flowers, as seen in the photo.

It should take around an hour to attach the cake balls to the dummy cakes. The cake balls should feel secure and not at risk of falling off.

For the top of the cake, you can create a topper by using toothpicks to attach a few cake balls together. You can also add flowers or other decorations to the top of the cake for a finishing touch.

Frequently asked questions