Christmas Cake Balls

 
This is it, people. We are in the home stretch.  T-minus 4 days and counting.  4 DAYS?!

I always have a little postpartum depression after Christmas. You see, I start gearing up for Christmas right around September 1st, which is the date I think it is acceptable to start listening to Christmas music.  If it weren't for Halloween getting in the way of decorating, I'd put up my Christmas tree in October (Halloween better be thankful that it's an awesome holiday).  I look forward to Thanksgiving, not for the food, but for the fact that I can finally adorn my apartment with garland, stockings, wreaths, and other Festive Christmas Accoutrement (such as Jack's beloved Christmas village) . As of November 26, my radio is constantly tuned to the nonstop Christmas music station (Thanks 106.7).  And, best of all, I get to teach my Jewish boyfriend, Jack, the wonders of Christmas, where decorating can provide such battle wounds as pricked fingers (the pine needles are sharp), frozen fingers from helping me string the lights outside of my parent's house (I've been doing it since I was a teenager), and mild electrocution from testing the lights to figure out why half of the strand is not lit.  He also asked, "Who is Noel?" when we were listening to the first Noel.

Oh, Jack.  

But then December 26 rolls around and punches me in the stomach with its ice cold fist. The Christmas station goes back to playing soft hits that I never listen to, the tree looks out of place, the stockings sag just a little bit lower, and the people in Jack's Christmas village would walk home if they had their legs about them. 

People in other countries have it right.  In places like Spain, Italy, and Puerto Rico, they have a secondary holiday that is bigger than Christmas, The Epiphany.  Places like England and Trinidad have Boxing Day... whatever that is (honestly, what is it?) We just have stinking New Years, which often just sucks anyway.  

So to bring in the last week of this beloved season, I present to you my favorite Christmas treat of all. It is not a cookie.  It is not a cake.  It is not a glass of eggnog with rum (that is my second favorite treat).  It is the wonderful cake ball, brought into bloggers lives by the wonderful Bakerella.  They are easy to make (the only time I'll ever used box cake mix and pre-made frosting is for this recipe), and even easier to eat. And eat. And eat.  As you bite through the hard white chocolate shell, you find joy from the sharp "pop!" sound that it makes when it gives way to the smooth, creamy red-velvet center.  These balls are Christmas. And you can eat them year round. 

Red Velvet Cake Balls adapted from Bakerella

Makes 45-50 cake balls

1 box red velvet cake mix 
3/4 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate - I used white chocolate melts)
wax paper

After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.

Mix thoroughly with 3/4 can cream cheese frosting. 

Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. This will be messy, but they will come together. 

Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)

Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.

Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a fork to dip and roll in chocolate - be careful not to pierce the ball - and then tap off extra.)

Note from Bakerella: I also only melt a few pieces of chocolate bark at a time because it starts to cool and thicken. It’s easier to work with when it’s hot.

 
 

Comments

[Alta]

These are gorgeous. I think I would love the outer shell the most, honestly. But I can so imagine them flying off of a table around the holidays.

[Bianca @south bay rants n raves]

Like everything else I've seen from you, these are good! On a side note, I made your candy cane cookies for my party last weekend & they were a hit! :-)

[Eliana]

These look super delish! I'm already getting sad that as of Saturday LiteFM goes back to lite music :(

[Carolina]

Very Holidelicious!

[Janice]

Here is the link to the Boxing Day definition in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day
But basically, if you don't want to look it up, it derives from the time when people gave a 'Christmas Box' to their servants or labourers. Some people still give a 'tip' to their postman, dustman (garbage removal guy) and milkman at Christmas. I doubt if anyone does it on Boxing Day though as it is a public holiday. This year we get an extra long holiday because Christmas is on a Friday, so Boxing Day gets added on Monday. But remember we don't get a holiday for Thanksgiving, so I guess it all evens out in the end!

In Scotland we also get two days at New Year - the second day being for that hangover cure day!

[Ajali]

Okay, I found my way here via foodbuzz.com - the picture enticed me.
Now, they look delicious. And I hoped to make them myself. But when I came to your recipe, I was stumped.
What is 'Red Velvet cake mix', what is 'cream cheese frosting in a can', and what is 'chocolate bark'? Are these American brands? What would their English equivalent be?

What are the actual ingredients to these things so I can make them myself?

Bearing in mind I'm the sort of person who when making pumpkin pie roasts and peels the pumpkin, grinds the individual spices in my pestle and mortar, and rubs the flour with the butter and water to make the pastry. i.e. I only do things from scratch.

Normally I would shake my head and give up on the idea of making these Christmas Balls, but they look so good that I had to give it a shot and see if there was a translation.

Any help you can give would be appreciated! If not, no worries and Merry Christmas!

[Megan]

I'm with you - I can already sense the impending post holiday crash - it's just depressing!

But I'll have another cake ball - that will make it all better again.

[Arlene]

Easy peasy. Will remember this one for Valentine's Day.

[Corganiacs]

I definitely want to try this to bring to the boyfriend's mother. They look good enough to eat!!!!

[The Law Office of Levinson Axelrod]

I've seen these that look like mini mini mini cupcakes. So delicious!!!

[dokuzuncubulut]

You are in the top. Congratulations :)
Mmmm... Great recipe...

[Michele]

These are just SO cute! Have a great holiday Teanna!!

[Jennifer]

YUM!

I was told by a British co worker a few years back, that Boxing Day is the day that the Lords and Ladies would give "boxes" or gifts to their servants.

I think we should start celebrating Boxing Day. Are you in? I have a meltdown when all the Christmas cards stop coming.

Those cake balls look awesome!

[Gigi]

These look like a great Christmas treat. And what fun to share your love of Christmas with your boyfriend. Has he been swept away with the festivity yet?

[jennifer]

Wow...those look very pretty and good enough to eat!
I have to say though Halloween is my most favorite holiday.....

[Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction]

These are gorgeous! I saw them on the Foodbuzz Top 9 the other day, but didn't have a time to read the post until just now. I have to try making some cake balls very soon. I'm thinking I'll have to make them for New Years!

[Destiny]

Diane made those for Christmas Yummy :D

[Kim]

have you tried any other cake/frosting combinations?

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