Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL ... Cake Balls?

Those of you who know me know I'm not a football fan ... but I am a cake ball fan! If you're baffled by cake balls, the concept is really simple (and delicious). They're balls of cake dipped in chocolate. I discovered this recipe a few years ago when someone I used to work with forwarded it to me, and I thought it was genius. Who wouldn't love yummy little chocolate-dipped chunks of deliciousness?

Sue and I immediately added them to our Christmas treat repertoire and people went nuts. But never have I seen a more drastic reaction than this past Christmas when I introduced them to my new co-workers. You would have thought I'd struck gold and shared it with everyone. With the Super Bowl fast approaching, I thought I'd give the cheeseheads a real treat.

Football Cake Balls

Ingredients:
1 box cake mix, flavor of your choice (plus the ingredients listed on the box)
1 can frosting, flavor of your choice
2 bags semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 bag white chips
5 teaspoons shortening
1 teaspoon shaved parafin

Directions:
Bake cake according to directions on box. When completely cool, break cake into large pieces and place in a large bowl. Use a wooden spoon to break the cake into crumbs.

Stir in entire can of frosting. (This will take a little muscle. Be sure it's very well-incorporated. Your mixture will almost be the consistency of cookie dough.) Working by the teaspoonful, roll cake into balls and form into oblong football shapes. Place on parchment-covered baking sheets. Refrigerate until set, 2-3 hours or overnight.

Create a double boiler by simmering an inch or so of water in a saucepan and placing a glass bowl over it. Place chocolate chips, 4 tablespoons shortening and 1 1/2 teaspoons parafin in bowl to melt. As chips melt, stir until smooth.

Remove cake balls from fridge and dip in chocolate. (The easiest way to do this is to break the two middle prongs off of a plastic fork and use it to grab the balls, drop them in and pick them back up, scraping the excess chocolate on the edge of the bowl as you lift them out. That's a trick I learned at the Taste of Home Cooking School!)

Return cake balls to parchment paper as you remove them from chocolate. Return to fridge and let set 15-30 minutes. Meanwhile, place white chips, remaining tablespoon shortening and remaining parafin in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds, stir, then microwave another 30 seconds. Stir vigorously until mixture is smooth. Spoon into a ziplock bag. Snip a VERY small piece from one corner of the bag and pipe mixture onto cake balls (one vertical line and 2-4 horizontal lines to create laces).

Return cake calls to refrigerator to set. Then impress all your friends!


With a steadier hand I would have made more impressive laces, but I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. And, I might add, I'm pretty impressed with my creativity :)