Cooling and Chilling Time 2 hourshrs15 minutesmins
Total Time 3 hourshrs20 minutesmins
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 36cake balls
Calories 108kcal
Ingredients
1boxcake mixany flavor, prepared according to package directions
1cupfrostingany flavor, homemade or store-bought, plus more if needed
16ouncescandy melts
1teaspoonvegetable oil
Sprinklesoptional, for decorating
Instructions
Bake And Cool The Cake:
Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions (typically by combining the mix with eggs, water, and oil) and bake in the pan specified on the box until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
Place the pan on a wire rack and cool the cake in the pan for about 15 minutes. Turn the cake out onto the rack, remove the pan, and let the cake cool completely to room temperature, about 30-45 minutes.
Prep For Shaping:
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Transfer the cooled cake to a large mixing bowl. Using your hands, break the cake into large chunks, then rub and press them between your fingers to form fine, even crumbs. Alternatively, pulse the cake in a food processor in short bursts until evenly crumbled, being careful not to overprocess into a paste.
Add about 1/2 cup of the frosting to the cake crumbs and mix with a spoon or your hands until evenly combined. Continue to add more frosting, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds together when pressed and forms a moldable dough. You may need a bit more or less than 1 cup of frosting total, depending on how moist the cake crumbles are.
Shape And Chill The Cake Balls:
Using a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop, portion the mixture into 36 equal-sized mounds. Roll them into smooth balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, spaced about 1 inch apart.
Cover and chill until firm, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
Dip And Finish The Cake Balls:
Once the balls have chilled, place the candy melts and vegetable oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20- to 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes total. The coating should flow easily from a spoon and have a shiny, pourable consistency. If it seems too thick for dipping, add 1/2 teaspoon more oil and stir to loosen.
Working with one ball at a time, use a fork to dip each chilled cake ball into the melted coating. Turn to coat evenly, then lift and tap gently against the side of the bowl to let excess drip off.
Place the dipped cake balls back on the parchment-lined sheet. Immediately top with sprinkles if desired.
Let the coating set at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, or refrigerate for 5-10 minutes until firm. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.