Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Cake Ball Petit Four Combobulations

Can you believe Valentine's Day is exactly one month away? It seems like just when we have recovered from one holiday another one is knocking at the door. Where does the time Check Spellinggo and will it ever slow down?

In celebration of the upcoming day of love, I thought I would share a recipe with you all. After all, you will probably have to send treats to school with your kids, so why not make it homemade this year?

Cake balls are the all new rave. If you haven't heard of them you can see some other examples here and here.

In honor of Valentine's Day, I decided to put a little spin on them and make them more like petit fours (small cakes) in the shape of hearts.

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Ingredients:

  • Box of cake mix - I used red velvet
  • 1/2 a container to a whole container of icing - I used Cream Cheese icing; and yes, I used the whole tub (I LOVE icing! - it is really quite amazing I don't weigh 400 lbs)
  • A package of Vanilla or Chocolate Almond Bark - I used both but you can also buy colored confectioner's candy (do not add food coloring to your almond bark!) at your local craft store (small town living has its disadvantages in that the closest Hobby Lobby is a good 45 minutes away - so we make due with what we have)
  • Sprinkles
  • Parchment paper

To make these yummy, albeit very rich, little goodies, here's what you do:

  1. Make cake according to box directions.
  2. Before it has a chance to cool, dump cake into a large bowl

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    and crumble using a fork.

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  3. Then add your desired amount of icing and mix well.

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  4. Now here is where you can be smarter than I was. I shaped each heart by hand (which needless to say was a very messy, time consuming project that ultimately stained my hands red).

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    By starting with a ball and then using my pinkie to make the crevice, gently placing them on parchment paper, and pressing into my desired shape, I eventually got this.

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    You could, however, use a heart shaped cookie cutter (if you can find it) to shape your cakes (oh how I wish I knew where mine was).
  5. Once you have your heart shaped cakes, place them in the freezer for a couple of hours (or until the kids go to bed and you can do the next step in peace).
  6. Using a double boiler, melt your candy coating/almond bark. (If you don't have a double boiler, you can create your own - directions to follow).

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  7. Gently dip each cake in the candy coating and place it back on the parchment paper to cool.
  8. Next is the fun part - DECORATE! I melted some chocolate almond bark and drizzled it over the top. Before it had a chance to dry, I sprinkled with pink sprinkles.

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    I think they turned out kind of cute!

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How to make your own double boiler:

  1. Take a pot and a heat-safe bowl that fits snugly into the pot without it touching the bottom.

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  2. Fill the pot with an inch or two of water. When your heat-safe bowl is placed in the pot, you do not want it to touch the water.

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  3. Now, boil your water and THEN place the heat-safe bowl into the pot and melt your chocolate.
  4. Make sure you watch the level of your water in the pot because it will evaporate which will burn your pot and possibly the chocolate.

What special things do you do or make for Valentine's?

25 comments:

Unknown said...

You've got me drooling over here. I think I may have to break open that box of fudge I got last night just to calm the craving! LOL

Natalie Hudkins said...

This looks great! Thanks!

Mandy, Dustin and Thomas said...

Yummy! My mother-in-law makes these all the time. They are so easy.

Michelle said...

What a great idea! How look so good. I might have to try it. Thanks for the recipe.

Tami said...

Your little hearts are very pretty!

Shawna Byrd said...

YUMMY! Neat Recipe!

C. JoyBell C. said...

I just shared this in my "what i'm reading" box! :)

Those little hearty-heart cakes are just too cute and loveable and huggable and kissable...oh dear! I wouldn't want to eat them! Hee hee! :)

@nnie said...

oh my goodness! those are SOOO beautiful (the pictures are awesome too) and they look sooooo yummy!!! I have GOT to find time to make some of those. I'm a sucker for anything with cake and icing. YUM!!! Thanks for sharing. I'm going to link you on my sidebar so I can remember to keep checkin' in! OH, and the double boiler thing intimidated me.. thanks for helping me with that since I can be cooking challenged at times. :)

Stacey Cannon said...

Holy crap! How adorable is that!!! Josh hit the jackpot with you!! ;) Heck, can I marry you??!! lol Those look YUMMY!

ThatsBaloney said...

I'm wishing I hadn't seen this. I make cake balls (on occasion) but I've never taken it to this level! Mine are semi-round balls dipped in chocolate. No extra stuff on the top. You are an overachiever!! They really are pretty.
Because they are so messy, I put a lid on my cake/frosting mix and refrigerate for an hour. Seems to help me ball them up a little better and less sticky on my hands.

Knit Purl Gurl said...

Oh. My. God! I will so have to make these!! They look so yummy!!!

Knit Purl Gurl said...

Plugged this post on my Mommatudes Blog today!!

Melinda said...

Thanks everyone! They are really easy, just a little time consuming.

Stacey - if I believed in polygamy I must just marry you too - but only if we could live in DC (lol)

Baloney - great suggestion on sticking them in the fridge!

Knit Purl Gurl - thanks for the plug. You are too sweet!

Daniele said...

They look delicious! I have been trying to figure out what to send to school with Eli for Valentine's Day or even a sweet treat for Doug after the boys go to bed.

Dawn said...

Girl, you are awesome! Those are adorable!!!

Unfortunately, we can't take stuff like that to the school. If it doesn't come in an unopened package we can send it. :( So sad.

I'm going to have to try this.

You are just so creative.

Lindsey said...

I'm going to try that!! I'm really enjoying your blog....I have an award for you, stop by and get it on my blog!! :)

Debra said...

I just found your blog on BlogHer and I am glad I did.....those look amazing. Like a pro.

This is my 1st Valentines with a toddler that can do something fun on Valentine's Day....so I am trying to come up with some fun and frugal ideas to post on my blog. I think when I do my post, I will have to link to your cakeballs if you don't mind.

Unknown said...

I made these last night! All I can say is yours look so much better than mine! I DID, however, have success using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter. It was perfect! Is it ok with you if I put this recipe on my recipe blog and link back to you?

Melinda said...

Girls, please feel free to link back to me...I'd be honored.

Debbie said...

You made those? They are beautiful. I am not talented enough to even buy things that look that good.

Amy said...

Wow -- These look amazing.

This Crazy Thing Called Motherhood said...

WOW!

I am super impressed by those! They look professionally done.

You rock!

Jennifer Chronicles (jenx67.com) said...

in the may edition of the 1995??? Victoria Magazine was a recipe for heart-shaped graduation cookies. flour, unsalted butter. pretty simple. they're a family favorite and we make them on practically every holiday - using different cookie cuttesr.

Trish said...

Oh, so you the one Lolli got this from!!!

I made cupcake pops this week, too (basically the same thing, only on a stick). It must be a very bakerella week in bloggyland!! I have yet to put up pictures... one day soon!

Love the blog!

~ A Moxie Mom said...

These look amazing! I will definitely have to try these. By the way, it was great meeting you Friday!!