Famous Cake Balls

Ok, I know everyone and their mother has blogged about these cake balls, cake truffles, cake pops, or whatever you want to call them. Well, there's a reason. They are darn good! I initially saw them a few years ago on someone's blog while I was planning my wedding- I can't remember the woman's name or the blog- but she was going to make these little cake truffles as wedding favors for her wedding. I was intrigued, but with the craziness of wedding planning- I of course forgot about them completely. Then, months after my wedding, I saw them again on Bakerella's Blog. And let me tell you, Bakerella is the absolute queen of the cake balls! Her's are like teeny tiny peices of artwork! Anyway... in August I decided to make the cake balls for my grandfather's birthday party. They came out yummy- but not nearly as beautiful as I had hoped- but all and all I was happy with the results.


But there was one person in my family who loved the cake balls quite intensely. So much so, in fact, that she asked me a few weeks after the party if I'd be making them again soon. This was my cousin, Valerie. Now, Valerie and I have a special relationship because I am the oldest cousin on my mom's side of the family, and Valerie is the youngest. When I was four years old I was the flower girl in Valerie's parents' wedding AND when I got married, everything came full cycle, and Valerie was my flower girl.

Last week was Valerie's 6th birthday. She had a party at the stables in City Park and all of the children got to ride the horses (sadly, Helen Mae, is still a bit too petite for horse rides but she did enjoy being a spectator). Well, I decided that I simply could not arrive at the party sans cake balls- so I whipped some up- this time I had more realistic expectations about how pretty they'd turn out (I am certain that mine will never be smooth and perfect like dear Bakerella's) but I knew they'd be tasty! I made chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and this time I dipped them in melted semi-sweet chocolate instead of the candy melts or chocolate bark that Bakerella recommends- I figured that mine would look imperfect anyway- so I might as well go for the best tasting quality instead!
Wow, the real chocolate makes a huge difference- so if you are like me and can't make a pretty cake ball to save your life, please try these out with real melted chocolate! The coating is a bit thicker than what you get with the candy melts- but who cares? I mean it's a thicker layer of chocolate! So Happy Belated Birthday Valerie, my biggest cake ball fan!