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Monday, December 28, 2009

Red Velvet Cake Truffles



Alrighty, these next few days I'll be showing you the Noche Buena/Christmas feast. I usually end the meal with dessert, but I couldn't resist by posting these babies first. This has now become a tradition with me which I started last year. Rather than going out and spending a load of money on things people may not like, I decide to make some delicious holiday goodies. Red velvet cake truffles were my choice this year. Well they're really cake balls, but truffles sounds a bit fancier. It has a coating of white chocolate and some red sugar sprinkles.

You make the cake like you would with any other cake and frosting. Just add a few steps into turning them into balls. You'd want them generally no larger than a golf ball. I added some photos as to how I coat the cake balls with the chocolate. It's the technique I use, but you don't have to follow it. What ever you're comfortable with. No fancy equipment needed. I used a fork and spatula.

To package them, I neatly placed then in mini cupcake liners and placed them in a treat box. Nine per box. Sealed it with a "Home Made" sticker with a little holiday greeting and off it went to the recipient. The recipe below was adapted from a red velvet cupcake recipe from Simply Recipes. I ended up making 240+ balls from two large batches. Oh yeah. Many happy people were pleased. The recipe below will make 1 batch. Oh, if you you're a little short on time you can aksp use those ready mix cakes from the market. 

They were a hit!

Makes roughly 50 to 75 depending on size.




Red Velvet Cake Balls
adapted from Simply Recipes

2 c cake flour
2 eggs - room temp
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c buttermilk
1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp red food coloring
18 oz of white chocolate chips - 1 1/2 12oz bags
red sugar sprinkles

Frosting
8oz cream cheese
1/2 c butter - 1 stick
2 1/2 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

--
Note: if you're short on time you can also use the boxed cake mixes. All you will need is the white chocolate, sprinkles and the frosting ingredients.
--

Preheat your oven to 375˚F
Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each. Then add the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla and red food coloring.

Once those are mixed together, add the dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly.

Pour the batter into two 9-inch cake pans that are lightly greased and lined with wax or parchment paper.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a tooth pick or skewer comes out clean.

Let the cakes cool before handling them.

While the cake bakes combine together the ingredients of the frosting and set aside.

Once the cakes are cool enough to handle with your hands, crumble the cake into tiny pieces into the frosting. Mix the whole thing together into a dough consistency.

Take 1 tablespoon of the cake mixture and form them into balls with your hands. Or use a small mini ice cream scoop for even balls.

Place them on wax paper lines rack or baking sheet. Then place them in the fridge for at least an hour to get them hard.


Coating the balls

Double Boiler:
Bring a pot of water to a simmer (never boiling!!). Place the chips in a heat safe bowl and place it over the pot of water. Wait 5-8 minutes and occasionally stir the chocolate until they are melted and smooth.

When they are fully melted stir vigorously for roughly 2 minutes to fully get it smooth and falls from the spoon smoothly. Turn the heat off. If the chocolate looks to get stiff. repeat this step again.




--
To micowave the chocolate
Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 3 minutes. Five the chocolates a stir and heat for 2 minutes. Stir again and reheat again if needed. 
--

Remove the cake balls from the fridge. Scoop a fork into the chocolate and place a cake ball on the fork.


Drizzle over the chocolate and tap off any excess until it looks to have a thin coat.



Carefully place the coated cake ball on the baking sheet and sprinkle some the sugar on top.


Once you have finished with a batch place them again in the fridge to harden.


Note: If you see and/or feel the cake balls becoming soft and crumbly place them in the fridge again for 15-30 minutes.



19 comments:

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

These look and sound amazing! And they make such lovely gifts! Your friends and family are very lucky! :)

Christo Gonzales said...

wow Jenn these look absolutely fantastic - what a great gift and if I forgot to say HAPPY HOLIDAYS then HAPPY HOLIDAYS all over again!

megan said...

these look so good! I would love to receive a homemade gift like that for Christmas :)

Unknown said...

Wow -these look amazing! And I love the little treat boxes - so professional looking!

chow and chatter said...

wow amazing no other words to say love these

theUngourmet said...

These are awesome! I would buy these! If your other jobs don't work out you could open your own bakery! :0)

vanillasugarblog said...

which box is mine girl? those looks so darn addicting!

Bob said...

Those look wicked good. How do I get on the list of recipients next year? :D

Anonymous said...

I can just imagine how good those cakes are!

S
http://notjustmedical.wordpress.com

Diana said...

Oh my gosh - I am DROOLING! These look fantastic! Your friends and family are really lucky to have you in their life! :) (As are we bloggers/readers who get to enjoy the recipes, as well!)

Unknown said...

I have been wanting to try these for a really long time. Yours look great. I bet your friends and family were super happy to get these :)

Thistlemoon said...

Those are totally beautiful Jenn! They look so professional! I am sure that they were well received!

Phyllis said...

Gorgeous!!! Can't think of a better gift :)

OysterCulture said...

Jenn - these look amazing. What lucky recipients to be able to sample these goodies. I hope you had an amazing Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Holy crap, that looks FABULOUS! Your lucky friends and family!

Have a great rest of the holidays!!!

Dewi said...

Always plan of making it, always forget until someone post about it. Yours look really delicious Jenn. Love how you make them into small sizes.

Reeni said...

What amazing treats Jenn! They look scrumptious!

Esi said...

This is such a great holiday gift idea.

Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction said...

So gorgeous! I have never made cake balls before, but I will definitely have to give them a try. My mom's birthday is in January, so maybe I'll make some of these for her.

Hope you had a great holiday... and a Happy New Year!

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