Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe

ByMariam Harutyunyan
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Introduction

Celebrate the season with these charming Cake Ball Ornaments—delicious red velvet cake bites coated in festive candy melts. They make a delightful treat and a beautiful edible decoration perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting.

There are several round cake balls shaped like Christmas ornaments on a white marbled surface. Each ball has a shiny, smooth outer layer in red, green, or white. They are decorated with white icing in different patterns like swirls, snowflakes, and lines, and also have small green or white sugar beads. Each ball has a top detail made of a round cereal loop dipped in white icing to look like the ornament hook. One ornament is cut in half showing a red, crumbly cake inside with a smooth white coating outside. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray
  • 1 (15.25-oz.) box red velvet cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups (170 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup Frosted Cheerios (about 70 pieces)
  • 1 (12-oz.) bag green candy melts, melted
  • 1 (12-oz.) bag red candy melts, melted
  • 2 (12-oz.) bags white candy melts, melted
  • Sanding sugar, for decorating

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 13″ x 9″ baking pan with cooking spray. Prepare the cake batter according to the box instructions and pour it into the prepared pan.
  2. Step 2: Bake the cake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let the cake cool completely.
  3. Step 3: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter with a handheld mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar and beat until combined. Mix in vanilla extract and a pinch of kosher salt.
  4. Step 4: Crumble the cooled cake into the frosting mixture and gently combine. Form the mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls (about 34). Place them on a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
  5. Step 5: To make hooks, arrange 34 cereal pieces flat on a baking sheet. Dip the bottom of each remaining cereal piece into melted white candy and attach it upright to the center of a flat cereal piece. Let harden.
  6. Step 6: Dip one-third of the cake balls into melted green candy melts, one-third into melted red candy melts, and the remaining third into melted white candy melts, tapping off any excess.
  7. Step 7: Before the candy hardens, sprinkle some cake balls with sanding sugar. Place all cake balls on the baking sheet and allow the coating to set for 15 to 20 minutes.
  8. Step 8: Transfer about three-quarters of the remaining white candy melts to a resealable plastic bag, cut off a tiny corner, and pipe decorative designs onto the cake balls. Sprinkle with sanding sugar before the candy sets.
  9. Step 9: Dip the bottoms of the cereal hooks into the remaining white candy melts (reheat if needed) and attach to the top of each cake ball. Allow to set completely before serving or hanging as ornaments.

Tips & Variations

  • Use different colored candy melts to match your holiday theme or season for a personalized touch.
  • If cream cheese is soft but cool, slightly warm it in the microwave for 10 seconds to help with easy mixing.
  • For a sturdier hook, pipe extra white candy melts around the base of the cereal hook once attached to the cake ball.

Storage

Store the Cake Ball Ornaments in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture. They can also be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge before enjoying.

How to Serve

The image shows a variety of small, round holiday-themed desserts that look like Christmas ornaments, arranged on red shredded paper inside a white box. Each dessert has a smooth, glossy outer layer in red, green, or white, decorated with white icing designs resembling snowflakes, swirls, or stripes. Some have a glittery finish, and each topping includes a small loop made from icing and a cereal ring to mimic ornament hangers. One dessert is cut in half, showing a deep red, moist cake inside covered by a shiny white and red striped coating. A gold ribbon curls gently across the bottom left of the frame. The scene is set on a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these cake balls ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the cake balls and decorate them a day or two in advance. Keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to serve or gift them.

What can I substitute for the candy melts?

If candy melts are unavailable, white chocolate or colored candy coatings can be used, but ensure they melt smoothly and coat evenly. You may need to temper white chocolate for a good finish.

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Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 62 reviews
  • Author: Mariam
  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Yield: About 34 cake ball ornaments 1x
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Description

Delightfully festive and colorful Cake Ball Ornaments made with moist red velvet cake crumbled into a creamy cream cheese mixture, coated in vibrant candy melts, and decorated with sanding sugar and Cheerios hooks to resemble holiday ornaments. Perfect for holiday parties and gifting.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Balls

  • Cooking spray
  • 1 (15.25-oz.) box red velvet cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups (170 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Kosher salt, a pinch

Decorations and Coating

  • 1/4 cup Frosted Cheerios (about 70 pieces)
  • 1 (12-oz.) bag green candy melts, melted
  • 1 (12-oz.) bag red candy melts, melted
  • 2 (12-oz.) bags white candy melts, melted
  • Sanding sugar, for decorating

Instructions

  1. Prepare Cake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 13″ x 9″ baking pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, prepare the red velvet cake mix according to the package directions. Pour the batter into the prepared pan evenly.
  2. Bake Cake: Bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Allow the cake to cool completely to room temperature.
  3. Make Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large bowl, use a handheld mixer on medium-high speed to beat the softened cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and beat until combined smoothly. Mix in vanilla extract and a pinch of kosher salt.
  4. Combine Cake and Frosting: Crumble the cooled cake into the bowl with the frosting. Mix thoroughly to create a moist, moldable mixture.
  5. Form Cake Balls: Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls, approximately 34 total. Place them on a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
  6. Make Cereal Hooks: Arrange 34 Frosted Cheerios flat on a baking sheet. Take the remaining cereal pieces and hold one upright; dip the bottom into melted white candy melts and attach it to the center of a flat cereal piece to create hooks. Repeat with all pieces and let set.
  7. Coat Cake Balls: Dip about one-third of the cake balls into melted green candy melts, another third into melted red candy melts, and the final third into melted white candy melts, tapping off the excess coating each time. Before the candy sets, sprinkle some with sanding sugar for extra sparkle. Return to the baking sheet and let the candy coating set for 15 to 20 minutes.
  8. Decorate Cake Balls: Transfer 3/4 of the remaining melted white candy to a resealable plastic bag and cut off a tiny corner. Pipe decorative designs onto the coated cake balls. Sprinkle with sanding sugar before the candy hardens.
  9. Attach Hooks: Dip the bottom of each cereal hook into the remaining melted white candy (reheat if necessary), and press it gently onto the top of each decorated cake ball to create a festive ornament look.

Notes

  • Make sure the cake is completely cooled before mixing with the cream cheese frosting to prevent melting the frosting.
  • Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to form uniform cake balls for even baking and decoration.
  • The Frosted Cheerios are used to create edible ornament hooks, giving a charming and practical finishing touch.
  • Melt candy melts gently in a microwave or double boiler to avoid scorching.
  • Refrigerate cake balls after assembling to help them hold their shape and keep candy melts firm.
  • You can store completed cake ball ornaments in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: cake balls, red velvet cake, cream cheese frosting, candy melts, holiday desserts, festive treats, Christmas ornaments, no-bake decorations

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