Description
Celebrate in style with these festive Patriotic Chocolate Cake Balls, perfect for any Fourth of July gathering or patriotic event. These bite-sized treats combine rich chocolate cake with creamy frosting, coated in vibrant red, white, and blue sprinkles for a delightful and visually stunning dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Balls
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 10 ½ tablespoons (2/3 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup red, white, and blue sprinkles
Frosting
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 to 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red and blue icing color
Instructions
- Prepare the cake batter: In a medium bowl, combine granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. Add the softened butter and mix until creamy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract thoroughly. Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour until just combined.
- Bake the cake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Pour the batter into a greased or lined pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely.
- Make the frosting: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until the frosting is smooth, creamy, and easy to spread, adjusting the quantity to reach desired consistency. Add drops of red and blue icing colors separately to portions of the frosting to create colorful layers.
- Form cake balls: Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl. Add the frosting gradually and mix until the mixture holds together when pressed without being too sticky. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls using your hands or a cookie scoop.
- Coat with sprinkles: Roll each cake ball in a bowl of red, white, and blue sprinkles until completely covered. Place the cake balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Chill the cake balls: Refrigerate the cake balls for at least 1 hour to allow them to firm up and hold their shape before serving.
- Serve and enjoy: Once chilled, serve the vibrant Patriotic Chocolate Cake Balls at your celebration for a crowd-pleasing, festive dessert.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the cake is completely cooled before crumbling to prevent the mixture from becoming too wet.
- You can substitute the unsweetened cocoa powder with Dutch-processed cocoa for a mellower chocolate flavor.
- If you prefer a more intense color, add gel food coloring to the frosting rather than liquid to avoid thinning it.
- Store cake balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- These cake balls can also be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
