These Chocolate Cake Balls are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth or impressing guests at your next party. With a moist and rich chocolate cake center coated in melted chocolate, these treats are a must-try for any chocolate lover.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
For a few years now, both my hubby and I have been huge fans of Starbucks Chocolate Cake Pops. Yes, I know, a coffee shop serving cake balls, odd right? However, they have the best ones. However, after getting tired of paying $3.99 for one cake pop, I decided to make a homemade version. Not only can I now make them at a fraction of the cost, but I can also fully customize flavors, add in’s, and decorations. Moist, sweet, and 100% addictive, this cake balls recipe will have you adding them to your dessert rotation! Also check out my Starbucks Carrot Cake and Starbucks Banana Bread for more great copycat recipes!
Jump to:
What are Cake Balls?
If you’ve never tried Cake Balls dipped in chocolate, you’re in for a treat! Cake Balls are exactly what they sound like, balls of chocolate cake. You take crumbled cake and combine it with frosting or icing. You then form the mixture into small balls and dip into melted chocolate. You can make cake pops by simply adding a lollipop stick into the center of the cake, or keep them cake balls without using the stick. You can decorate the chocolate cake bites by adding sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and more! They are a tasty option made in no time and always a favorite at parties!
Ingredients Needed
Below is a brief overview of each ingredient needed to make this Chocolate Cake Ball recipe. To see printable recipe card with exact amounts and directions, scroll to the bottom of the post or click the “jump to recipe” button at the top.
- Cake– you can use a boxed cake mix (plus ingredients to make the cake), or make a homemade cake. I love using Devil’s food cake mix because its always moist and flavorful, but we also love using my family’s Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake as our base in this recipe.
- Frosting– store bought or homemade works, I use chocolate frosting, but butter cream or cream cheese frosting works too.
- Chocolate Candy Coating– you can use almond bark, chocolate candy melts, chocolate melting wafers, or even chocolate chips. If you want to make different flavors and colors, feel free to use white chocolate, or any other color desired.
- Toppings– optional, but sprinkles, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, etc. work great.
How to make Chocolate Cake Balls
- Make Cake and Crumble– you’ll want to bake your cake as directed on box or homemade chocolate cake. Allow the cake to cool completely, then crumble the cake using the paddle attachment from a stand mixer, your electric hand mixer, or use your hands to break it all up in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine with Frosting– stir in about half the container of frosting with the cake crumbs. You don’t want the mixture too moist, so start with half and increase only if needed. Mixture should be moist and stick together, if still dry, add 1 tablespoon frosting until consistency is reached.
- Roll into Balls and Freeze– line a baking sheet with parchment paper and roll cake mixture into balls. PRO TIP: use a cookie dough scoop to keep the balls the same size. Place lined baking sheet into the freezer for about 45 minutes.
- Dip into Chocolate– while cake balls are freezing, melt chocolate in the microwave using 30 second increments to avoid burning. Once smooth and creamy, remove cake balls and using a fork, dip the cake ball fully into the chocolate coating thoroughly. You can use a spoon to scoop up chocolate and pour it over the cake ball if needed. PRO TIP: if adding sprinkles, nuts, or chocolate chips, sprinkle on just before chocolate sets up fully. Work in batches to keep things easy and efficient.
- Serve and Enjoy– once chocolate has set up, you can serve or put on a platter for any occasion!
Variations
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how fully customizable these are. Here are some great variations to try:
- Vanilla Cake Pops– use vanilla cake mix or even funfetti and vanilla frosting.
- Carrot Cake– carrot cake mix and cream cheese frosting.
- Spice Cake– spice cake mix and cream cheese frosting or vanilla frosting.
- Banana Cake Balls– banana cake mix with cream cheese frosting. Roll in crushed graham crackers.
- Red Velvet– use red velvet cake mix with cream cheese frosting.
Decoration Ideas
There are so many ways to dress this recipe for chocolate cake balls up for any occasion. Some of our favorites are mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, festive sprinkles, cocoa powder, sea salt, toffee bits, cookie crumbles, and even freeze dried fruits. You can also melt white chocolate and drizzle patterns onto the cake balls before serving.
Storage
If you want to make ahead, make the cake mixture and cover with plastic wrap in the refrigerator up to 3 days. When ready, you can melt the chocolate and dip. You can also roll the cake balls and freeze them in a freezer safe container up to 3 months. Thaw a bit before dipping. If you have leftovers, you can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days. To prolong the freshness, chill them in the fridge up to one week.
More Cake Recipes to try
Chocolate Oatmeal Cake– moist, rich, and full of flavor, this old fashioned dessert is perfect for any occasion and a great way to satisfy any sweet tooth craving!
Death by Chocolate Dump Cake– a decadent treat that combines rich chocolate flavor with the ease and convenience of a “dump” cake recipe. Using only 5 ingredients, this cake is quick to prepare and a sweet tooth favorite for the serious chocolate lover!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Earthquake Cake– combines moist chocolate cake with a gooey peanut butter cheesecake swirl, making it the ultimate dessert for chocolate peanut butter lovers.
Texas Sheet Cake– a delicious and classic dessert that is loved by many for its chocolate flavor, fudge frosting, and easy preparation. This sheet cake is a thin, flat cake made with a rich chocolate batter, baked in a jelly roll pan, and typically topped with a thick layer of incredible chocolate frosting.
Hot Fudge Pudding Cake– an easy, show stopping dessert that is made with simple ingredients! Decadent chocolate cake layered with the most delicious homemade fudgy chocolate sauce, all baked together in one pan!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Chocolate Cake Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box Devils food cake mix plus water, eggs, and oil as called for on box
- 1 can chocolate frosting you'll only need about half
- 2 packages chocolate candy coating 16 ounce packages
- sprinkles, if desired
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees and cook cake according to box directions.
- Once baked, remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- Crumble cake into large bowl. You can use your hands to fully crumble, or a mixer, up to you.
- Mix in about ½ container of chocolate frosting. It should equal around a cup. You don't want the cake mixture too moist, so don't use more than half the frosting tub.
- Roll cake mixture into 1 inch balls and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Place cookie sheet into freezer for about 45 minutes.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add the candy coating and microwave in increments of 30 seconds, stirring in between, until fully melted.
- Remove cake balls from freezer and using a fork, dip each ball into the chocolate thoroughly coating it entirely.
- Place coated ball back onto parchment paper and continue process until all have been coated. *If using sprinkles, sprinkle them on every 5-8 balls to prevent chocolate from drying before sprinkles have been added.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Jill says
Can I use Hershey syrup in place of icing?
Kristin says
I don’t think that would be thick enough to set up the way frosting does unfortunately!
Teresa says
I make cupcakes every week for the kids pizza night here in village that I live in. We do this at our church. I think I will try these. It should be fun to try. I think they will like them.
Kristin says
Oh fun! These would definitely be a hit in that case! Hope you all enjoy!
Rachael says
I made this as written and these turned out perfect! In our family we decided these are better than the Starbucks version for sure …The most important step is to only use half of the frosting container so the cake doesn’t become too moist — the most fun park is crumbling the devils food cake after it was cooled 🙂
Kristin says
So glad y’all enjoyed them!! And I agree, the most fun part is the crumbling! My kiddos thoroughly loved that part, haha!!