White Chocolate Peanut Butter Funfetti Cake Balls

I’ve got probs.

First of all, I haven’t jumped on the pumpkin bandwagon and I’m still making summery, Funfetti-colored cake balls. I have already had: pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin coffee creamer, Starbucks pumpkin latte, store-bought pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin tea, but I have yet to bake pumpkin-flavored food.  (Actually, I did, but I forgot to take pictures so it doesn’t count.)

Second of all, I may have overdone it here with the triple flavor combo, but it worked.

So, yeah, I’ve got probs, but it’s okay because I made you cake balls.

These are just like regular cake balls, but instead of frosting, you use melted white chocolate and peanut butter.  Yum, yum, yum.

 White Chocolate Peanut Butter Funfetti Cake Balls

Ingredients

• 1 pre-made cake (Use a box mix or your own recipe)
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter, melted  (Preferably Peanut Butter & Co Peanut Butter!)
• 1 cup white chocolate chips, melted
• 1 (3 ounce) bar chocolate flavored almond bark

Directions

1. Crumble your pre-made cake in a bowl.
2. Mix in melted peanut butter and white chocolate.
3. Melt chocolate coating in a glass bowl in the microwave, or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
4. Use a small scoop to form balls of the chocolate cake mixture.
5. Dip the balls in chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Place on waxed paper to set.

New Books by Dede Wilson: Cake Balls and A Baker’s Field Guide to Doughnuts

First of all, Happy Labor Day! 🙂

Second of all, I don’t know if you have any of Dede Wilson’s books, but if you haven’t, you’re missing out.  But don’t worry, I can fix that.

Today, I’m giving away two awesome cookbooks:

Cake Balls
More Than 60 Delectable and Whimsical Sweet Spheres of Goodness

This features all sorts of cake balls- I couldn’t have even imagined some of the cake balls in this book.  Creme Brulee Cake Balls, Espresso Brownie Cake Balls, Key Lime Cake Balls, Mocha Toffee Crunch Cake Balls?!  Tell me you can resists that.  Also, not only does the book have cake ball recipes, but the beginning has the perfect cake, frosting, brownie recipes for the balls.  You won’t find any fake box mixes in this book.  Plus, the step-by-step cake ball making instructions with pictures in the front of the book are extremely helpful.

 

and

A Baker’s Field Guide to Doughnuts
More Than 60 Warm and Fresh Homemade Treats

I love this book because finally, I know how to spell doughnuts, haha!  Kidding.  This book is just as awesome as the cake pop cookbook.  It has baked doughnuts, fried doughnuts, yeast doughnuts, filled doughnuts, everything.   Dede is really good at creating original recipes, like Carrot Cake Doughnuts, Chocolate-Salted Caramel Doughnuts, Creme Brulee Doughnuts, Honey Cream-Filled Doughnuts with Milk and Honey Glaze.  She sold me!

I just got both of the books on Friday and I’ve already bookmarked almost all of the recipes (ha, helpful, huh?). And, I seriously sat in front of the TV last night making cake balls while Kellen and I watched a movie. So, just a warning, this book will make you do weird things.

Who wants these books?

Well, today is your lucky day. I’ve got a copy of each book to give away!  To enter, all you have to do is:

1.  Leave a comment telling me what your favorite cake ball and/or doughnut recipe is.

For additional entries:

2. Like Dede Wilson on Facebook and leave a comment saying you did.
3.  Like What Katie’s Baking on Facebook and leave a comment saying you did.
4.  Follow Dede on Twitter and leave a comment saying you did.
5.  Follow What Katie’s Baking on twitter and leave a comment saying you did. 

Good luck!

The giveaway will end on Monday, September 10th at midnight.  Make sure you leave your email address, or some form of contact information so I can get in contact with you if you win.

Chocolate Almond Brownie Balls

Hang in there guys, finals week is over on Thursday for me, then I’ll be posting all the time.

Until then, enjoy some yummy brownie balls… they won’t disappoint you.

Chocolate Almond Brownie Balls

Brownies:

• 4 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Frosting:

• 1/4 cup butter, softened (you can use margarine but the flavor will not be the same)
• 1 1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar , sifted
• 1/8 cup half-and-half cream (can use unwhipped whipping cream in place of half and half) or 1/3 cup milk (can use unwhipped whipping cream in place of half and half)
• 1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa powder , sifted
• 1/2 tsp almond extract

Chocolate coating:

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. Microwave chocolate and butter or margarine in large bowl at high for 2 minutes or until butter or margarine is melted.
3. Stir until chocolate is melted. Stir in sugar. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour.
4. Spread in greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Bake for 35 minutes (do not overbake).
5. Let the brownies cool.
6. Mix all frosting ingredients, and crumble cooled brownies into the mix.
7. Form into balls and freeze for 20 minutes.
8. Microwave heavy cream for 1 minute.  Put in chocolate chips and let sit for 1 minute.  Stir until smooth.
9. Dip brownie balls into chocolate, let sit.
10. Eat!

Halloween Cake Pops and a Giveaway!

Hi Guys!

Sorry it’s been so long, but I’m back with a gift for you.

I just received this book, Crazy for Cake Pops in the mail and I’m so excited about it.  I thought I knew all there was to know about cake pops, but I was mistaken.  This book has so many techniques and flavor ideas it’s incredible!

The Cake Pop- A Treat That’s as Fun to Make as It Is to Eat!


A beautifully decorated cake can wow anyone. And there’s nothing more entertaining than food on a stick.  Combine the two and you’ve got the incredibly cute, one-bite, hand-held snacks everyone loves: cake pops!

Introducing Crazy for Cake Pops, a craft cookbook packed with 50 cake-on-a-stick designs and 70 stunning color photos. The wide range of exciting shapes and tasty flavors with have you eager to make and decorate these treats for any and every occasion.  A few fun examples:

• Birthday Party Clown Pops
• Halloween Jack-o’-Lanterns
• Holiday Bauble Balls
• Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Pops
• Game Night Poker Chips and Dice

…and more!

Teaching you how to create these scrumptious mini desserts with professional results, author Molly Bakes clearly explains the step-by-step process for cake pop success.  “These recipes show that you don’t have to be a brilliant baker or even an experienced cake decorator to make these adorable treats,” she says. “All you need is a few simple ingredients, some lollipop sticks, and, of course, your imagination!”

So, now I have one copy of the cute little book to give away.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment. Make sure you include an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

Extra entries:

1. Follow me on Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment saying you did so.
2. Subscribe to What Katie’s Baking and leave a comment saying you did so.
3. Follow What Katie’s Baking on Facebook and leave a comment saying you did so.

I’ll choose a winner next Monday, October 24 and get the book sent out to you asap.

These are what I made with help from the book:

If you don’t win, I highly recommend you buy the book.  It’s only $10.17 on Amazon right now, so it’s a steal!

No Bake Cake Balls

“In cooking (baking), as in all the arts, simplicity is the sign of perfection.” —Curnonsky

That quote was obviously written about cake balls.

I love making cake balls.  They are the easiest, but most delicious little creations ever.

Remember those Poké Ball Cupcakes I made?  Well, I somehow had a ton of frosting leftover, so the obvious choice was to make cake balls.  I had to make these quickly for a party, so I made these a little differently.  I just used the straight cake mix and frosting.  It was super sweet, so I suggest making these small!

My next cake ball challenge is layered cake balls from the Sugar Turntable.  Don’t these look good??

Picture from: The Sugar Turntable

What’s your favorite cake ball recipe??

No Bake Cake Balls


Ingredients:

• 1 (18.25 oz) package cake mix of choice
• 2-4 cups frosting of choice
• 1 (3 ounce) bar chocolate flavored powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Directions:
• 1.  Mix cake mix and frosting. (Start with 2 cups and slowly add more until you reach desired consistency.)
• 2.  Place prepared balls in freezer for about an hour.
• 3.  Melt chocolate in microwave with vegetable oil.  
• 4.  Coat chilled balls in chocolate.  

Cinnamon Roll Balls

Okay, so remember how I told you guys I made my dad my grandma’s “coffee cake” (aka cinnamon rolls) for Father’s Day?

Well, I ended up burning them while I was writing that post!

How sad is that? I was really upset, especially since I worked so hard to do something special for my dad.

I haaattee when my surprises are ruined!  I put all that time and effort into making something so perfect for somebody and then it gets ruined!  Such a bummer!

It’s okay, though.  You know why?  When life hands you burnt cinnamon rolls, go with it.

The centers of mine were still okay, so I made cinnamon roll balls.  Like cake balls, only cinnamon rolls!

So yummy!

Have you guys ever accidentally ruined a surprise?  What did you do about it?

Cinnamon Roll Balls

Ingredients:
2-3 large cinnamon rolls
1/8 cup water
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 cups white chocolate
2 teaspoons oil

Directions:
1.  Process cinnamon rolls in a food processor until small crumbs are formed.
2.  Add water and powdered sugar.  *Add more water if needed.  Should be a doughy consistency.  (The water and powdered sugar are to make an ‘icing’ flavor.)
3.  Roll into 1 inch balls and place in freezer until semi-sold.
4.  Melt white chocolate and oil.
5.  Dip balls into chocolate. Chill until the chocolate has hardened.
*Optional: Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Coconut Cake Balls

Check out my guest post over at beautiful Alaina’s blog: Sweetness of Life.

I wrote about a pretty sweet recipe I accidentally created.

It includes coconut butter, cake mix, and chocolate.

Interested yet?

No?

How ’bout now?

Go check it out! 🙂  And while you’re there, look at all of Alaina’s delicious recipes!!

P.S. If you haven’t had coconut butter before.. you have to try it.  It’s amazing!!

You can buy it here.  Or make your own by processing shredded unsweetened coconut in a food processor until creamy.

Cake Ball Trifle and a Linky Party!

My beautiful friend Molly awarded me with the “Stylish Blogger Award”.


I’m feeling very lucky… thanks Molly! 🙂  I’ve mentioned her blog on here a few times, but if you haven’t checked it out yet, you definitely should!


Da Rules:

1. Say seven things about yourself

2. Pass on to other bloggers

3. Contact them and let them know!

I’ve already said 7 things about myself… but I’m going to try and do it again.

1.  I’ve never been to a concert.  Local concerts, yes, but never a really famous concert.  I would love to see Adele, Norah Jones, or Jack Johnson.  


2.  I go through phases… of everything.  Exercise, a certain food, reading, etc.  So when I don’t exercise for a while, I don’t tend to worry about it because I know I’ll be back to it soon.


3.  I’m nervous about living with 3 other girls that I don’t know next year.  Last year my roommate was a good friend of mine so I wasn’t worried about it (and these year my roommates are my parents haha), but I’ve never met these girls!  Although I’m nervous, I’m also very excited.

4.  Even though my least favorite color has always been pink, I’ve started to like it more lately.  But I don’t like admitting that.

5.  I can’t stand to see anyone or anything get hurt.  Today, my cat killed a bird and all I could think about was the bird’s family lol.

He’s lucky he’s cute.

6.  I eat my baked beans with honey.

7.  My current goal right now is to win this contest I’ve entered.  I am so excited I can barely take it.  It ends on May 20th and I can’t stop thinking about it.  It would seriously make my day, year, life if I even made it to the final round.  More details later! 🙂

8.  I love linky parties.  I enter almost every single one I see and I love clicking through and finding new blogs.


Since I love linky parties so much, I decided to host my own.  No pictures, though, I’m just testing it out.  Let me know if you guys like it! Pleeeasse add your yummy treats to the list at the bottom of this post! 🙂

Cake Ball Trifle
*This is soooo adaptable, but using cake balls was probably the best idea I’ve ever had!


Ingredients

• 2 cups crushed up Cake Balls
• 1/2 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups heaving whipping cream
• 1/4 cup sugar

• • 2 cups chocolate chip

• • Instructions

• 1. Beat heavy whipping cream with sugar until stiff peaks form.
  2. In a large bowl, combine chocolate pudding mix, 1/4 cup water and 1/2 can sweetened condensed milk. Mix until smooth, then fold in 1/2 of the whipped cream mixture.
  3. In another bowl, combine vanilla pudding mix with the other 1/4 cup water and other 1/2 of the can of sweetened condensed milk.  Do not add whipped cream to this mixture!
  4. In a trifle bowl or glass serving dish, place half of the cake balls, half of the chocolate pudding mixture, half of the vanilla pudding, half of the chocolate chips and half of the whipped cream in layers. Repeat layers. Refrigerate 8 hours before serving. (or not…) 

I’m passing the “Stylish Blogger Award” on to:

Kimberley
Alaina
Jessica
Ari
Kat
Sherri Lynn
Kerry
Vicky
Xinmei
Kate
Sheila
Meghan
Clare

Cake Mix Cookie Balls

The other day, my dearest friend Brandon tried some homemade cake mix cookies that I made and proceeded to tell me that he couldn’t decide if he liked those better or the cake balls I make… so I made a combination.  Plus, these are one of my best friend JORDAN’S favorite desserts and she’s home from college this weekend! 🙂

It kind of lead to a series of disasters in the kitchen. 

I was trying to make granola at the same time as these cookie balls and I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

First of all, my cake mix cookies definitely didn’t turn out as well as last time.  They turned out more like cake, so although the finished product was delicious, it kind of defeated the whole purpose of my little experiment.  I’m not even really sure what I did wrong because they turned out great last time!  I’m thinking I used too much milk…

Then, while trying to multitask, I spilled my granola alllll over the floor and counter!

I also didn’t realize how many cake balls I was getting myself into… yiiikes!  It took probably an hour and a half to coat all of them.  Wooo!! Quite the day, but, like I said, these turned out really well and they’re made completely from scratch!

They also turned into a delicious trifle that I’ll be posting soon… 🙂

What are your worst disaster stories in the kitchen?

Cake Mix Cookie Balls

*The recipe obviously needs a little tweaking since mine turned out cakey-er than I would’ve preferred, but this is my recipe I used. 

Ingredients

1 recipe Homemade White Cake Mix
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
1 batch White Chocolate Frosting
1-2 packages almond bark (I used one vanilla, one chocolate)  depending on how much you use
2 tablespoons oil, depending on how much almond bark used


Directions

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Mix all ingredients until incorporated.
3.  Drop by tablespoonfulls onto a greased baking sheet.
4.  Bake for 6-8 minutes.
5.  Wait for cookies to cool, then break them all apart and put them in a large mixing bowl.
6.  Mix frosting with cookies.
7.  Roll into your choice of size balls (I used a small melon baller) and place in freezer for about 30 minutes.  This will help the dipping process.
8.  Melt one package chocolate with 1 tablespoon oil.
9.  Dip chilled balls in melted chocolate.