Patriotic 4th of July Cake Balls
These Patriotic 4th of July Cake Balls are festive, bite-sized desserts coated in red, white, and blue chocolate with sprinkles. Perfect for BBQ parties, they are easy to make ahead, freezer-friendly, and ideal for feeding a crowd.
Equipment
- 9x13-inch baking pan
- mixing bowl
- spatula
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 box red velvet or vanilla cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box)
- 3/4 cup cream cheese frosting
- red gel food coloring (optional)
- 2 cups white candy melts
- 1 cup red candy melts
- 1 cup blue candy melts
- 3 tsp refined coconut oil
- 1/2 cup red, white, and blue sprinkles
- 1/4 cup white nonpareils
- star-shaped sprinkles
- lollipop sticks (optional)
Instructions
- Bake the cake according to package instructions in a 9x13-inch pan and let cool completely.
- Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl.
- Add frosting gradually and mix until the mixture holds together when pressed.
- Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined tray.
- Insert sticks if making cake pops, then freeze balls for 1 hour until firm.
- Melt candy melts separately and stir in coconut oil until smooth.
- Dip each cake ball into melted coating, tapping off excess.
- Immediately decorate with sprinkles before coating sets.
- Let coating set at room temperature or chill briefly until hardened.
- Arrange on a platter or serve as cake pops.
Notes
Do not add too much frosting or the balls will be too soft. Always freeze before dipping to prevent breaking. Use candy melts instead of chocolate chips for a smooth coating. Let cake balls sit 3–5 minutes after freezing before dipping to avoid cracking.