Recipe: Red Velvet Cake BonBons

These came about after my attempt at making red velvet petite fours crumbled, literally. I think I was a bit too eager and didn't allow the cake to cool completely before I started handling it (I should have also cut the 9" x 13" cake in half first before to make it easier to work with) so since a part of the cake was crumbling, I remembered seeing something called cake pops and decided to do something like that instead.

As the old adage says, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!"

This technique can be done for any type of flavor cake mix you are using (That's right! This is a recipe that uses a cake mix!) and very often, the major manufactured boxed cake mixes like Duncan Hines or Pillsbury go on sale for 99¢ each with the can of icing for $1.50 or so. Candy melts I found at a craft store (Michaels) for $1.99.

I chose to make red velvet since it's very popular lately and Valentine's Day is a few days away...

Ingredients:

• 1- 10.25 oz box Duncan Hines Red Velvet cake mix
• 1- 16 oz can of Duncan Hines Cream Cheese frosting
• 2- 14 oz bags Wilton Candy Melts White
• eggs, water, and oil as per cake manufacturer's instructions

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Follow cake box instructions and make the cake batter for a 9" x 13" cake pan.
3. Bake for required minutes and then allow to cool completely.
4. Crumble the prepared cake by hand into a large bowl.
5. Add icing to the cake crumbs (you might want to start with 1/2 a can to see first how moist the mixture will be.
6. Roll quarter sized balls of the cake/icing mixture between your hands (you can use a cookie scoop to make these as well) and place on a sheet pan.
7. Place sheet pan of cake balls in the refrigerator for several hours to set up (or freezer for 1 hour).
8. Prepare the candy melts one bag at a time as per manufacturer's instructions.
9. Take the sheet pan of cake balls out and using two forks, roll the balls (one at a time) in the melted candy to fully cover.
10. Set the covered cake balls on a silpat lined (you can use wax paper or foil) sheet pan to set up.