Nothing says Christmas like a plate of these adorable cake balls sitting on the counter, just waiting to be devoured by family and friends. I’ve been making these festive treats for years—ever since my aunt showed me her secret trick for getting that perfect smooth chocolate coating. What I love most about this recipe is how simple it is. Even if you’re not much of a baker, you can whip these up in no time and they’ll look like you spent hours in the kitchen!
The magic of these Christmas cake balls is how they transform basic ingredients into something special. A simple boxed cake mix becomes the base, then we jazz it up with frosting and melted chocolate. The best part? You can customize them however you like—use red and green sprinkles for holiday cheer, or drizzle white chocolate over dark for a snowy effect. Every December, my kids beg me to make these, and now they’ve become our favorite edible gift to share with neighbors.
What makes these festive treats so perfect for the holidays is how portable they are. No plates or forks needed—just pop one in your mouth and enjoy that burst of chocolatey cake goodness. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll become part of your Christmas traditions too!
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Cake Balls Festive Treats
These little bites of joy check all the boxes for holiday baking. First off, they’re ridiculously easy—even if you burn toast regularly, you can make these look gorgeous. Second, they’re like edible Christmas ornaments that disappear faster than wrapping paper on Christmas morning!
Quick and Easy to Make
Don’t let their fancy look fool you—these come together with minimal fuss. The secret? We’re using a boxed cake mix (shhh, no one needs to know). Just bake, crumble, mix with frosting, and dip. The hardest part is waiting for them to set before devouring!
Perfect for Holiday Gatherings
These cake balls are the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Arrange them on a festive platter with some holiday sprinkles, and suddenly you’re the Martha Stewart of your friend group. Kids go crazy for them, adults sneak seconds, and they make the cutest edible gifts when packaged in little holiday boxes.
Ingredients for Christmas Cake Balls Festive Treats
Here’s what you’ll need to make these holiday gems—nothing fancy, just simple ingredients that work magic together. I always keep these stocked during December because you never know when a cake ball craving will strike!
- 1 box (15.25 oz) cake mix – Any flavor works! My go-to is vanilla or chocolate, but spice cake makes them taste like Christmas morning.
- 1 cup (packed!) frosting – Cream cheese frosting creates the perfect texture, but canned vanilla works in a pinch.
- 2 cups chocolate chips – I use equal parts dark and white for a festive swirl effect.
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil – This little trick makes the chocolate dip smoothly.
- Sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or edible glitter – The more festive, the better!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
No worries if you need to swap things out! Gluten-free cake mix works beautifully here—just check the box weight matches. For dairy-free versions, use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil and dairy-free chocolate chips. If your frosting seems runny, pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes before mixing. And hey, if you’re feeling extra, toss in 1/2 cup chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips to the cake crumbles for bonus crunch!
Equipment You’ll Need
Gather these kitchen essentials—chances are you’ve got most already! My trusty 9×13 inch baking pan for the cake, a large mixing bowl for crumbling, and a small microwave-safe bowl (I use my grandma’s old Pyrex) for melting chocolate. Don’t forget a baking sheet lined with parchment paper—it’s a lifesaver when dipping those sticky little balls!
How to Make Christmas Cake Balls Festive Treats
Okay, let’s get to the fun part—turning simple ingredients into magical holiday bites! I’ve made these so many times I could do it in my sleep, but I’ll walk you through each step so yours turn out perfect on the first try.
Step 1: Bake and Crumble the Cake
First, bake your cake mix according to the package directions in a 9×13 inch pan. Here’s my secret—I always underbake it slightly by 2-3 minutes because drier cake means crumbly cake balls. Let it cool completely (seriously, no cheating here or you’ll have a sticky mess). Once cool, grab handfuls and crumble it into a large bowl until it looks like fresh breadcrumbs. My kids love helping with this part—just watch out for sneaky fingers stealing bites!
Step 2: Mix with Frosting
Now, add your frosting a spoonful at a time, mixing gently with a rubber spatula. You’ll know it’s ready when you can squeeze a handful and it holds its shape like playdough. Warning: don’t go overboard with the frosting or your balls will be too soft! If they feel sticky, pop the mixture in the fridge for 15 minutes. Then roll tablespoon-sized portions between your palms—if they crack, add a smidge more frosting.
Step 3: Dip and Decorate
Here comes the messy fun! Freeze your balls for 20 minutes (this prevents crumbling when dipping). Melt chocolate chips with oil in 30-second bursts, stirring until smooth. My trick? Spear each ball with a fork, dip, then gently tap off excess chocolate against the bowl’s edge. Slide it onto parchment paper with a spoon—the fork marks will disappear as the chocolate sets. Immediately add sprinkles or crushed candy canes before the chocolate hardens. Let them set at room temperature (about 1 hour) or speed it up with 15 minutes in the fridge.
See? Easy as pie—or should I say, easy as cake balls! The hardest part now is keeping everyone’s hands off them until they’re fully set.
Tips for Perfect Christmas Cake Balls Festive Treats
After making hundreds (okay, maybe thousands) of these cake balls over the years, I’ve picked up some tricks that’ll make yours foolproof. First—don’t skip the freezer step! Those 20 minutes make all the difference when dipping. If your chocolate starts thickening, just zap it for 5 more seconds. And here’s my favorite hack: keep one hand clean for sprinkling decorations while the other handles the messy dipping. Oh, and if your cake mixture feels too sticky? Dust your hands with powdered sugar before rolling—it works like magic! Trust me, these little tricks turn good cake balls into perfect cake balls every time.
Variations for Christmas Cake Balls Festive Treats
Oh, the possibilities! These cake balls are like blank canvases for your holiday creativity. My personal favorite? Peppermint explosion—just add 1/2 tsp peppermint extract to the frosting and roll the finished balls in crushed candy canes. For a gingerbread twist, use spice cake mix and stir in 1 tsp cinnamon to the crumbs. Feeling fancy? Drizzle with salted caramel after dipping—just warm store-bought caramel with a pinch of sea salt and zigzag it over the tops. The best part? Every variation still feels perfectly festive!
Serving and Storing Christmas Cake Balls Festive Treats
These little beauties look their absolute best when displayed on a pretty holiday platter—I love using my grandma’s vintage Christmas tray lined with parchment. For gifting, stack them in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon (they’ll keep fresh for days this way). Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or pop them in the fridge for a week (if they last that long!). Pro tip: They actually taste even better the next day when the flavors meld together!
Nutritional Information
Now, let’s be real—these are holiday treats, so we’re not counting calories at Christmas! But if you’re curious, here’s the scoop: Each cake ball (made with vanilla cake and milk chocolate) runs about 150 calories, with 7g fat and 20g carbs. Remember, nutrition varies based on your specific ingredients—especially if you go wild with the sprinkles (which I always do!).
FAQs About Christmas Cake Balls Festive Treats
Got questions about these holiday treats? I’ve got answers! Here are the things people ask me most when I bring these to cookie swaps and parties:
Can I freeze Christmas cake balls?
Absolutely! These freeze like a dream. After the chocolate sets, layer them between parchment paper in an airtight container. They’ll keep for 2 months—just thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Sometimes I make double batches in November just to have ready for last-minute guests!
How long do they stay fresh?
At room temperature, they’re perfect for 5 days (if they last that long!). In the fridge, they’ll stretch to a week. The chocolate coating keeps everything moist—just be sure to store them in a single layer so the decorations don’t get smashed.
My cake balls keep falling apart—help!
Two tricks: First, make sure your cake is completely cool before crumbling. Second, don’t skip the freezer time before dipping—those 20 minutes help them hold their shape. If they’re still fussy, try adding a bit more frosting to bind them.
Can I use homemade cake instead of boxed mix?
Of course! Leftover Christmas cake or cupcakes work wonderfully. Just crumble about 4-5 cups of cake—you want that same breadcrumb texture. The moisture level might vary, so add frosting slowly until the mixture holds together when squeezed.
Best way to transport these to parties?
I use a cupcake carrier with parchment between layers, or a shallow container with crumpled parchment to keep them from rolling. In a pinch? Those holiday cookie tins from the dollar store work great—just add tissue paper for cushioning!
Share Your Festive Creations
I absolutely live for seeing your holiday cake ball masterpieces! Snap a photo of your festive creations—nothing makes me happier than spotting your red-and-green sprinkled beauties or peppermint-dipped wonders on social media. Tag me so I can ooh and aah over them! After all, half the fun is showing off these edible ornaments to fellow Christmas treat lovers.
Print
3-Ingredient Christmas Cake Balls – Festive Magic in Every Bite
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (includes cooling and setting time)
- Yield: 24 cake balls 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious and festive Christmas cake balls that are perfect for holiday gatherings. These treats combine cake, frosting, and chocolate for a delightful bite-sized dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 box of cake mix (any flavor)
- 1 cup of frosting (any flavor)
- 2 cups of chocolate chips (milk, dark, or white)
- 1 tbsp of vegetable oil
- Sprinkles or decorations (optional)
Instructions
- Bake the cake according to the package instructions. Let it cool completely.
- Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl.
- Add the frosting and mix until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into small balls and place them on a tray lined with parchment paper.
- Freeze the balls for 20 minutes to firm them up.
- Melt the chocolate chips with the vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
- Dip each cake ball into the melted chocolate, coating it completely.
- Place the coated balls back on the tray and add sprinkles or decorations if desired.
- Let the chocolate set before serving.
Notes
- Use any cake and frosting flavor you prefer.
- Add food coloring to the chocolate for a festive touch.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking, No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake ball
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: Christmas cake balls, festive treats, holiday dessert, easy dessert recipe