[introduction] Introduction If you are new to the wonderful world of cake balls, then you might be asking yourself, "What the heck is a cake ball?" Well, let us tell you . . . they're just what you've been waiting for! They are crumbled bits of moist cake blended with rich icing, rolled into a ball, and then dipped in a deliciously wonderful chocolate coating. Cake balls are an exciting twist on the everyday cupcake and a sophisticated yet fun alternative to traditional dessert. It's no wonder why they've become such a sweet sensation! Plain and simple, cake balls are pure greatness. There are a gazillion different variations of cake and icing, with every different flavor combination offering a unique, mouth-watering experience. And every bite delivers that thrilling combination we all love--cake and icing! Who hasn't been disappointed to realize that she has finished all the icing, leaving a sad slice of cake just begging for sticky sweet frosting? A cake ball promises to never leave your cake stranded. The greatness doesn't just stop with the tastiness either. Cake balls are just the right size. At The Cake Ball Company, we call them portion-controlled. When you are feeling the need for something small and sweet, you can indulge without having to down a big slice of cake. Their ideal size also makes them perfect for parties and entertaining. You can set out your cake balls on a serving tray with napkins, and be done with it. There's no slicing, no plates, no forks, and no mess. Your guests can have one cake ball, if they just want a little something sweet. Or, in the case of a recent party we hosted, a guest can stuff his face with ten! We won't name any names here, but you know who you are. Maybe you are wondering how cake balls came to be. Maybe you aren't. But, we'll tell you anyway. Robin grew up in a small southeast Texas town where her mother often served her one-of-a-kind cake balls at family events and celebrations. After Robin graduated from college, she moved to Dallas and brought her mother's cake ball recipe with her. She began making these cake balls for friends in the big city where people had never heard of her tasty little treats before, and she started giving her unique cake balls as gifts. Gifts turned into favors, favors turned into requests, and, low and behold, requests turned into orders. All the while, she experimented with new flavors. Before she knew it, Robin had to go pro to keep up with the demand. Once out-of-town orders started coming in, Charlotte joined the operation. In 2006, the business officially became The Cake Ball Company, and we have worked every day since to make cake balls a part of the American everyday vocabulary. The Cake Ball Company now has a production facility and retail shop in Dallas. We hope that next time you find yourself in the Big D, you'll stop by the shop and say "howdy!" We have shipped cake balls to all fifty states, and we are constantly coming up with and testing new flavor combinations. In this tasty little cookbook, we've offered the most exciting and delicious recipes just for you. We do work hard at The Cake Ball Company, but if there is one thing we know how to do best, it's have fun. The main philosophy of our business is "always have a ball." Laughing is the only way for us to remain sane when we are up to our elbows in hundreds of orders--and chocolate. Cake balls are not meant to be serious business. (How could it be when one is up to her elbows in chocolate?) So, we hope that you'll have a ball making the recipes in this cookbook. Experiment with the cake and icing combinations. Play with decorating ideas. Don't worry if they don't come out looking fabulous. By following our tips and tricks and with some practice, your balls can look just like the ones in this book. Don't forget that you can also order your cake balls from us at any time at www.cakeballs.com. We'll be happy to ship you a box of perfectly portion-controlled cake balls. [samples from Classics chapter] Classics The Cake Ball Company opened its doors in 2006 with six decadent flavors. Today, those first six flavors are fondly referred to as our classics. These include Birthday Cake, which is our most popular, Brownie, Chocolate Toffee, German Chocolate, Red Velvet, and Wedding Cake. Although we have had a blast trying and testing new flavors, these six remain the best sellers in our shop and on our website. The Cake Ball Company has been steadily rolling up hill since our modest beginnings with these tried-and-true flavors. Birthday Cake This is the recipe for the first cake ball ever sold and remains our most popular flavor to date. It is the most basic of all recipes, but makes a great blank canvas to add flavors to, flex your creative muscles, or experiment with some fun decorating ideas. For the cake and icing: 1 (18.25-ounce) box vanilla cake mix or basic vanilla cake (page XX) 1/2 to 3/4 cup store-bought cream cheese icing or basic cream cheese icing (page XX) For coating and decorating: 24 ounces white chocolate, for coating Approximately 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles, for decoration 1. Follow the instructions for baking a vanilla cake (page XX). 2. While the cake is cooling, prepare the cream cheese icing (page XX) or open your store-bought icing. 3. After the cake has cooled, follow the cake ball method instructions (page XX). 4. After the cake balls are dipped in white chocolate, drizzle them with fine lines. Do one at a time and sprinkle them with rainbow sprinkles to give each a festive feel. Brownie This is our second bestselling cake ball. It is pretty simple, but a big hit every time. It tastes like yummy fudgy brownies. If you aren't a fan of pecans (we love 'em), you can try another nut or omit the nuts altogether. For the cake and icing: 1 (18.25-ounce) box chocolate cake mix or basic chocolate cake (page XX) 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped 1/2 to 3/4 cup store-bought chocolate icing or basic chocolate icing (page XX) For coating and decorating: 24 ounces milk chocolate, for coating 1. Mix together the ingredients for making a chocolate cake (page XX).After the ingredients are fully combined, stir in the pecans. 2. Follow the instructions for baking the cake (page XX). 3. While the cake is cooling, prepare the chocolate icing (page XX) or open your store-bought icing. 4. After the cake has cooled, follow the cake ball method instructions (page XX). 5. After the cake balls are dipped in milk chocolate, drizzle them with fine lines. Or, you can let your imagination run wild! This flavor makes a great blank canvas to try out some fun decorating ideas. Excerpted from Cake Balls: Amazingly Delicious Bite-Size Treats by Robin Ankeny, Charlotte Lyon All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
