Description

Have you ever wondered if a dessert could be so creepy it makes your Halloween party guests do a double-take? Picture a tray of gooey cake balls coated in white chocolate, decorated to look like eerie eyeballs that seem to watch you. Sounds like a treat that’s both spooky and scrumptious, right? These Cake Eyeballs are super easy to make, with just 25 minutes of cooking time, and perfect for kids and adults to create together

Ingredients

This recipe uses just a few ingredients to create a fun, festive treat. Here’s what you’ll need, why each one matters, and some substitutions:

Cake Mix (18.25-ounce box, red velvet or yellow): The base of the cake balls, providing flavor and structure.
- Substitution: Use any cake mix flavor (chocolate, vanilla, or gluten-free).
Required Ingredients for Cake Mix: Typically eggs, oil, and water (check the box for specifics).
- Substitution: Use plant-based eggs or oil substitutes for vegan or dietary needs.
Frosting (12-ounce can, any kind): Binds the cake crumbs into a fudgy, rollable mixture.
- Substitution: Use homemade frosting, cream cheese frosting, or vegan frosting.
White Chocolate Melting Disks (12 ounces): Creates a smooth, creepy coating for the eyeballs.
- Substitution: Use white chocolate chips, candy melts, or dairy-free white chocolate.
Assorted Gel Icing: Used to decorate the eyeballs with pupils, irises, and bloodshot veins.
- Substitution: Use melted chocolate, food coloring pens, or icing in piping bags.

Why These Ingredients Matter

The cake mix and frosting make a rich, fudgy base that’s easy to shape, while the white chocolate adds a smooth, creepy coating. The gel icing lets you get creative with eyeball designs, making this a fun activity for kids. The ingredients are affordable and widely available, and the recipe is adaptable for dietary needs, like gluten-free or vegan diets. While indulgent, the small portions (24-30 servings) help with moderation, and the eggs in the cake mix add a touch of protein.

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Instructions

Step 1: Bake the Cake

Prepare the 18.25-ounce box of red velvet or yellow cake mix according to the package directions for a 9-by-13-inch cake or two 9-inch round cakes.
Bake as directed (usually 20-25 minutes at 350°F).
Let the cake cool slightly in the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack, cover with a dish towel, and cool completely (about 1 hour).

Tip: Check the cake early to avoid overbaking—use a toothpick to ensure it’s done.

Step 2: Crumble the Cake

Break off sections of the cooled cake and crumble them into a large bowl.
Keep crumbling until you have very fine cake crumbs (no large chunks).

Tip: Use your hands or a fork to get fine, even crumbs for a smooth texture.

Step 3: Mix in the Frosting

Add the 12-ounce can of frosting to the cake crumbs.
Use a rubber spatula to work the frosting into the crumbs until it’s fully blended and no frosting is visible (even white frosting will blend into red velvet cake).

Tip: Start with half the frosting and add more as needed to avoid a too-sticky mixture.

Step 4: Form the Cake Balls

Roll the cake mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls using your hands or a small ice cream scoop.
Place the balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Pop the baking sheet into the freezer, uncovered, for at least 1 hour to firm up the balls.

Tip: A small ice cream scoop ensures uniform balls for even coating.

Step 5: Melt the White Chocolate

Place 12 ounces of white chocolate melting disks in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water).
Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Remove the bowl from the pan.

Tip: Stir gently to avoid seizing the chocolate—keep it smooth and creamy.

Step 6: Coat the Cake Balls

Remove the cake balls from the freezer (they should be very firm).
Add one cake ball at a time to the melted white chocolate and gently roll to coat.
Use a fork to lift the ball out, tapping it against the bowl’s side to remove excess chocolate.
Use a toothpick to push the ball off the fork back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.

Tip: Work quickly to keep the cake balls firm while coating.

Step 7: Decorate the Eyeballs

Let the coated cake balls set at room temperature for 10-15 minutes until the chocolate hardens.
Use assorted gel icing to decorate the balls like eyeballs: pipe colored irises (blue, green, or brown), black pupils, and red veins for a bloodshot effect.

Tip: Practice piping on a plate first to get the eyeball design just right.