Cherry Mash Cake Balls

Cake Balls are something I've seen popping up all over the place - at showers and parties and at bakeries here and there.  I think they are replacing the cupcake trend.  I can see why - they are cute and they are tasty.  I decided to take a shot at them.  Mine didn't come out as pretty as the ones that I've seen at bakeries but they sure tasted good.  If I were trying to impress, I'd probably order them from a professional baker such as Kay's Cakes and Cookies owned by a good Democrat here is South Central Pennsylvania.  Check out his web site - Dennis does some good work.

I took a gander at these for a Labor Day picnic and this is how they turned out - all sorts of chocolately-goodness when you bit into them.  The great thing about cake balls is that you can get your imagination on and choose whatever flavors float your boat.  Chocolate and peanut butter?  Red Velvet and Cream Cheese?  How 'bout a citrus version using lemon cake and orange frosting?  My virgin try with these using chocolate cake and chocolate frosting inspired me to create a childhood favorite candy version.

One of my favorite candies was Cherry Mash, made in St. Joseph, MO.  I can remember my big brother taking me to the corner store for a Cherry Mash.  It began my lifetime love affair with anything chocolate and cherry combined.   I've never found Cherry Mash in the east and even though we're just a few miles from Hershey's Chocolate - I still long for for the yummy delliciousness of yummy cherry on the inside coated with salty chocolate coating on the outside.  Nerdy-Boy and his roommate before me, Daren enjoyed these over the weekend but renamed them Chocolate Salty Balls.  Boys!

Cherry Mash Cake Balls
1 package white cake mix prepared and baked.
1 container of cherry-flavored frosting
2 packages of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup of peanuts crushed

Prepare and bake cake mix.  Let cool to room temp.

Crumble baked cake in a large mixing bowl.  Add 3/4 of the can of cherry frosting.  With a heaping tablespoon of the mixture roll into balls and place on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.  Place in freezer for 30 minutes.

In the meantime, crush your nuts and melt your chocolate.  Mix the nuts with the melted chocolate. 

Remove the cake balls from the freezer and working quickly, roll them in the melted chocolate and nuts.  Place on a cookie sheet and let your balls harden.