This spring- green is the new pink, and navy is the new black. Trust me, I just know these things.
Are cake bites the new cupcake?
Cupcakes are all the rage, but these cake bites, they might just have something to em. These Strawberry Vanilla treats were inspired by Hilary and Bakerella. I fell hard for their Red Velvet Cupcake Balls and had to create my own.
So here you are! Cake shaped candy! What a wonderful world!
The inside of these little nuggets are soft, cakey, and have a hint of strawberry. The outside is silky milk chocolate that has hardened to a crunch. These Strawberry Vanilla Cake Bites are charming and delicious.
Strawberry Vanilla Cake Bites
adapted from The Gourmet Cookbook
For the Cake
1 cup cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick (4 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg plus 1 egg white, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole milk
For the Strawberry Binding
1/3 cup strawberry preserves
2 heaping Tablespoons of marshmallow Jef Puff
14 ounces milk chocolate for dipping.
To Prepare the Cake
Put a rack in the middle of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour one 8-inch round baking pan, knocking out excess flour.
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.
Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer, on medium high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, then beat in vanilla, and beat until thoroughly blended, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed and add flour mixture and milk, alternately in 3 batches, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, and mix until batter is just smooth, do not overmix. Batter will seem loose.
Spread batter evenly into pan. Bake until cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cake will still be pale in color, not golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan on a rack, then invert on a rack to cool completely.
While Cake cools, mix together the strawberry preserves and Jef Puff.
When cake is completely cool, crumble into a large mixing bowl. Add the strawberry mixture and mix together with hands This will be messy. Mix until the cake and preserves are thoroughly incorporated.
Shape cake mixture into 1 inch balls or squares by pressing the cake mixture together with your fingers and rolling in the palms of your hand. Place the shaped cake bites on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Once all the bites have been rolled, cover and place in the fridge for 20 minutes (I left mine overnight, no problem).
Melt milk chocolate in the microwave, or over a double boiler. Dip chilled cake bites into the melted chocolate and place back onto the baking sheet. Once all balls are dipped, place in the fridge for 20 minutes to harden the chocolate.
Yum and Yum.
Nisa
There are not Jet Puffs where I live, what should I substitute it with?
Crystal
Made these for my best friend’s wedding reception – they were a huge hit at the dessert table! Thanks so much for your food love!
Lo
I made these starting last night, and as I sifted the flour for the fifth time (following your instructions to make cake flour) I thought: “Is this worth it? Why am I making cake bites for my boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend’s birthday party, to which I am not even invited, anyway?”
Then I finished them this afternoon, sent a few to the party, and ate all the rest. Yes. Worth it.
ktmar
oohh my goodness.
you. are. amazing.
i’ve been looking FOREVER to try and find a creative alternative recipe to cake for my friends birthday.
these turned out perfect and delicious.
i love your website :)
i’ve used a few of your recipes and they’ve all turned out delicious.
Kayla
these look amazing. how did you dip them and put them back on the pan while keep the chocolate smooth and even?
lemmonex
Wowie wow…made these with raspberry. Amazing.
My Sweetest Dreams
Ooooh, I just love cake balls. They seem to be all over the blogosphere in the last 2 weeks. I made some this week as well (strawberry covered with walnuts) and all I can say is…..YUM!! Yours look very tasty!
P.S. The flower plate is a beauty!
Jaime
oh wow! i HAVE to make these!
Mike
I’ve never seen cake bites before, but those look awesome. All the deliciousness of cake with the convenience of finger food…sounds dangerous. ;-) Those look really delicious and I’ll be certain to try some
Deborah
I have seen some of these cake bites on a few blogs, but haven’t tried them yet. I really need to do it!
Hilary
Yours are so pretty…I wish I could dip chocolate that didn’t end up looking like blobs!
Candace
I thought bitch was the new black this spring
Gigi
I’ve had this idea bookmarked for ages. I’m going to have to break down and try this very soon. I love how good yours look. :)
brilynn
These are gonna be bigger than cupcakes!
I love the idea more and more every time I see it!
joythebaker
noskos- You might not even need Jet Puff. The jam should be sticky enough to hold the yumminess together!
laurie- We’ll soon be buried in CH cupcakes. I’m sure of it!
food rockz man- Fudge brownie truffle sounds outta sight! What if you added raspberry too? Serious goodness.
Madam Chow
Those look sooooo good! I was out of town, and just had a chance to read your Daring Bakers post, as well – wonderful bread! Yours turned out lovely, and I like the avocado topper!
Food Rockz Man
A few months ago, when I was brainstorming with friends about holiday truffle flavors/combinations, a friend suggested a fudge brownie truffle. I thought . . . hmmmmm . . . interesting and probably delicious . . . but I never got around to making it. Your strawberry vanilla cake bites may be just the inspiration I need to give the brownie truffles a go!
laurie
Brilliant! You are so on to something here. I cant wait to see where it goes. Waiting on the chocolate covered cupcake for CH. We have had none yet.
noskos
They look delicious! Now you have put me on a mission to find marshmellow Jef Puff in this part of the world…thanks :-)
linda
They could become the new cupcake…we’ll just have to wait and see.
Never made them myself even though I think I would love eating them.
btw love the flower plate!