Naked cake balls

I'm having a pajama day today.

Yup still in my pj's and slippers, although that doesn't mean I haven't done a few loads of washing, cleaned the house and done all that other stuff that needs to be done every day around here.

I'm just being a bit relaxed about it, so to tie in with the relaxed theme I decided to make naked cake balls.

I had a whole stack of cake sitting around that I carved off'a my unicorn cake, so I just scrunched that up and with the ganache that was already layered in the cake I didn't need to add any extra frosting or ganache.

Then I grabbed some mini macarons I had left over, some raspberries, whipped up some chocolate ganache sauce and I had an instant dessert.

I made a video tutorial as well, yup sadly in my pajamas and I haven't combed my hair since yesterday morning, anyhoo I know you guys won't mind, just focus on the cake balls :)

Click here for the video of me making the naked cake balls

To make naked cake balls you need a cake and some frosting. Any type you like it can be home made, packed mix or store bought. Like I said I used chocolate mud cake and chocolate ganache.

(these ones in the picture are the actual cake balls I made up in the you tube video and popped on the plate, I just added a couple of extra raspberries and some flowers)

Place the cake into a large bowl and scrunch it up with your hands until it's crumbly, then add the frosting about 1/4 cup at a time until the cake becomes moist and will hold together into a ball shape.Scrunch or roll the mixture into ball shapes.

You can serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge. If the cake is fresh it should last for 3 days. Otherwise you can freeze the cake balls wrapped in plastic wrap and in an airtight container for a couple of months, just defrost in the fridge and then bring to room temperature before serving.

To make up chocolate ganache melt around 120 g with 60 g cream  (or around 4oz chocolate to 2 oz cream) in a microwave on high for 1 minute.

If you like you can serve naked cake balls with peanut butter, nutella, cream, fruit and pretty much anything you like. They're kinda easy and kinda yummy and use up any extra cake you have sitting around

Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the cookbook ' Sweets on a Stick': More than 150 kid friendly recipes for cakes, candies, cookies and pies on the go!. Published in the US the book is available at most online book stores:

Link to Amazon:

Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go! 

Or at Fishpond (free shipping Australia)

 

Mounted Unicorn Head Cake - sneak peek

Here is a quick sneak peek of the mounted unicorn head cake that Sweet had at her birthday party on the weekend.

Yes this is the cake,

and it's mounted on a wall and it's really kinda fabulous.

Watch this blog space ;) There are lots of ways to follow me on the right hand side.

I'll have all the pictures of the party which is even MORE fabulous and more about the cake here on the Bubble and Sweet blog when I get more photos.

Edit update 25/2/14 I have uploaded a you tube video of me making the cake



Edit update 2/9/13 we have had the party CLICK HERE for more pictures of the I believe in magic Unicorn Party

Mounted Unicorn Head Cake by Linda Vandermeer @ Bubble and Sweet
Photography by Terri Vandermeer
Special thanks to Andrew McCubbin

Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the cookbook ' Sweets on a Stick': More than 150 kid friendly recipes for cakes, candies, cookies and pies on the go!. Published in the US the book is available at most online book stores:

Link to Amazon:

Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go! 

Or at Fishpond (free shipping Australia)

 

Chocolate Mousse in a jar Betty Crocker Irresistibles range

OK I have no self control. I admit it and it seems the packaging was right, this Chocolate Mousse cake is irresistible :)

I was going to wait until the end of the Sunbeam mixer competition to whip up one of the new Irresistibles cake mixes that Betty Crocker sent me, and start off with what y'all voted to be your favorite.

Anyhoo that just didn't work out for me, it wasn't really fair to expect me to wait a whole month.

Umm...Irresistible remember.

In fact once my resolve was broken, I didn't have to wait long at all as it literally took me a few minutes of mixing and they were ready to eat (plus baking time but I never count that).

We used all that extra time I saved cooking and cleaning to pop down to the park for some family time. I packed up the Chocolate Mousse Jar Cakes and we had a sweet picnic with the cakes and some left over pink lemonade.

The kids ate, and twirled and pulled some gunky stuff out of the pond and I enjoyed watching the kids having fun, took some deep breaths and a few pictures.

Jar Cake Instructions, made with Betty Crocker Chocolate Mousse Irresistibles, ingredients recommended on the package and extra raspberries

Spoon the made up chocolate cake mixture into some clean recycled glass jars*. Mine were various sizes that I had sitting around and I found that it worked out best if I filled the jars around a third full.

Place the filled jars onto a sturdy oven tray and bake in a preheated oven (as per packet directions) for 25 minutes.You'll know that the cakes are done when a skewer inserted into the cakes comes out clean.

Once the cakes cool down you can mix up the chocolate mousse mixture and spoon onto the top. I added some fresh raspberries, but you can leave as is or add any fresh fruit you like.

I made up 10 chocolate mousse jar cakes from 1 box of Irresistibles Chocolate Mousse cake mix.

* make sure the jars are clean, have no cracks or chips and have only previously been used for food safe ingredients.

Hmmmm wonder how long I will be able to hold out before I try out the Molten Lava Cakes and the Chocolate Mud Cake.

Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the cookbook ' Sweets on a Stick': More than 150 kid friendly recipes for cakes, candies, cookies and pies on the go!. Published in the US the book is available at most online book stores:

Disclosure: the ideas, words and opinions in this post are my own however this post was sponsored by General Mills.