Description
Festive eggnog cake balls bring holiday cheer with creamy spiced rum undertones. Guests will savor these bite-sized treats that combine traditional Christmas flavors in one delightful dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 1 (16 ounces / 454 grams) box pound cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup (158 milliliters) eggnog
- 1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, softened
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons rum (or 2 teaspoons extract)
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Coating and Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 (16 ounces / 454 grams) container whipped vanilla frosting
- 48 ounces (1.36 kilograms) vanilla or chocolate candy coating
- Sea salt for topping
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350°F and line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, eggnog, softened butter, eggs, rum extract, and ground nutmeg until smooth and well-blended.
- Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool completely at room temperature, then gently crumble into fine, uniform pieces in a large mixing bowl.
- Gradually incorporate frosting into crumbled cake, mixing until the mixture holds together and can be easily shaped.
- Roll the mixture into compact, uniform 1-inch balls, placing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Refrigerate cake balls for several hours to firm up and make coating easier.
- Melt chocolate coating in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds to prevent burning.
- Carefully dip each chilled cake ball into melted coating, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Sprinkle a small pinch of sea salt on top of each coated ball before the chocolate sets.
- Return coated cake balls to the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes until completely firm and chocolate has hardened.
Notes
- Boost Rum Flavor Swap vanilla extract for additional rum for a more intense, festive taste profile.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation Use gluten-free cake mix and certified gluten-free ingredients to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Alcohol-Free Option Replace rum with additional eggnog or vanilla extract for a family-friendly version that maintains rich flavor.
- Decorative Twist Sprinkle crushed graham crackers or nutmeg on top for extra texture and holiday presentation.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 20
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg