If you are looking for an irresistibly cute and delicious sweet treat, let me introduce you to my favorite little indulgence: the Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe. These bite-sized delights marry the soft, fruity goodness of strawberry cake with a creamy, dreamy coating that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll be hooked—and I can’t wait to share all my tips and tricks to help you nail it perfectly.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simplicity Meets Elegance: You don’t need fancy ingredients or complicated techniques to create these show-stopping truffles.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a party, gift, or just a sweet snack, these truffles are always a crowd-pleaser.
- Customizable Flavors and Decorations: From sprinkles to candy melts colors, you can personalize these in so many fun ways.
- Deliciously Moist and Creamy: The cream cheese gives the strawberry cake a gorgeous texture that melts in your mouth every time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
I love ingredients that are easy to find but deliver maximum flavor—and the combination here hits all the right notes for those irresistible strawberry cake truffles. Choosing a good-quality strawberry cake mix and top-notch candy melts really makes a difference.
- Strawberry cake mix: I used Betty Crocker because it’s consistent and has that classic strawberry flavor; you want something that’s moist but firm enough to hold shape.
- Cream cheese (softened): This adds creaminess and helps bind the cake crumbs into perfect truffle dough.
- Cream cheese chips: I chop these roughly to add small bursts of flavor and texture in every bite.
- Vanilla melting wafers: They create a smooth, glossy coating that’s perfect for dipping and looks fantastic.
- Pink candy melts (light and bright shades): These are great for drizzling vibrant color and adding a beautiful finishing touch.
- Sprinkles (optional): I love how sprinkles bring a playful look and a bit of crunch to some of the truffles.
Variations
One of the things I love about the Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own! You can tweak the flavors, colors, and add-ins to suit your mood or the occasion.
- Add Fresh Strawberries: Sometimes I fold in tiny chopped fresh strawberries for an extra juicy surprise, but I find too much moisture can make rolling tricky, so balance it carefully.
- Chocolate Lovers’ Twist: Swap the vanilla wafers for dark or white chocolate melts to create a decadent chocolate-strawberry combo that my family goes crazy for.
- Dairy-Free Version: Use vegan cream cheese and dairy-free candy melts to make this recipe allergy-friendly without sacrificing flavor.
- Sprinkle Mix-Up: I often switch out sprinkles for crushed freeze-dried strawberries or edible glitter for a sophisticated sparkle effect.
How to Make Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
Step 1: Heat Treat the Cake Mix – A Crucial Start
Before we dive into the mixing, it’s important to heat treat that cake mix to ensure it’s safe to eat since it’s dry and uncooked. I preheat my oven to 350°F, spread the cake mix evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake it for 5 minutes. Once out, I let it cool completely on a wire rack. This also gives the crumbs a toasted note that I find really elevates the flavor.
Step 2: Mix Cream Cheese and Cooled Cake Crumbs into Dough
While the cake mix cools, beat the softened cream cheese in a bowl with a hand mixer on medium-high speed until it’s silky smooth. Then fold in the cooled cake mix a few times with a spatula to avoid a flour explosion, before whipping it all together thoroughly into a dough-like consistency. Don’t forget to gently mix in those chopped cream cheese chips! They add a fantastic little texture surprise.
Step 3: Chill and Shape into Perfect Balls
Cover your dough and pop it into the fridge for about 2 hours. This step makes rolling much easier and less sticky. When chilled, scoop 1 ½ tablespoons of dough and roll each into smooth balls. I line two baking sheets with parchment paper for this step. After rolling, let them sit for 15 minutes at room temperature so they can relax and slightly expand—this helps prevent cracking when you coat them.
Step 4: Dip and Decorate with Candy Melts
Set up a double boiler or use your microwave to melt vanilla wafers until silky. Using a fork, dip each truffle completely, tap off excess coating, and place on the lined sheet. While the coating is wet, sprinkle half with your chosen decorations. Then melt the pink candy melts separately in piping bags, snip the tip, and drizzle over the remaining plain coated truffles for a pop of bright color. Let everything set completely before enjoying!
Pro Tips for Making Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
- Heat Treat Properly: I discovered heating the cake mix first is a game changer—no gut worries and a subtle toasted flavor boost.
- Be Patient with Chilling: Don’t skip refrigerating the dough; trust me, it’ll save you sticky fingers and cracked truffles later.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: This helps keep your truffles uniform in size and makes rolling much faster.
- Dip With Care: Use gentle tapping to remove excess coating to keep the finish smooth and avoid clumps.
How to Serve Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
Garnishes
I personally love sprinkling half of my truffles with festive rainbow or pink sugar sprinkles—adds a bit of whimsy and crunch. For special occasions, crushed freeze-dried strawberries or edible glitter make elegant garnishes that delight guests and look stunning on a dessert tray.
Side Dishes
These strawberry cake truffles pair beautifully with light, fruity beverages like lemonade or sparkling rosé. For brunch, I like serving them alongside fresh fruit salad or a mild cheese platter—the sweetness balances so well.
Creative Ways to Present
One of my favorite presentation ideas is arranging truffles in colorful mini cupcake liners or placing them in a decorative box with tissue paper for gifting. For parties, I try the tiered dessert stand layout with mixed colors and sprinkles—it’s a total eye-catcher and so fun for guests to pick from!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I find they keep their moist, creamy texture best this way—but do bring them to room temperature before serving so they taste fresh and soft.
Freezing
Freezing is a great option if you want to prep in advance! I place the truffles on a parchment-lined tray first to freeze individually, then transfer them to a sealed freezer bag. When properly stored, they freeze well for up to 2 months.
Reheating
To enjoy frozen truffles, I thaw them in the fridge overnight. If you want them softer, leave them at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. Avoid microwaving directly as it can melt the coating unevenly.
FAQs
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Can I use homemade strawberry cake instead of box mix for the Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe?
Absolutely! Homemade strawberry cake works well too, but make sure it’s completely cooled and not too moist. You might need to adjust the cream cheese slightly if the texture feels too wet.
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Do I have to use cream cheese chips in this recipe?
Nope, the cream cheese chips are optional but add a fantastic texture and little bursts of creaminess. If you skip them, just mix the truffle dough a little less to keep it tender.
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How do I prevent cracking when dipping the truffles?
The key is to let the truffle balls rest for about 15 minutes after rolling to let them expand slightly. Also, dipping them at the right temperature (not too hot or cold) and tapping gently to remove excess helps prevent cracks.
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Can I make these strawberry cake truffles ahead of time?
Yes! You can make these up to 5 days ahead and store them in the fridge. They also freeze beautifully to keep for months if you want to prepare early for a special event.
Final Thoughts
This Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe has truly become my go-to for quick yet impressive desserts. I love how easy it is to whip up something that feels fancy but doesn’t require hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re surprising your family or looking to impress at a gathering, these truffles bring smiles with every bite. Give it a try—you’ll enjoy not only how delicious these are but also the joy of making something special with your own hands.
Print
Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 2 hours chilling)
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 truffles
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delightful Strawberry Cake Truffles combine the sweet, fruity flavor of strawberry cake mix with creamy cream cheese and a smooth, candy-coated exterior. These bite-sized treats are perfect for parties or a sweet snack, featuring a pink candy drizzle and optional sprinkles for an extra festive look.
Ingredients
Base
- 9.15 ounces strawberry cake mix (Betty Crocker recommended)
- 4.8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 0.2 cup cream cheese chips, roughly chopped
Coating and Decoration
- 7.2 ounces Ghirardelli vanilla melting wafers
- 0.3 cup Wilton pink candy melts
- 0.3 cup Wilton bright pink candy melts
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Heat Treat the Cake Mix: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spread the cake mix evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes to eliminate any bacteria. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the Cake Dough: In a medium mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese with a hand mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Fold in cooled cake mix gently with a rubber spatula, then blend fully with the mixer until you achieve a dough-like consistency.
- Add Cream Cheese Chips: Gently fold in the chopped cream cheese chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up, making it easier to handle.
- Form Truffle Balls: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop dough portions and roll each into smooth, even balls by hand. Place them on the baking sheets and let them sit for about 15 minutes to expand, which helps prevent coating cracks.
- Melt Vanilla Wafers: Prepare a double boiler over low heat or use a microwave with 30-second intervals, stirring frequently, to melt the vanilla wafers until smooth and warm but not too hot.
- Coat the Truffles: Using a fork, dip each dough ball fully into the melted vanilla wafers. Tap the fork on the edge of the bowl to remove excess coating and transfer the truffles back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Decorate with Sprinkles: Before the coating dries, sprinkle half of the coated truffles with your choice of sprinkles.
- Prepare Colored Candy Melt Drizzle: Melt the pink and bright pink candy melts separately in microwave-safe piping bags on a low setting until smooth. Cut a small tip off each bag and drizzle the candy melts over the remaining coated truffles for a beautiful decorative finish.
- Set and Serve: Allow all truffles to set completely at room temperature or in a cool place before serving. Enjoy your delicious strawberry cake truffles!
Notes
- Store truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- Chilling the dough is crucial for ease of rolling and to prevent cracking when coating; allow dough balls to rest 15 minutes after rolling for expansion before dipping.
- If you prefer, heat treat the cake mix in the microwave by heating it in a microwave-safe bowl for 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds for even heating and to avoid hot spots.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 truffle
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
