Name: Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Cooking spray; 1 (15.25-oz.) box red velvet cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box; 4 oz. cream cheese, softened; 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened; 1 1/2 cups (170 g) confectioners’ sugar; 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract; Kosher salt, a pinch; 1/4 cup Frosted Cheerios (about 70 pieces); 1 (12-oz.) bag green candy melts, melted; 1 (12-oz.) bag red candy melts, melted; 2 (12-oz.) bags white candy melts, melted; Sanding sugar, for decorating

Jump to Recipe· 4.7 from 123 reviews

If you’re looking for a festive treat that doubles as adorable holiday décor, you’re going to love this Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe. It’s not just a cake ball recipe — it’s a conversation starter, a fun project, and a way to impress guests or gift sweet little bundles of joy during the season. I absolutely love how these cake balls turn out with their rich red velvet flavor, creamy cream cheese filling, and festive candy coating that looks just like ornaments hanging on a tree.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Double Duty Delight: These cake balls taste amazing and look like sparkling ornaments, making them perfect for holiday entertaining.
Easy Assembly: You don’t need fancy tools, just some candy melts and a few household items to create festive flair.
Kid-Friendly Fun: This is a fantastic project to make with kids—they’ll love dipping, decorating, and even eating these bite-sized treats.
Customizable Colors: You can switch up candy melts or decoration styles to fit your holiday palette perfectly.

The image shows nine round dessert balls designed like Christmas ornaments on a white marbled surface. Each ball has a smooth, shiny coating in red, green, white, or gold colors. The tops have small circular cookie pieces acting as hooks with white icing around them. Some balls have white icing snowflakes or swirls on their surface, while others have lines or dots in white icing. A few balls have green glitter sprinkled on them. One dessert ball is split open, revealing a red, soft cake-like inside with white icing around it. The decorations give a festive, holiday look to each dessert photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments, holiday cake favors, Christmas dessert ideas, easy holiday treats, edible holiday decorations

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients for this Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe come together to balance decadent flavor with playful texture. The cake mix makes it simple, cream cheese frosting adds creaminess, and candy melts really bring that shiny, festive vibe.

Flat lay of a simple white ceramic bowl of softened cream cheese, a small white bowl of unsalted butter softened to a creamy texture, a small white bowl filled with fine white confectioners’ sugar, two whole eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of pure vanilla extract, a few bright red velvet cake mix crumbs, a handful of glossy green candy melts, a handful of glossy red candy melts, a handful of glossy white candy melts, a small white bowl of sparkling sanding sugar, and a few frosted Cheerios arranged neatly, all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments, holiday cake favors, Christmas dessert ideas, easy holiday treats, edible holiday decorations

Red velvet cake mix: Using a boxed mix keeps this quick and consistent, but you can use homemade too.
Cream cheese: Softened for smooth blending, it gives the cake balls that classic red velvet cream cheese taste.
Unsalted butter: Adds richness without overpowering the cream cheese flavor.
Confectioners’ sugar: Sweetens and helps bind the frosting mixture.
Pure vanilla extract: A splash enhances all the flavors beautifully.
Kosher salt: Balances sweetness and brightens flavors.
Frosted Cheerios: Perfect for making miniature hooks that secure these ornament cake balls.
Green, red, and white candy melts: These give colorful coats and decoration details, so pick good-quality ones for shine and smoothness.
Sanding sugar: Adds sparkle and texture for that holiday magic.
Cooking spray: For greasing the pan to keep the cake from sticking.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love encouraging you to make this recipe your own! Whether you’re tweaking colors for a specific holiday or adjusting flavors for dietary needs, there’s lots of ways to make these festive red velvet cake balls uniquely yours.

Flavor swaps: I’ve tried peppermint or almond extracts in place of vanilla for a seasonal twist—adds a whole new dimension.
Chocolate coating: Replace candy melts with dark or milk chocolate for a richer finish; just be sure to temper it for shine.
Gluten-free option: Use a gluten-free red velvet cake mix and ensure your candy melts are gluten-free too.
Decorations: Instead of sanding sugar, try crushed candy canes or edible glitter for extra sparkle.

How to Make Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe

Step 1: Bake the Red Velvet Cake Base

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing a 13″ x 9″ baking pan with cooking spray. Follow the package directions to prepare the red velvet cake batter—it’s nice that this takes just a few minutes—and pour it into your pan. Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool completely before moving to the next step. Cooling is key here; if the cake is too warm, the frosting won’t blend well.

Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and unsalted butter on medium-high speed until fluffy—this usually takes 2 to 3 minutes. Then, add the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of kosher salt and keep beating until totally smooth. This frosting is what holds your cake balls together, so don’t skimp on the mixing to get a nice creamy texture.

Step 3: Form the Cake Balls

crumble the cooled cake into fine pieces right in the bowl with your frosting. Mix everything thoroughly until it’s evenly combined—the texture should be moist but firm enough to hold its shape. Roll the mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls; I find a cookie scoop handy for making them uniform. Place them on a baking sheet and pop them into the fridge for about an hour to get nice and firm before decorating.

Step 4: Create the Cereal Hooks

While the cake balls chill, make the fun little hooks that’ll turn your cake balls into ornaments. Lay out about 34 Frosted Cheerios flat on a baking sheet. Dip the bottom of the remaining Cheerios into melted white candy melts, then stick each one upright to the center of a flat Cheerio on your sheet. These hooks look cute and hold the cake balls perfectly.

Step 5: Dip and Decorate the Cake Balls

Divide your cake balls into three groups. Dip one-third into melted green candy melts, another third into red, and the last third into white (tap off excess gently). Before the candy hardens, sprinkle some sanding sugar for that frosty look. Let them set on the baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, spoon three-quarters of your remaining white candy melts into a small plastic bag, snip off a tiny corner, and pipe festive designs on the balls—tiny swirls or dots mimic ornament detailing beautifully. Sprinkle color sugar before the candy fully sets. Finally, dip the bottoms of the cereal hooks into the leftover white candy and place them atop each cake ball carefully to secure.

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Pro Tips for Making Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe

Don’t Skip the Chill: Chilling the cake balls before dipping is what keeps them from falling apart in the candy melts. Trust me, I learned this the hard way!
Use High-Quality Candy Melts: They melt smoothly and give you that glossy, even finish. Lower-quality melts can clump or dull the look.
Pipe Decorations Gently: Use a light hand piping the white candy designs so texture stays delicate and pretty, not lumpy.
Attach Hooks Swiftly: Work quickly when placing the cereal hooks so the white candy hasn’t hardened—this makes the bond strong and clean-looking.

How to Serve Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe

Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe - Serving

Garnishes

I enjoy giving these cake balls tiny touches of sparkle with sanding sugar or edible glitter dusted lightly over the top. It catches the light beautifully, making them look extra magical on a dessert platter or hanging on a tree. Sometimes I add a tiny edible silver ball or sprinkle for a little shimmer.

Side Dishes

These cake ball ornaments shine on their own, but if you want a little accompaniment, I usually pair them with a warm cup of spiced hot cocoa or a creamy eggnog latte. For a party spread, consider adding some gingerbread cookies or peppermint bark for a full festive dessert bar.

Creative Ways to Present

I love arranging them in a clear glass bowl or hanging them with colorful ribbons on a small decorative tree centerpiece. For gifting, placing them in a clear ornament-shaped box or tying little bags with twine and a personalized tag always gets rave reviews. It’s such a fun way to share holiday cheer!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover cake ball ornaments keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Just be sure to separate layers with parchment paper to keep the decorations from sticking or rubbing off. I’ve found this maintains the texture and vibrant colors nicely.

Freezing

If you want to make these ahead for a party, freezing works well. Arrange the decorated cake balls on a baking sheet frozen solid, then transfer them into a freezer-safe container with parchment paper layers. They’ll keep for up to 2 months—just thaw in the fridge overnight when ready to serve.

Reheating

Since these are bite-sized treats mostly coated in candy melts, reheating isn’t necessary or recommended. Instead, bring them to room temperature before serving to enjoy the cream cheese filling’s full softness and flavor.

FAQs

Can I use homemade red velvet cake instead of a mix for this recipe?

Absolutely! Using homemade red velvet cake is a great way to customize flavor and texture. Just make sure your cake is fully cooled and crumbly enough to mix well with the cream cheese frosting to form firm cake balls.
What’s the best way to melt candy melts without burning them?

I recommend melting candy melts gently in 20-30 second bursts in the microwave, stirring well between each burst. Alternatively, use a double boiler set on low heat. Avoid overheating, as candy can seize or become grainy.
Can I skip the cereal hooks and still make the cake balls?

Yes, the cereal hooks add the ornament look, but you can definitely leave them off if you prefer simpler cake balls or want to serve them on a platter instead of hanging them.
How do I keep my cake balls from cracking?

Chilling the cake balls before dipping is essential. Also, avoid adding too much frosting—your mixture should be moist enough to hold shape but not wet. Mixing too aggressively can cause cracking too.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Red Velvet Cake Ball Ornaments Recipe has become one of my favorites around the holidays because it brings that perfect blend of festive fun and delicious flavor. Whether you’re making them with family or gifting them to friends, I promise you’ll enjoy the process and the smiles that come with it. Give it a try—you might find these little edible ornaments becoming a new holiday tradition!