If you’re looking for a show-stopping, bite-sized treat that’s bursting with flavor, you’re going to absolutely adore this Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe. These little gems are the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and a touch of that fresh strawberry goodness. I love how they’re super fun to make, and honestly, perfect for any occasion—whether it’s a casual get-together or a fancy party. Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through every step so your truffles turn out just right!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delightfully Easy: No fancy techniques or complicated ingredients needed—just simple steps you can do right in your kitchen.
- Rich, Creamy Texture: The cream cheese adds a lovely softness that balances the cake perfectly.
- Customizable and Fun: You can play around with colors, coatings, and sprinkles to match any theme or mood.
- Perfect for Sharing: These bite-sized treats are crowd-pleasers that everyone will reach for again and again.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe is in how a few well-chosen ingredients come together to create something irresistible. Each one plays a vital role—like the cake mix for flavor, cream cheese for that creamy texture, and those candy melts for a smooth, glossy finish you’ll want to gobble up.
- Strawberry Cake Mix: I use Betty Crocker because it’s reliable and has a great strawberry flavor that shines through.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easy mixing and a silky smooth result.
- Cream Cheese Chips: Adds nice little pockets of creamy surprise inside each truffle.
- Vanilla Melting Wafers: These are perfect for dipping because they melt smoothly and harden with a beautiful finish.
- Wilton Pink Candy Melts: Use both bright and light pinks to add pretty drizzles and fun pops of color.
- Sprinkles (Optional): Because who doesn’t love a little sparkle on their sweets? Plus, they add a bit of festive flair.
Variations
One of the things I love most about this Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe is how well it invites customization. Whether you’re adjusting flavors or adding fun textures, it’s super forgiving and your personal touch will shine through. Here are a few ways I’ve mixed it up over time—you should totally experiment and find your own favorites too!
- Chocolate Lovers’ Twist: Swap the vanilla melting wafers for chocolate ones—my kids went crazy for this version!
- Berry Mix-Up: Blend in a little raspberry or blueberry cake mix with strawberry for a mixed berry flavor explosion.
- Nutty Crunch: Add finely chopped nuts or toasted coconut to the dough for extra texture and flavor.
- Dietary Adjustments: Try using dairy-free cream cheese and melting wafers to make this allergen-friendly—all without sacrificing taste.
How to Make Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
Step 1: Heat Treat Your Cake Mix
First thing’s first — you’ll want to heat treat your dry cake mix to eliminate any potential bacteria. Preheat your oven to 350°F, then spread your strawberry cake mix evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake it for about 5 minutes—this step doesn’t bake the cake but makes it safe to eat since you’ll be eating the mixture raw later. Then, remove the pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack. This step is crucial but quick, and it’s one I used to skip until I learned this important safety tip!
Step 2: Cream Cheese Magic
While the cake mix cools, beat your softened cream cheese with a hand mixer on medium-high speed until it’s totally smooth and creamy. This step is what makes the truffles so luscious, so don’t rush it. I like using a hand mixer here because it whips it perfectly without lumps, giving you that dreamy texture.
Step 3: Combine and Create the Dough
Once your cake mix is cooled, pour it into the bowl with the cream cheese. I usually fold it in gently first with a spatula — this keeps the dry mix from flying everywhere — then switch back to the mixer on medium-high until you get a dough-like consistency. It’s almost like cookie dough but soft and a little sticky. Next, fold in your chopped cream cheese chips evenly across the dough.
Step 4: Chill and Shape
Cover that dough ball with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for 2 hours. This chilling is a game changer because it firms up the dough, making it way easier to scoop and roll. When you’re ready, scoop out 1 ½ tablespoon portions and roll each into smooth, even balls. Don’t skip this step—rolling helps your truffles hold their shape and look so pretty. After shaping, let them sit for about 15 minutes to relax and expand slightly, which helps prevent cracks in the coating later.
Step 5: Melt & Dip
Time for the fun part—dipping! I prefer using a double boiler to melt my vanilla wafers because it keeps the chocolate silky and prevents overheating. If you don’t have one, the microwave works fine—just heat in 30-second bursts and stir well in between. Using a fork, dip each dough ball into the melted vanilla wafers, giving it a full coat. Gently tap the fork on the edge to shake off the extra coating and place the truffle on a parchment-lined baking sheet. For half of them, sprinkle on your chosen sprinkles right away while the coating is still wet. Then melt your pink candy melts in separate piping bags, snip a tiny corner, and drizzle over the remaining truffles for a gorgeous pop of color.
Step 6: Cool & Enjoy
Let those coated beauties set completely—this usually takes about 30 minutes at room temperature. Then they’re ready to share and enjoy! Your friends and family will be so impressed, and honestly, you’ll feel like a dessert rockstar.
Pro Tips for Making Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
- Don’t Skip Heat Treating: I used to rush this step but found it’s essential for safety since the cake mix is raw; the 5-minute oven bake is quick and worth it.
- Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese: It blends much smoother and gives you that perfect dough texture without lumps.
- Let Truffles Rest Before Dipping: Rolling then allowing them to sit for 15 minutes prevents cracking in the candy coating, a trick I discovered after my first batch cracked on me.
- Pick the Right Candy Melts: The Ghirardelli vanilla wafers melt flawlessly and taste incredible—I highly recommend using quality melts for the coating.
How to Serve Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
Garnishes
I personally love topping half my truffles with colorful sprinkles—they add such a playful, festive touch. The other half get drizzled with contrasting pink candy melts for a more elegant look. Sometimes I throw on a few edible glitter flakes when it’s a special occasion. It’s these little extras that make serving these truffles so fun.
Side Dishes
These truffles shine on their own, but if you want to jazz up dessert time, I often serve them alongside fresh berries or a light whipped cream. They’re also delightful paired with a cup of coffee or a chilled glass of sparkling rosé for adults. For a party, adding a fruit platter balances the sweetness and makes an irresistible dessert spread.
Creative Ways to Present
For birthdays or bridal showers, I’ve arranged them in pretty boxes lined with parchment and sprinkled rose petals around. Another time, I served them on a tiered dessert stand with coordinated napkins and matching pink straws in drinks for a cute themed party. They’re so photogenic, I sometimes package them as gifts tied with ribbon—everyone loves getting these handmade truffles!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store my Strawberry Cake Truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days. You’ll find that the candy coating holds up well, and the truffles remain moist inside. Just keep them away from strong-smelling foods as cream cheese can absorb odors.
Freezing
Freezing these truffles works well if you want to prep ahead. I place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze initially, then transfer them to a freezer-safe airtight container or zip-top bag. They keep wonderfully for up to 2 months. When I thaw them overnight in the fridge, the texture stays just as creamy and tasty as fresh.
Reheating
Since these are best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, I don’t recommend warming them up. If you want to bring them back to room temp after fridge or freezer storage, let them sit out for about 20 minutes. This way, you keep that perfect creamy center and smooth coating without any melting mess.
FAQs
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Can I use homemade strawberry cake instead of cake mix for this recipe?
You can, but it’s a bit trickier. Homemade cake usually has more moisture which can make the dough too wet and sticky. If you want to use homemade cake, make sure it’s completely cooled and then crumble it well, adding cream cheese slowly to reach a dough consistency similar to what the recipe describes.
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Why do I need to heat treat the cake mix?
Dry cake mixes often contain raw flour, which can harbor bacteria. Heat treating the mix by baking it briefly makes it safe to eat raw, which is important because these truffles aren’t baked after being mixed with cream cheese.
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What if my truffle coating cracks after dipping?
That usually happens if the truffle dough is too warm or hasn’t had enough time to rest before dipping. Make sure to chill the dough well and let rolled balls sit for about 15 minutes before dipping to allow them to expand slightly, which helps prevent cracking.
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Can I use different candy melts or chocolate for dipping?
Absolutely! While I love the smooth finish of vanilla melting wafers, you can use any good-quality candy melts or chocolate you prefer. Just be sure to melt them gently so they stay smooth for easy dipping.
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How long do these truffles keep?
When stored properly in the fridge inside an airtight container, they keep well for up to 5 days. Just bring them to room temperature before serving for best flavor and texture.
Final Thoughts
I’m so glad you stuck with me through this Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe because it truly is one of my favorite treats to whip up when I want something indulgent yet manageable. There’s something about those creamy centers coated in pink candy magic that just brings out smiles every single time. I highly encourage you to try making these for your next gathering or just to treat yourself—you’ll absolutely love the process and the delicious results. Trust me, once you try them, Strawberry Cake Truffles will become your new go-to sweet fix!
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Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 truffles
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Strawberry Cake Truffles combine moist strawberry cake mix with cream cheese and cream cheese chips, then dipped in rich vanilla and pink candy melts for a delightful bite-sized dessert. Perfect for parties or a sweet treat, these truffles offer a creamy, fruity flavor with a smooth chocolate coating and festive sprinkles.
Ingredients
Strawberry Cake Truffle Base
- 9.15 ounce strawberry cake mix (I used Betty Crocker)
- 4.8 ounce block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 0.2 cup cream cheese chips, roughly chopped
Coating
- 7.2 oz bag Ghirardelli vanilla melting wafers
- 0.3 cup Wilton pink candy melts
- 0.3 cup Wilton bright pink candy melts
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Heat Treat Cake Mix: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the strawberry cake mix evenly onto the prepared sheet and bake for 5 minutes to heat treat, eliminating any bacteria. Remove and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare Cake Dough: Place the softened cream cheese in a medium bowl and beat on medium-high with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Add the cooled cake mix into the bowl and fold it in with a rubber spatula several times to reduce flour mess, then mix fully on medium-high speed until it forms a dough-like consistency.
- Incorporate Cream Cheese Chips: Fold the chopped cream cheese chips evenly into the dough to add texture and flavor.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up for easier handling.
- Form Truffle Balls: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, portion the dough onto the sheets and hand-roll each scoop into smooth, even balls. Let them sit for about 15 minutes to expand and reduce the risk of coating cracks.
- Melt Vanilla Wafers: Using a double boiler on low heat or microwave in 30-second increments stirring between each, melt the Ghirardelli vanilla melting wafers until smooth and evenly melted.
- Dip and Coat: Place a truffle ball on a fork, dip fully into the melted vanilla wafers coating, then tap the fork gently on the bowl edge to remove excess. Place coated truffles spaced about 2 inches apart on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining balls. Before coating sets, sprinkle sprinkles on half of them if desired.
- Melt Pink Candy Melts: Put Wilton pink and bright pink candy melts separately into small microwave-safe piping bags. Heat on low until melted and smooth.
- Decorate Truffles: Snip a small tip off each piping bag and drizzle the melted pink candy melts over the remaining coated truffles, creating pretty patterns.
- Set and Serve: Allow all coatings to fully set before serving. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Storing the truffles chilled is essential—they keep best in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Chilling the dough makes it easier to handle and roll into balls. After rolling, let them rest about 15 minutes before dipping to prevent cracking.
- As an alternative to oven heat treating, microwave the cake mix in a microwave-safe bowl for 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds to avoid hot spots.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 truffle
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
