How to Use Leftover Cake Scraps

If you bake cakes and level them to ensure you have a flat surface on top, you're often left with cake scraps that usually end up in the garbage. But don't throw away those cake crumbs--turn them into tasty cake "truffles" that no one can resist.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baked cake or cake scraps
• Liquid flavoring such as coffee creamer, flavored syrup
• Dipping chocolate (candy melts or almond bark, white or milk chocolate)
• Sprinkles or colored candy melts to decorate
• Wax paper
• Shortening
• Fork or candy dipping tool
• Mini baking cups

1. Put your trimmed cake pieces or cake scraps in a large bowl. Using a fork, mash the cake into crumbs, making sure to break up any large pieces. Once the cake is completely crumbled, pick up a small amount and determine whether you can form it into a ball as is. If it seems to need moisture to form a ball, go to Step 2.

2. If your cake crumbs need liquid to make them stick together, use a flavored liquid coffee creamer, caramel syrup or coffee-flavored syrup to add some moistness and some delicious flavor. For an extra-special adults-only treat, add coffee, Irish cream or almond liqueur, a spoonful at a time. After each spoonful, check on the consistency of the cake. Be cautious not to add too much liquid or the truffles will become mushy.

3. Using a spoon or a small scoop, form one-inch balls. Place them on a baking sheet covered with a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Once all your scraps are gone, put the baking sheet in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, ideally overnight.

4. 
    

   Put candy melts or dipping chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt candy melts or dipping chocolate in microwave according to package instructions. If chocolate seems too thick, stir in a small amount of shortening.

5. Once chocolate is thoroughly melted, use dipping tool or fork to dip cake "balls" into the chocolate. Place dipped truffle on sheet covered with wax paper. If decorating with sprinkles, put the sprinkles on quickly, as the chocolate hardens fast. Another option is to melt colored candy melts. Using a squeeze bottle, decorate the tops of the truffles. In addition, you could dip a fork in the melted colored candy melts and "fling" it over the tops of the truffles.

6. Finally, trim off any excess chocolate on the bottoms of the truffles and place each one in a baking cup.

Tips & Warnings

• These can be stored at room temperature for several days. If it's warm, it's best to refrigerate them.

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[TryOptimism]

on 5/30/2008 These are awesome and easy!! Thanks for the great idea, Kate. I made these for my son's class on his eighth birthday - dipped in chocolate and then piped white chocolate number "8"'s on them for 'Magic 8 Balls'. The kids loved them!
Please keep posting great ideas!!!
-Sue A