We all know that I love cookbooks. I own way too many of them, but can never pass up a chance to get my hands on a new one. So when I was contacted to review Wendy Paul’s latest cookbook – 101 Gourmet Cake Bites – I was super excited!!
Ok, confession time, though. I don’t always love cake bites. I’ve said it before, but they are usually too sweet for me, which is probably a good thing because 1 is plenty. But this book is SO FUN. Forget your normal cake bites that are just decorated all fancy. This cookbook is mostly all about what is on the inside.
I had originally planned on making the Bananas Foster Cake Bites, but when I went to make them, I found out that my husband had eaten the 2 bananas that I had put aside for the recipe. Thank goodness my mother in law brought over a bucket-full of fresh strawberries from her garden just the night before!! I was totally drawn to the fruity section of the cookbook – maybe because it is summer and there is such an abundance of great fruit out there right now. But I can’t believe what a difference it made to add fruit to the inside of these bites. No more boring cake bites!!
This cookbook is full of all sorts of amazing recipes. There are so many different flavor combinations – you can bet that I’ll be trying out more of them. There is also a section of decorated cake bites that are perfect for holidays or special occasions. But the different flavors are what sets this cookbook apart from others for me!
Strawberry Shortcake Cake Bites
from 101 Gourmet Cake Bites
makes 26-40 cake pops
1 box white cake mix
3 eggs
1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt
3/4 cup half-and-half
1/3 cup fresh strawberries, mashed
3/4 cup Vanilla Buttercream (recipe follows)
white melting chocolate
Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a 13×9-inch baking pan by spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
Mix together the cake mix, eggs, salt and half and half. Batter will be thick. Pour into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 28-32 minutes. Cool completely.
In a large bowl, crumble the cooked, cooled cake. Add in the strawberries and buttercream. Using the back of a spoon, mix together all ingredients. Form into balls and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or in the freezer for 20 minutes. Dip in melting chocolate.
Vanilla Buttercream
from 101 Gourmet Cake Bites
makes about 3 cups
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3-4 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Beat until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and add in the sugar. Mix on low until mostly incorporated. Add in the vanilla and 3 tablespoons of milk, and start the mixer on low and work up to medium until completely incorporated. Add 1 more tablespoon of milk if the frosting is too thick.
Natalie says
I love lemon cake of any king!
Lauren says
I love vanilla cake doctored up with a french vanilla pudding and then colored tie dyed. 😀 I really hope I win this – thanks for the entry! I love your blog and subscribe via RSS! 😀
Lauren says
I follow via twitter (@HippieDogDesign)
Lauren says
I subsribe via RSS. 🙂
Bev Weidner says
C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E. baby.
Jess Wakasugi {Life's Simple Measures} says
Okay, your cake bites look amazzzzzing! I can’t imagine what other wonderful cake bites are in that book. My favorite cupcake would have to be Hummingbird Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. They’re to diiiie for!
camie says
My favorite cupcakes is a black bottom cupcake.
Mellisa W. says
Cold chocolate cake. The Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake and Frosting recipe is my fave. Thanks!
Mellisa W. says
I follow on FB.
Mellisa W. says
I get your feed on Google. Thanks!
BreeAnn says
I love anything with strawberries, raspberries or chocolate. So those strawberry cake bites look so good right now!
BreeAnn says
I follow on facebook!
Feast on the Cheap says
LOVE cake bites. Makes me feel like I’m eating sugar responsibly…even if I end up chowing down on a dozen.
Tanya says
Chocolate! Pair it with peanut butter and it’s even better!
Brenda says
I’m not entering the giveaway as I live in Canada, but I just wanted to say this is the best looking cake bite I’ve ever seen. I, too, have never been that fond of them, but I would definitely try this. I hope you make the bananas foster one sometime too. :o) It really looks so delicious. Yum!
Lindsay J says
I would be in HEAVEN if I won a copy of your book!!
My favorite cake is CHERRY CHIP…
Jessica says
My neighbor once made mint chocolate chip cake bites, they were amazing! I am a mint/chocolate addict.
Sarah @ pão e queijo says
I love cookies and cream… but these look amazing!
Sarah @ pão e queijo says
I am a fan of Taste and Tell on Facebook.
Leanne Brewer says
Keylime!!!
Sarah W says
I would LOVE to win this book! I’m addicted to cake bites! My favorites cake flavor has to be by far your recipe for the “Cookies and Cream Cupcakes.” They are so addicting!
P.S – I love looking at your blog for recipes for dinner!! My mouth always waters just reading the ingredients!
Andi T. says
I looove red velvet cupcake bites.
Andi T. says
I follow you on Facebook (Andi Bauer Trautman)
Andi T. says
I subscribe to your RSS Feed
The Slow Roasted Italian says
Chocolate is my favorite cake.
The Slow Roasted Italian says
I like you on Facebook.
The Slow Roasted Italian says
I am following you on Twitter.
The Slow Roasted Italian says
I subscribe to your RSS feed. I love these cake bites. I am going to have to make these!!!
Skochii Bennett-Polchlopek says
My favorite a nice moist carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and shredded coconut.
Jenn says
I love “Wacky” cake (chocolate flavored)!
Jenn says
And I follow you on Facebook!
Lizette says
Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
I kid you not – but I am currently eating a cup of so-so strawberry shortcake and now I’m wishing that I have one of these bites instead! I love mini cake bites, and my favorite are Nutella Cake Balls! http://www.confessionsofachocoholic.com/chocolate/nutella-cake-balls
Robin @ Simply Southern Baking says
Red Velvet Cake! I follow on Twitter @SimplySoBaking
Denise O says
I follow Taste and Tell on Facebook
Denise O says
My favorite cake bite is one I recently made – Key lime with white chocolate chips….Yum!!
Denise O says
I subscribe to your email updates…and Love Them!!
Cindy says
Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting, dipped in dark chocolate! Just made a batch last night. SIGH!
Cindy says
I follow Taste and Tell on Facebook
Cindy says
I also follow via RSS feed
Heather Spooner says
I love Red Velvet Cake Bites covered in white chocolate. Thanks for the giveaway!
Ronda says
Any chocolate and peanut butter cake!
Ronda says
I follow via facebook
Sara M says
I have so many favorites! Lemon, cookies and cream and vanilla to name a few!
Sara M says
I like Taste and Tell on Facebook!
Theresa Sea says
I agree, they’re usually too rich for me to eat as well. I’ll take a bite, but then either share with the hubs or choke down the second half. But then again, I’d rather make cake than eat it. I’m much more of a pie girl. 🙂
Suri Adelist says
Like most ppl I love anything chocolate
Theresa Sea says
I follow you on Twitter!
Theresa Sea says
I like you on fb. 🙂
Suri Adelist says
I’m a facebook fan
Theresa Sea says
I follow T&T on RSS feed (and blogger feed)
angies says
My most favorite flavor of cake is lemon!
cristal says
You can never go wrong with chocolate!
Emily says
A while back I made brown butter/salted caramel buttercream cake bites dipped in dark chocolate, so good!
Emily says
I follow via RSS feed.
Maria says
Oh man, I SO want a cake bite right now.
Natalia says
I’ve only ever made chocolate ones. But by the time I go through all the trouble to make them, they just don’t seem appetizing to me so I don’t ever end up eating them. The bananas foster ones sound delicious though.
Jenny says
It might be easier to tell you my least favorite…. nope – there isn’t one! Reading through this list, I am salivating….
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
I have not had many cake bites in my day. Just this summer on vacation I had a peanut butter and chocolate cake bite. It tasted just like a peanut butter cup – delicious!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
I follow you on Facebook
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
I follow you on twitter
the little kimchi pierogi says
You can’t beat a dark chocolate cake with raspberry preserves filling…
natalie (the sweets life) says
ahh what a fun book–I love the strawberry shortcake variation and the bananas foster has me curious! My favorite cake is probably my mom’s famous Italian cream cake..wonder how that’d be in a cake ball 🙂
amanda k says
My favorite flavor of cake is chocolate!!
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
Don’t get me wrong I love a good chocolate anything especially German chocolate cake but with it being summer a light lemon cake sounds even more desirable.
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
I am a facebook fan.
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
I follow on twitter.
Ruth says
Chocolate right now.
Dee W. says
Red velvet is my absolute favorite flavor! Love it.
Dee W. says
I follow you on Facebook.
Dee W. says
I follow you on Twitter already.
Dee W. says
I subscribe to your RSS.
Kara M. says
I love oreo cupcakes!
Kara M. says
I follow you on facebook
Kara M. says
I follow you on twitter
Kara M. says
I subscribe!
M says
red velvet cake bites!
Mandy L. says
I love strawberry cake! And blueberry cake too!!!!! And I totally subscribe to your newsletter! Love it!
Keegan says
I love spice cakes, anything with a little tang and zip!
Caitlin says
I’m a plain old chocolate girl, myself!
Laurie says
I am a lemon girl!
melissa says
I love oreo/cookies and cream cupcakes!~
melissa says
fan on Facebook!
melissa says
added your rss feed to my netvibes~
melissa says
follow you on twitter (@koskim)
Danielle says
I love chocolate!
Danielle says
I follow you on Google Reader!
Danielle says
I follow you on Facebook!
Rhonda Darbro says
my favorites are either something chocolate or strawberry or a combination of the two.
Rhonda Darbro says
I am a fan on facebook.
Rhonda Darbro says
I also subscribe to your emails.
Melissa G says
Chocolate, chocolate, and MORE chocolate!
tartepink says
These look gorgeous! I love combination of chocolate and orange!
Tara @ The Butter Dish says
Deborah, you seriously want me to choose just one cake? That’s like choosing a favorite child.
Wow, I woukd have to say lemon cake with raspberry frosting. It’s kinda weird because I’m such a chocolate girl but I’m not a big fan of chocolate cake.
Call me weird!
I love your cakes and so want this book won or purchased I’m a sucker for portions sizes and little things. 🙂
Shay says
German Chocolate is my favorite!
Shay says
I “like” you on facebook too.
Jane says
I love spice cake!
Amanda Brooke says
These would probably be my favorite even though I haven’t tried them yet! They look so good! I have a baby shower cake order for a little girl and these just might be included…thanks for sharing!
Lily G says
I love dark chocolate and also lemon!
Julie says
I love red velvet!
Your cake bites mad me drool. =/
Ella says
I love earl grey cupcakes covered in a lavender white chocolate
Amanda N says
My favorite is cheesecake. Makes for delicious bites!
Tari Lawson says
I like a good chocolate cake.
Telynn says
my favorite flavor of cake is Apple Spiced Chocolate
Kelsea says
cinnamon maple bacon cupcakes! strange and amazing 😉
Celeste says
My favorite cake is dark chocolate cake with buttercream chocolate icing and dark chocolate chips!!!
natalie says
double chocolate – yum!
Tarah says
The Strawberry Shortcake Cake Bites look amazing!
Lezlie says
Red Velvet with marshmallow buttercream
Samantha says
Any cake that combines blueberries and lemon is my favorite!
Monica says
A small local bakery where I live makes cake balls and I really like her lemon ones. I’m not usually a fan of lemon things… but man they are good!
Thanks. And good luck to me. 🙂 (big, hopeful smile)
Theresa D says
I love German Chocolate Cake.
Theresa D says
I follow Taste and Tell on Facebook.
Theresa D says
I follow Taste and Tell on twitter.
Theresa D says
I subscribe to your email updates.
Melissa B. says
My favorite cupcake is chocolate with chocolate frosting.
Janice says
I love strawberry cake with strawberry icing!
Carla Sullivan says
I love Strawberyy Shortcake and cheesecake! yummy!
angie says
My favorite is coconut.
Catharine @ BakeBlogging says
Favorite cake is a rich dark chocolate cake with french mousseline mocha buttercream! YUM!!
troy says
strawberry is my favorite
Lucy says
When someone asks me what my favorite dessert is, the only appropriate answer to me, seems to be- “Whatever is on my plate!” lol. But I do love Chocolate cake and carrot with cream cheese frosting and…..
Your Strawberry Cake Balls look soo scrumptious! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Angie says
My favorite would be anything with chocolate! 🙂
Denise B. says
My favorite is yellow cake with vanilla buttercream.
Julia says
I love peanut butter cake bites. Just peanut butter, grahams, and maybe a little extra sugar and butter in there, for good measure 😉
Desmond says
red velvet
Alison says
I love the red velvet, it’s my good old standby.
Heather says
German Chocolate Cake Bites & Red Velvet Cake Bites! Yummy
Heather B says
I love any and every thing Peanut Butter!
Jen Harriman says
All I can say is CHOCOLATE.. however those strawberry shortcake look mmmm
Jen Harriman says
I like Taste & tell on facebook Jennifer Harriman
Jen Harriman says
I follow on twitter as well @jenharriman123
Jen Harriman says
& I am an email subscriber 🙂
Ed Nemmers says
I like the Cupcake Red Velvet!
shawna says
Red Velvet is my fav!
monte says
love German chocolate cake
valancia says
A Lady Baltimore cake with sea foam icing!
jacqueline says
red velvet is my favorite! yum!
jacqueline says
i follow u on twitter jmmccarr
Rebecca says
I love the red velvet!!!!!
Rebecca says
I am following on Facebook also!!!!!
lisa says
red velvet!
Tania S. says
I love a good vanilla cake with homemade chocolate icing.
lisa says
Follow Taste and Tell on Facebook Lisa W.
lisa says
Follow Taste and Tell on Twitter MONKEYMOM8105
Tania S. says
I’m following Taste and Tell on Facebook.
Tania S. says
I’m following Taste and Tell on Twitter.
Ally @ Sweet & Savory says
It’s so funny – we made “cake balls” as we call them 5 years ago as favors at my wedding – before all the rage. I’m thinking I should have written this cookbook!
My favorite flavor is anything chocolate, and ALL chocolate.
Ally @ Sweet & Savory says
I follow you on facebook!
Ally @ Sweet & Savory says
I follow you on Twitter!
Athena says
I love anything with peanut butter and chocolate.
Athena says
I subscribe via Rss feed.
Athena says
I’m a new Twitter follower @GoddessFoodie.
Sandy says
The Raspberry Lemonade cake bites sound good to me!
Aly Jay says
My ultimate FAVORITVE flavor is red velvet 🙂
Aly Jay says
I follow you on twitter.
Aly Jay says
I follow you on facebook.
Liz Nordquist says
I love red velvet cake!
Lnordquist(at)Live(dot)Com
Liz Nordquist says
Also following you on Facebook.
Lnordquist(at)Live(dot)Com
OTA Mom says
chocolate mint or chocolate raspberry
Vicki D. says
My favorite cake is rum cake. I am asked to make this cake, and bring it to all kinds of functions. It’s so moist and so delicious, you get hooked on it after one bite!
Jenny says
I love just about any cake, but chocolate cake is nearly impossible to pass up.
Jenny says
I subscribe via RSS feed
Jennifer says
My favorite cake bite flavor is chocolate but if I had to choose a flavor outside of cake…..OREO!!!! Yummy!
MelodyJ says
I like Chocolate Vanilla Layer.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
susan smoaks says
red velvet is my favorite
Sand says
I love spice cake with cream cheese icing.
Gianna says
I love vanilla cupcakes.
James Coyne says
i like vanilla cake
James Coyne says
i like you on facebook
Gianna says
I subscribed by email.
James Coyne says
i follow you on twitter
@JCoyne1031
Michelle H. says
I love chocolate truffle flavored.
James Coyne says
i’m a feed subscriber
James Coyne says
i’m an email subscriber
Michelle H. says
Email subscriber.
Donna K says
I love chocolate.
Donna K says
I follow you on twitter.(donnak4)
Veronica Garrett says
Cherry is my favorite.
Marie says
Any chocolate batter is sure to do the trick for me!
Tabitha Ellede says
I like carrot cake with butter cream 🙂
Lauren says
I really like a brownie type of cake. I had cake pops like those before…sooo good.
Anne says
I like anything with sugar…with more sugar. Any flavor will do! =]
Kaye M. says
Can this be done with a from-scratch white cake as well?
Martha says
I know this is an old post, but I somehow missed it the first time around. Saw the mention on your Bananas Foster post and wanted to ask about the fresh berries … and the interesting cake recipe. I guess by adding the berries, you have to be really careful that the cake isn’t too moist already.
How did you like these? Any idea how long they would last with the berries inside?
Thanks so much. I am planning on trying all three – coconut, bananas foster and these in the near future. I was a die hard cake ball hater until I agreed to make some for a birthday party. Nothing fancy like yours, but I discovered that they aren’t so bad! 🙂
Deborah says
@Martha, I’m not sure how long they would last. I only made a half batch, and they were gone within a day and a half!! The way the recipe is written, the cake batter is a bit more dense, so I didn’t notice that the berries made it too moist. If you try them out, make sure and let me know how you liked them!
Laura says
How did you get the oh so cute red stripes on top??? Colored frosting???
Deborah says
@Laura, I just used the colored Wilton candy melts. You can usually find them wherever you can buy cake decorating supplies.
Laura says
I tried making your strawberry shortcake bites, but the balls are very wet an dense.. What did I do wrong?
They taste great though!!!
Deborah says
@Laura, I just remember mine having the consistency of any other cake bite, so I’m not sure what went wrong. I’m glad they tasted great, though!
Cindy says
I simply can’t resist chocolate!!!!!!