Description

These Patriotic Chocolate Cake Balls are festive, soft, and indulgent treats featuring a chocolate cookie shell rolled in red, white, and blue sprinkles with a creamy buttercream filling dyed in classic patriotic hues. Perfect for celebrations and patriotic holidays, these sandwich-style cake balls offer a balance of rich chocolate flavor and smooth, colorful filling.

Ingredients

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For the Chocolate Cake Balls

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
10 1/2 tablespoons (2/3 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup red, white, and blue sprinkles

For the Filling

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1–1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Red and blue icing color

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside to prevent sticking.
Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, unsweetened dark cocoa powder, baking soda, and kosher salt until fully mixed. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Mix Wet Ingredients
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the softened butter until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the sugar mixture and beat until well combined. Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
Add Flour
Add the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture, mixing until just incorporated; do not overmix to maintain tenderness.
Shape and Coat the Dough
Place the red, white, and blue sprinkles in a shallow bowl. Scoop level tablespoons of dough, roll into balls, then gently roll them in the sprinkles to coat. Place the sprinkled dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake the Cookies
Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the cookies are set and slightly firm to the touch. Let them cool for about 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then carefully transfer to a wire rack using a wide metal spatula and allow to cool completely.
Prepare the Filling
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar on low speed until almost incorporated. Add the vanilla extract, then beat on high speed until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
Color the Filling
Divide the filling evenly between two bowls. Tint one portion with blue icing color and the other with red, mixing each color thoroughly until desired shades are reached.
Assemble the Cake Balls
Pipe or spread a generous amount of colored filling onto the flat side of half the cookies. Top with another cookie to form sandwich cake balls. Alternate between the red and blue filling to create a festive presentation. Repeat with the remaining cookies and filling.
Store and Serve
Place the assembled cake balls in an airtight container and keep at room temperature until ready to serve. Enjoy these treats for your next patriotic celebration!

Notes

You can use gel food coloring for more vibrant filling colors.
Chill the dough briefly if it’s too soft to handle while rolling.
Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature.
Swap sprinkle colors to match other festive themes throughout the year.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 sandwich cookie
Calories: 270
Sugar: 22g
Sodium: 80mg
Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 40mg