If you’re anything like me, you’re going to fall head over heels for this Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe. These little bites are sweet, creamy, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor, wrapped in a silky coating that just melts in your mouth. They’re super fun to make, and perfect for surprising friends or treating yourself on a quiet afternoon. Stick around and I’ll walk you through every step to make these dreamy truffles come to life in your kitchen!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: No fancy stuff here — just a few pantry staples and candy melts that you can find easily.
- Perfectly Balanced: The cream cheese adds the right amount of tang to balance the sweet, fruity cake flavor.
- Customizable Appearance: You can jazz them up with sprinkles, drizzle, or keep them elegant and simple.
- Great for Gifting: These cuties hold up well, making them ideal for parties or gift boxes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient here plays a starring role, but they also play beautifully together. The strawberry cake mix brings that juicy, fruity note, while the cream cheese adds a smooth, rich softness that helps the truffles hold their shape perfectly. And for the coating? I swear by Ghirardelli vanilla melting wafers—they melt like a dream and taste amazing. Here’s a little insider info on the key ingredients:

- Strawberry Cake Mix: Use a good-quality mix; I find Betty Crocker does the trick—and heat treating it is essential for safety.
- Cream Cheese: Softened to room temperature for smooth mixing—no lumps allowed!
- Cream Cheese Chips: These add a nice little texture surprise inside, but you can skip them if you like a uniform bite.
- Vanilla Melting Wafers: They melt evenly and have a creamy vanilla flavor that complements the strawberry perfectly.
- Pink Candy Melts: For decorating! I love using a couple of shades for a pretty drizzle effect.
- Sprinkles (Optional): Because who doesn’t love a little sparkle now and then?
Variations
I like to keep things flexible here so you can make these strawberry cake truffles uniquely yours. Whether you want to tweak the flavors or accommodate dietary needs, there’s plenty of room to get creative. Here are a few ways I’ve personalized this recipe over time that you might enjoy trying too!
- Chocolate Lovers’ Treat: Swap the vanilla melting wafers for your favorite milk or dark chocolate melting wafers—I’ve done this when craving something richer, and trust me, it’s a game changer.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use a gluten-free strawberry cake mix; make sure to check the label on candy melts and sprinkles just to be safe.
- Fruit Twist: Add small bits of freeze-dried strawberries into the dough for extra fruity bursts—this simple trick makes the flavor pop even more.
- Nutty Upgrade: Mix in finely chopped pistachios or almonds for a subtle crunch I personally love when I want a little texture contrast.
How to Make Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
Step 1: Heat Treat the Cake Mix
This might be the most important step for safety! Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C), then spread the dry strawberry cake mix evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake it for exactly 5 minutes—this kills any bacteria in the flour without cooking it fully. Let it cool completely on a wire rack before moving on. I learned this trick the hard way, so don’t skip it!
Step 2: Make the Cake Dough
Throw that softened cream cheese into a medium bowl. Use a hand mixer on medium-high speed and beat until it’s silky smooth and lump-free. Then, add in the cooled cake mix and gently fold with a rubber spatula a few times—this helps minimize mess and dust flying everywhere. After that, switch back to your hand mixer to fully blend until you have a dough that’s thick yet pliable. At this point, mix in the cream cheese chips—these little nuggets add a lovely surprise inside every bite.
Step 3: Chill and Roll
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Chilling firms it up, making scooping and rolling way easier. When chilled, use a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop even portions and roll each into a smooth ball with your hands. Be patient and let them sit on the baking sheet for about 15 minutes before coating—the dough needs this rest to “relax” and avoid cracking on the surface.
Step 4: Coat Your Truffles
The coating is where these truffles get their dreamy finish. You have two choices: a double boiler or microwave. I prefer a double boiler because it warms the vanilla melting wafers gently and keeps them at the perfect dipping temperature. Melt them until completely smooth. Dip each cake ball fully using a fork, tapping gently on the pot edge to remove excess coating before placing it back on the parchment. Repeat until all are coated. Sprinkle half of them with your favorite sprinkles before the coating sets—it adds festive flair.
Step 5: Drizzle Extra Color
Place the two shades of pink candy melts separately in small microwave-safe piping bags. Heat until melted, then snip a tiny tip at the end of each bag and drizzle fun zigzag or swirl patterns across the remaining truffles without sprinkles. This little decorative touch takes the truffles from “yum” to “wow” every time. When completely set, these beauties are ready to enjoy!
Pro Tips for Making Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe
- Patience is Key: Chill your dough thoroughly—it makes rolling easier and keeps the consistency perfect.
- Heat Treat for Safety: I once skipped baking the cake mix and ended up with an unpleasant aftertaste; heat treating is non-negotiable.
- Double Boiler Love: Melting wafers over a double boiler prevents overheating and keeps the coating silky smooth.
- Crack Prevention: Let the rolled truffles rest before dipping and avoid stirring in excess air to reduce cracking.
How to Serve Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe

Garnishes
I love keeping it classic with colorful sprinkles because they add such a fun pop on these pink treats. But when I want a more elegant vibe for special guests, I’ll do delicate white chocolate shavings or edible glitter. Fresh freeze-dried strawberry crumbs sprinkled on top add extra berry goodness that I swear ups the flavor game.
Side Dishes
These truffles are sweet enough to stand alone, but I’ve served them alongside a simple bowl of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to turn dessert into a celebration. A cup of fresh green tea or sparkling rosé also pairs beautifully and balances the richness.
Creative Ways to Present
I once arranged these on a pretty cake stand with fresh mint leaves and strawberries for a bridal shower table. I’ve also wrapped small batches individually in cellophane tied with a pink ribbon—perfect for gifting neighbors or party favors. For birthdays, I like to place them in mini cupcake liners in a colorful box with a hand-written note. They always get compliments!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover truffles in an airtight container in the fridge, where they stay fresh and tasty for up to 5 days. Just keep them in a single layer or separated with parchment paper to prevent sticking. When I’ve left them overnight, the flavors actually deepen—always a happy surprise!
Freezing
I’ve frozen these cake truffles with great success. First, I flash freeze them on a tray for an hour until firm, then transfer to a sealed freezer bag. When you want to enjoy them, just thaw in the fridge overnight—it keeps their texture and flavor intact.
Reheating
Since they’re best served chilled, I usually don’t reheat strawberry cake truffles. But if you prefer them slightly softer, I let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before biting in—warm enough to enjoy the flavors, but cool enough to hold shape.
FAQs
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Can I use homemade cake instead of cake mix for this recipe?
Absolutely! If you prefer homemade cake, just bake it fully and let it cool completely before crumbling and mixing with the cream cheese. Keep in mind the texture might vary slightly, so adjust the cream cheese amount if needed to get a dough-like consistency.
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What’s the purpose of heat treating the cake mix?
Heat treating the cake mix kills any harmful bacteria that could be present in the raw flour or other dry mix ingredients. This is essential since the cake mix isn’t baked in the traditional way here and will be mixed into a no-bake dough.
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Can I substitute the cream cheese chips with something else?
Yes, if you want to skip the cream cheese chips, you can leave them out or replace them with mini white chocolate chips or freeze-dried strawberry bits for extra texture and bursts of flavor.
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How do I prevent cracking on the truffles’ coating?
The biggest trick is letting the rolled balls sit for about 15 minutes after rolling so they can expand slightly before coating. Also, avoid dipping truffles while they’re cold from the fridge directly, as sudden temperature changes make the coating crack.
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Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
For a dairy-free version, you can try vegan cream cheese alternatives and dairy-free melting wafers, but be sure to test a small batch first—it might need slight adjustments to get the texture just right.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Strawberry Cake Truffles Recipe is one of my all-time favorites to whip up when I want a quick, no-fuss dessert that still feels special. I love surprising friends with these little gems because they’re unique, colorful, and downright delicious. If you try them, I bet you’ll find yourself making them again and again—just like me! So grab your mixing bowl, and let’s get truffling!
Print
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
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these irresistible Strawberry Cake Truffles, featuring a luscious blend of strawberry cake mix and cream cheese, coated in smooth vanilla and pink candy melts. Perfectly bite-sized and adorned with festive sprinkles or drizzles, these no-bake treats are a sweet indulgence for any occasion.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 9.15 ounces strawberry cake mix (Betty Crocker recommended)
- 4.8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 0.2 cups cream cheese chips, roughly chopped
Coating
- 7.2 ounces Ghirardelli vanilla melting wafers
- 0.3 cups Wilton pink candy melts
- 0.3 cups Wilton bright pink candy melts
Optional
- Sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Heat Treat Cake Mix: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the cake mix evenly on the sheet and bake for 5 minutes to eliminate any bacteria. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare Cake Dough: In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with a hand mixer on medium-high until smooth. Fold in the cooled cake mix gently with a rubber spatula, then mix on medium-high speed until a dough forms.
- Add Cream Cheese Chips: Stir in chopped cream cheese chips evenly into the dough, ensuring they are well incorporated.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up and ease handling.
- Form Truffles: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out dough and roll into smooth balls. Place on sheets and let rest for 15 minutes to allow slight expansion, preventing coating cracks.
- Melt Vanilla Wafers: Using a double boiler over low heat, melt the vanilla wafers until smooth, stirring occasionally. Alternatively, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until melted.
- Coat Truffles: Dip each dough ball fully into the melted vanilla wafers using a fork, allow excess coating to drip off, then place on parchment-lined sheets spaced 2 inches apart. Sprinkle half the truffles with sprinkles before coating sets.
- Melt Candy Melts: Microwave Wilton pink and bright pink candy melts individually in microwave-safe piping bags on low until melted. Cut the tips and drizzle over the remaining coated truffles for decoration.
- Set and Serve: Let all coated truffles set completely at room temperature or refrigerate briefly before serving. Enjoy your delightful strawberry cake truffles!
Notes
- Store truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- Chilling the dough is essential for ease of rolling and to prevent coating cracks as the balls expand slightly after shaping.
- If you prefer not to use the oven for heat treating, microwave the cake mix in a microwave-safe bowl for 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds for even heat distribution.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 truffle
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg


