Vegan Birthday Cake Balls

Ingredients

For the Cake Balls

• 4 TBSP unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 1/3 cup vegetable shortening

• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

• 3 Tbsp brown sugar, tightly packed

• 3 eggs

• 1/2 cup buttermilk

• 1/3 cup grapeseed oil

• 2 Tsp vanilla extract

• 2 cups cake flour

• 1 1/2 Tsp baking powder

• 3/4 Tsp kosher salt

• 1/3 cup rainbow sprinkles

For the Sand

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 Tbsp light brown sugar, tightly packed

• 2/3 cup cake flour

• 1/4 Tsp baking powder

• 1/4 Tsp kosher salt

• 1 Tbsp rainbow sprinkles

• 1 Tbsp grapeseed oil

• 1 Tsp clear vanilla extract

For the Assembly

• 1/4 cup milk of choice

• 1 Tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, add the room temperature butter, shortening, and sugars and blend on medium-high for about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs, and mix on medium-high again for roughly the same amount of time and make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

3. On the lowest speed, add in the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.

4. On medium-high speed, mix until mixture is double the size and all mixed in without streaks. Don’t forget to scrape down sides of the bowl and don’t rush the process. Should take about 6 minutes.

5. On the lowest speed, add the cake flour, baking powder, salt, and the ¼ cup of rainbow sprinkle for about a minute until the batter comes together.

6. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spread the cake batter in an even layer and sprinkle about 2 Tbsps of rainbow sprinkles on top.

7. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes, or until it is no longer jiggly but still has a slight bounce. You can stick a toothpick in it and see if it is clean.

8. Let cool in the fridge.

To make the sand:

1. In a stand mixer bowl with a paddle attachment, add the sugars, flour, baking powder, salt, and sprinkles and mix on the lowest speed until incorporated.

2. Add the oil and vanilla and mix until there are sandy clusters. distribute.

3. Bake for 15 minutes.

4. Once cooled, blend the mixture in a food processor until resembles a sand like texture.

To assemble:

1. In a medium bowl, break the cake down into crumbs and combine with half the vanilla milk and soak. Knead into a ball, about the size of a golf ball. If too dry, add more of the vanilla milk.

2. Roll the balls in the sand mixture.

3. Chill the balls in the fridge for about at least 30 minutes.

Adopted by theSaltedCookie