Hi Hails,
I made my first batch of cake balls yesterday. Yummy...but I wanted some tips about frosting them, too! I used chocolate almond bark. It coated some of them really well, but I ended up using a ton of it and still didn't finish coating all of the balls. I wondered about using chocolate chips with paraffin wax like I do for the peanut butter balls I make for Christmas....Well, I'll "sit here" and wait for an answer with you...if that's okay! 
You know, I made my cake balls for the first time about a week ago and my dipping looked like a 3-year-old did it!! Thankfully it was just for the experience and not an order!! I melted chocolate melts in the chocolate pot, added paramount crystals to the chocolate and dropped in five at a time, took a spoon and rolled them around and let dry on a cookie sheet. Next time I'll actually get out the dipping forks... 
I use a dipping fork. I have took a plastic fork and broken off the middle tongs before and that worked well. I have also heard of putting a toothpick in it to dip, but haven't tried that.
I have done mine in choc. chips and the wax but I think it cost more to do than with almond bark. My Walmart sells Almond Bark for $1.77
My mother helped me dip about 500 just before Christmas. She kept saying "There has to be a easier way!" I usually stick a toothpick in the frozen cake ball.
She got me a choc. fountain for Christmas I will let you know how it goes. 
I've dipped mine a few ways...
I've used the toothpick method with frozed ones. Dip in chocolate, shake of access and use toothpick to fill hole before chocolate sets.
Recently I've been using a baby spoon with great success. Drop ball in chocolate, coat and use spoon to remove & sit on styrofoam plate to set.
I usually use chocolate chips with a little parafin wax or crisco. I prefer using Ghiradelli chocolate, its WONDERFUL. I've not tried the bark or candy melts.
I think 100 was the most I did at one time. If I had 500 to do, I'd look for another method 
If they were going to be in the baking cups, could you just pour chocolate on top, similar to petie fours?
500 WOW! I thought my shoulder hurt after 160 of them I can't imagine 500.
Here is just a few of them I did for my office Christmas party. I color coated them with the melts and left a list infront of the tree so people would know what flavor each were.
I coat them with candy melts mixed with Baker's bittersweet choc. If it gets too thick I add a little crisco. For the white I use candy melts mixed with white coating bars. Here are the ones I did for Christmas. I found that using a small (like a teaspoon) bamboo spoon helps. I also have the choc melter pot.
I coat them with candy melts mixed with Baker's bittersweet choc. If it gets too thick I add a little crisco. For the white I use candy melts mixed with white coating bars. Here are the ones I did for Christmas. I found that using a small (like a teaspoon) bamboo spoon helps. I also have the choc melter pot.
Sorry picture is in my pictures.
I did some for Christmas (in my photos) and stuck a toothpick into the frozen cakeball the swirled it around to shake off the excess. I removed it from the toothpick (very carefully so it doesn't roll around) with a plastic fork with the 2 center tines broken off and the hole from the toothpick will be on the bottom. It's still time consuming but it leaves a nice smooth finish.
I use Wilton candy melts to coat with crisco added. About 2 tbsp per 2 cups of candy. I have also used the Ghirrdelli chocolate pieces. They work great but are too bittersweet. I use the Wilton dipping fork (plastic). They are only a few dollars. Also, the biggest thing I learned was to freeze the balls completely before dipping or at least for 30 minutes. Then I take out a few at a time (one tray of 30) and dip, swirl around in chocolate then hold up and kind of scrap the side of the cup to keep from dripping everywhere and carefully place on wax paper to harden. Then I have chopped nuts or toffee bites ready to add a few to the tops immediately if you want or just let them harden. I promise they look tons better if dipped frozen. I have tried both ways. The last batch I made did not crack but I have had them crack after thawing before. I would rather have a crack than the ugly look I had before though.
hope this helps!
What great advice, everyone! I think that after hearing all the hints I stumbled upon what I think will work for me. I found that chocolate or vanilla chips with a little paraffin worked well. Also, rather than using a toothpick to dip the cake balls, my husband suggested a wooden skewer like for shish kabobs! Because it's longer, I didn't get my fingers in all the chocolate. I also broke off the two middle tines on a plastic fork and made certain that the hole created by the skewer ended up on the bottom...great suggestion by the way! My second batch of cake balls looked so much nicer than my first! I think I'm addicted to making them!!!!
Adding Crisco thins the choc. so I can get a more even coat and it dips better.
UPDATE: I DO NOT recommend using the choc. fountain for dipping ANYTHING!!!! At least not cakeballs! I tried it the other night and man let me tell you what a mess! There is not enough room to shake off the excess choc., you have one plain of choc. falling so you have to turn the cakeball alot to get all sides of it covered, and the candy melts have to be so thin to go in the fountain that they don't cover the cakeball well. I put the whole mess away and got out the dipping fork again!!! 
cake balls - cake balls - cake balls - boy is this the rage!
I had to try them (while the MMF dried on the RFSC).
Now, sadly I am amoung those who say "How on earth do you get them to look so good?"
I think my balls are too big (oh jeez is that funny) and my candy melts are too thick.
My question: How much Crisco should I add to the candy?
*side funny - I got GREAT satisfaction when the roomate thought he'd be sly and swipe a 'peanut butter buckeye' when I wasn't looking. His face said it all - he definitely wasn't expecting a cherry-cream cheese cake ball!*
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%