Pecan Pie Cake Balls & a Festive Fall Bowl

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Fall treats and project ideas

When fall rolls around, I get excited about all the fun seasonal things there are to do, like pumpkin picking, sitting around the fire pit, and of course, baking yummy fall treats! Last week, when I was shopping at my local Walmart, I noticed all kinds of new seasonal flavors of M&M’s® and thought it was a good reason to make a tasty dessert…AND to create a festive fall craft to go with them!

marscollageFirst, the dessert…I decided to try the M&M’s® Pecan Pie variety and to incorporate them into one of our family’s favorite treats, cake balls! I picked up a few other necessary ingredients, like cake mix and applesauce plus some Snapple® Apple to enjoy with them, then headed home to create the recipe. Here’s how I made my Pecan Pie Cake Balls {with some help from my neighbor, Lisa} and so can you.

Pecan Pie Cake Balls

You’ll need:

– Pillsbury™ Moist Supreme® Cake Mix
– Mott’s® Apple Sauce Original 48oz
– 3 eggs
– 1 cup water
– 1 container frosting
– candy melts: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and/or white chocolate
– M&M’s® Pecan Pie

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Step 1: Prepare the cake mix according to the instructions on the box, but substituting Mott’s® Apple Sauce for the oil.

Step 2: Bake the cake, let it cool completely, then crumble it up into a bowl.

Step 3: Add a full container of frosting {I used vanilla flavor} to the bowl and mix it thoroughly with the cake crumbs until the mixture forms into a sticky dough-like consistency.

Step 4: Form small balls from the cake and frosting mixture. Place them on a foil lined baking sheet, then refrigerate for 30 minutes so they harden a bit and won’t fall apart in the melted chocolate.

Pecan Pie Cake Balls

Step 5: While the cake balls are in the refrigerator, place some M&M’s® Pecan Pie in a sealed plastic baggie and crush with a rolling pin.  Set them aside for a minute; they’ll be the topping.

Step 6: Melt the chocolate candy melts according to package directions, then dip each cake ball into the melted chocolate. Place each ball on wax paper or nonstick foil.

Step 7: Sprinkle with crushed M&M’s® Pecan Pie {do this quickly, before the chocolate hardens}.

Pecan Pie Cake Balls

All that’s left to do is enjoy! They’re extra enjoyable paired with a favorite drink like Snapple® Apple or your favorite Snapple® variety.

Fall Desserts and Drinks

What do you think? If the fact that they’re almost gone already is any indication, they were a big hit around here. If you enjoy baking delicious fall treats too, you’ll definitely want to enter the MARS Bake in the Fun Sweepstakes for a chance to win a KitchenAid Mixer!

MARS Bake In The Fun Sweepstakes

Now, let’s talk about that fall craft, shall we? I figured that our friends and family would want the chance to sample these M&M’s® Pecan Pie too, and not just on cake balls. So, I thought I’d make a festive decorated bowl to display some for their snacking convenience.

Painted Fall Bowl

You need:
– a plain white bowl
– DecoArt Gloss Enamel paints {I used orange, yellow, and brown}
– adhesive leaf stencils {Mine are Martha Stewart}
– sponge daubers

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Step 1: Place your adhesive stencils around the rim of the bowl.
I had three different leaves, so I decided to alternate them in a pattern.

fallbowl2

Step 2: Use a sponge dauber to add paint inside each stencil. Peel the stencils up while the paint is still wet and re-position them as you go around the bowl until the entire rim is stenciled.

fallbowl3

Let the paint dry completely. If you want to cure the paint in the oven, place the bowl in a cold oven and let it heat to 350 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes, then allow the oven to cool down before removing your bowl {this prevents it from cracking due to quick temperature changes}. If you prefer to let it air cure, it will do so naturally in 21 days.

fallbowl4

All that’s left to do is fill your festive bowl with treats and display it for everyone to enjoy!

Painted Fall Bowl

If you’d like to get your hands on some M&M’s® Pecan Pie or any of your favorite varieties, you’ll want to grab this coupon to save $1 on any two candies, 9.4 oz or larger, at Walmart.  

Painted Fall Bowl
I don’t know about you, but I sure am in the mood for Fall treats and fun now! Be sure to check out more delicious Fall-inspired recipes using some of the same great ingredients here. I’d love to hear your favorite!

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3 Comments

  1. I’ve been wondering if the pecan pie m&m’s are any good. I love pecan pie, but not for sure if I would like it in a m&m. Love your fall bowl. Super cute!!

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