Kartoshka Rum Balls Recipeis made with some cake or cookie crumbsthen mixed with sweetened condensed milk buttercream, walnuts, cocoa powder and spiked with some rum. Whether you roll the Rum Balls in the cocoa powder or dip them in melted chocolate is up to you. Either way, these rum balls will be delicious!
What is Kartoshka (Chocolate Rum Ball
The word Kartoshkatranslates as “potato” from Russian. Many bakeries in the post-Soviet countriesstill carry these delicious cake truffles which originally came to existence as a way for bakeries to use the cake scraps that were left at the end of the day.
The authentic Russian Rum Ballswere shaped into little logs, then dusted with cocoa powder to resemble a dusty potato. Hence the name Kartoshka. Sometimes the bakeries would even pipe out little buttercream “sprouts” to really give the pastries that authentic look of potato or Kartoshka.
What Can Kartoshka Rum Balls be made with?
In this Kartoshka Recipe, we are baking a sponge cake and making a buttercream specifically to then mix and make the Bacardi Rum Balls. BUT! if you have some leftover cake that isn’t going to get eaten as is, go ahead and mix it in a mixer with some melted chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, and brandy, then shape into rum balls for a different twist on this delicious Kartoshka recipe.
Two ways to decorate the Russian Rum Balls
- One is to roll about 2 tablespoons of dough into a ball, then roll it in cocoa powder for the “dusty potato” look.
- The other one is to use either melted chocolate (chocolate melts work best), or this chocolate ganache (a mixture of chopped chocolate & hot heavy cream) to dip the rolled chocolate truffles, and then decorate with white “potato sprouts” with the reserved buttercream.
How to make Quick Kartoshka Cake Truffles
The base of Kartoshka cake truffle is made with cake crumbs. You can either make some from scratch as I show in this recipe or replace them with 6cups of crushed (use a rolling pin) mild-flavored cookies like Nilla wafers or even Graham Crackers.
Ingredients for Kartoshka Rum Balls
1.5 recipes –Sponge Cake
1 recipe – Russian Buttercream
Also
- rum or cognac (Bacardi works well)
- roasted walnuts
- cocoa powder, for chocolate flavor (optional)
Coating Mixture
- cocoa powder
- powdered sugar OR 6 Tbsp hot cocoa mixture
OR
- or 2 cups of good quality chocolate melts (Guittard works well)
- or 2 recipes of this Extra Shiny Chocolate Ganache
Make the Sponge Cake (1.5 recipes)–(increase the “servings” in the recipe card to 18, then print the recipe with adjusted ingredient amounts and bake it.
Russian Buttercream:
- Follow the directions HERE on how to make the Russian Buttercream with room temperature butter and sweetened condensed milk.
How to Roast Walnuts for Kartoshka
- Roast the walnuts by placing them on a baking sheet into a 325F oven for about 12-15 minutes. Keep a close eye on them as they burn easily. Every 3-4 minutes give the baking sheet a toss, to promote even roasting of walnuts. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Chop the toasted walnuts into small pieces.
Form or Assemble the Kartoshka Rum Balls
- If planning to pipe out the “potato sprouts” on the outside of the Kartoshka, reserve about 1/3 cup of the prepared Russian Buttercream for it.
- Break the cooled cake into small pieces and add them to a bowl of a mixer. Combine them with the prepared buttercream, walnuts and cognac or rum (if using).
- With beater attachment mix everything together until it resembles a moist mixture for forming Rum Balls.
- With a small ice cream scoop or a spoon, pinch off about 1.5 – 2 tablespoons of the cake truffle mixture and form a ball. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.
- To coat the cake truffles in cocoa: Combine 3 tablespoons cocoa powder and 3 tablespoons powdered sugar. Stir to combine. Roll the Kartoshka truffles in the cocoa.
- Alternatively, you can melt 2 cups of dark chocolate melts over a double boiler, then roll each rolled cake ball in the chocolate and set them on parchment paper to set. This way the chocolate will dry into a hard coating.
- Or make 2 recipes of this Extra Shiny Chocolate Ganache and coat each cake truffle in it. The chocolate pastries will be a tad sticky since the ganache does not dry into a hard coating. Finish by piping the “potato sprouts” on top of the Kartoshka with the reserved buttercream.
Other Desserts to try
- Rafaello Coconut Candy – everything you think it is
- Pistachio Macarons – a little finicky, but well worth the effort
- Boston Cream Pie Horns – Just like the cake, but crispy and individually portioned
Kartoshka Rum Balls
5 from 3 votes
Kartoshka Rum Ballsare made with a delicious sponge cake, sweetened condensed milk buttercream, roasted walnuts, and cocoa to resemble a potato, which is what these pastries were named after.
Author: Marina | Let the Baking Begin
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Russian
Keyword: cake pops, cake truffles, kartoshka, rum balls
Calories: 97 kcal
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 45 -50 cake balls
Ingredients
Sponge Cake
- 6eggs
- 1.5cupsflour
- 1.5cupsugar
- 1/2tspbaking soda
- 1/8cupoil
- 1Tbspvanilla extract
Russian Buttercream
- 2sticks unsalted butter,room temperature (230 grams)
- 1can sweetened condensed milk,room temperature
Also
- 2Tbsprum or cognac (like Bacardi), use up to 1/3 cupoptional
- 1cupchopped walnuts(or any other nuts you like)
- 1/3cupcocoa powder (optional)
Coating Mixture
- 3Tbspcocoa powder
- 3Tbsppowdered sugar
OR
Instructions
Make the Sponge Cake or Use 6 cups of Crushed Nilla Cookies
Whip 6 eggs with a mixer on high speed, in a grease-free bowl until frothy. Gradually add 1½ cup sugar, pouring it between the bowl and the whisk.Continue whipping for 15 minutes until pale in color, thick and flows off the whisk in a ribbon.
While the eggs are whipping, turn the oven to 350F. Also, line a 9"x13" baking pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray, or butter the pan and add a heaping spoon of flour, then shake to coat it with flour. Shake out the excess.
Sift 1½ cups flour and ½ tsp baking soda mixture into the egg mixture, in thirds, carefully folding it in to prevent deflating the batter.
Once the flour is fully incorporated, add ⅛ cup oil and 1 Tbsp vanilla extract. Fold it in until fully incorporated.
Pour the batter into the buttered pan and spread it out evenly. Bake at 350F for 15+ minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove the cake with the foil to the counter, carefully unfold the sides and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Then invert it onto a rack and allow to cool completely.
Russian Buttercream - While the sponge cake is cooling make the buttercream.
Add 2 sticks room temperature butter to the mixer and whip with on high until white in color and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
While continuing to whip, add 1 can sweetened condensed milk by allowing it to flow down the inside of the bowl. If the buttercream starts to look broken, stop the mixer right away and fold the remainder of the sweetened condensed milk in with the spatula.
Assembly
Break the cooled cake into small pieces. Add the broken pieces of cake and 2 Tbsp rum to the buttercream (and 1/3 cup cocoa powder, if using) and using the beater attachment combine together, for about 2-3 minutes or until it starts looking like dough. Add 1 cup nuts and mix until combined. Taste the mixture and add more rum if desired.
Pinch off about 1.5 -2 tablespoons of the cake ball mixture and form a ball. Repeat with the rest of the mixture. If the mixture is too soft to roll, refrigerate until it's malleable and easy to roll.
Combine 3 tablespoons cocoa powder and 3 tablespoons powdered sugar. Stir to combine.Dip and roll each ball in the mixture. Set aside. Once done, coat each ball in the cocoa mixture one more time.
Transfer to a serving platter and serve, or transfer to refrigerator until ready to serve.
Alternatively, you can melt 2 cups of dark chocolate melts over a double boiler, then roll each rolled cake ball in the chocolate and set them on parchment paper to set. This way the chocolate will dry into a hard coating.
Or make 2 recipes of this Extra Shiny Chocolate Ganacheand coat each cake truffle in it. The chocolate pastries will be a tad sticky, since the ganache does not dry into a hard coating.Finish by piping the "potato sprouts" on top of the Kartoshka with the reserved buttercream.
Recipe Notes
How to make Quick Kartoshka Cake Truffles
The base of Kartoshka cake truffle is cake crumbs. You can either make one from scratch like I show in this recipe, or replace it with 4 cups of crushed mild flavored cookies like Nilla wafers or even Graham Crackers.
Nutrition Facts
Kartoshka Rum Balls
Amount Per Serving
Calories 97Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Cholesterol 24mg8%
Sodium 34mg1%
Potassium 71mg2%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 55IU1%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 32mg3%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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