Like the earth's superheated core drives plate tectonics and detonates volcanoes, the core of the cake propels streams of liquid frosting and lays down alternating strata of fluff, crème, and fruit. For $12, today's Groupon gets you a dozen cake balls in up to four flavors from truth-in-advertising proponents Austin Cake Ball, a $25 value. This deal is not valid April 2–4 or May 7–9, when the ganache gods must be appeased with truckloads of sacrificial cake. Same-day emergency delivery and mouth-to-cake resuscitation is available but not included. Otherwise, order online, choose your four flavors, and pick up at its Crestview location.

Cake balls combine the airy, familiar texture of cake with the appearance of a large truffle, just like a PBR can stuffed inside a pheasant. The lineup of deadly good delectables includes red velvet with sweet-cream buttermilk and Valrhona cocoa, an Italian crème shaggy with coconut and diced pecans, and Montmorency cherry almond. The availability of some flavors may vary based on demand.

Founded by a former costume designer, Austin Cake Ball's professional ballers know how to dress up any occasion with their playful, custom confections, at once informal and also elegant. Due to their spherical shape, cake balls effortlessly shed a sense of heaviness and possess the arcane power to please anyone with a round mouth opening. Cake balls make great massage toys for romantic getaways and pose slippery, marble-like hazards for pursuing police during non-romantic getaways.

Reviews

Austin Cake Ball was listed in the Austin Chronicle's Top 9 Sweet Bites of 2009 and featured on Austin360.com. Sugar Bomber reviewed Austin Cake Ball under its old moniker, Cake by Bridges:

• Small, poppable and extremely moist...call to order chocolate, red velvet, chocolate espresso, vanilla or italian cream cake balls. You and your guests will quickly get over the "they're too cute to eat" factor.

Yelpers give Austin Cake Ball an average of 4.5 stars:

• Cake Balls makes up for all the love I didn't receive as a child. – kristina b.
• …after my first bite, I was swooning...They were moist and soft inside...I'm not proud of my gluttony in the car after our meeting. – Dawn M.