They’re sharing sweet secrets.
The Cake Ball Company co-owners, Robin Ankeny and Charlotte Lyon will join the ranks of Julia Child and Betty Crocker when they release their cake ball cookbook next fall. 
A literary agent recently approached the duo about putting together a collection of their tasty treat recipes.
“It’s something that Robin and I had tossed around for a few years but it was something that seemed like such a daunting task that we never decided to tackle it on our own. One day, out of the blue, a literary agent called us and said ‘We’ve been researching cake balls online and want to do a cake balls book, would y’all be interested in writing it and partnering with us?’ So we were kind of like ‘Oh, okay!’ because that’s just what we needed, someone to help us along the way,” Lyon said.
The cookbook, published by Running Press, will feature 51 different recipes, a section with tips and techniques to making beautiful and delectable cake balls, and also give people the option to use a cake mix. The Cake Ball Company normally sells just 20 flavors of the dessert, so Ankeny and Lyon have spent the last few weeks whisking up new varieties.
“Some of the recipes are things that we have talked about and we just never actually got in the kitchen to make…We start with three basic recipes and three basic icings and then add and manipulate to make it what it needs to be to be a great cake ball,” Lyon said.
While things in the kitchen seem to be going smoothly, Ankeny and Lyon confess that the writing part hasn’t been a cakewalk.
“It’s a lot of writing and neither Robin or I are writers. We leave that to the professionals usually,” Lyon said.
“We actually have about six weeks to get it in at this point. So the hard work is happening now, “ Ankeny added.
When asked how much time they are spending each day on the book, Lyon laughed. “Not enough,” she said. They estimate that they devote at least three to four hours each day to the task. And next weekend, a photographer is scheduled to take professional photos of their charming little confections. The images will be pictured alongside the recipes in the full-color cookbook.
While many bakers balk at the idea of divulging their recipes, Ankeny and Lyon see things differently. The Cake Ball Company recently celebrated its five year anniversary, and the two friends said they feel a responsibility to teach their fans how to make cake balls.
“You know, I think for the first couple of years, we kept everything very closely guarded. We were the first cake ball company, you know, and so over time, other bakeries around town started selling them and then a couple other cake ball companies started popping up and we were like ‘You know what, people are picking it up on their own, we might as well put it out there.’ So we figured if we were the ones to do a cookbook then people will think of us as the authority,” Lyon said.
Although the book deal is definitely the icing on the cake after five years of hard work, Ankeny and Lyon see it more as a family heirloom.
“I think for both of us it’s just really cool that we’re leaving a legacy. We’re writing this great cookbook and our kids will be able to read it, their kids will be able to read it... I think that’s super cool,” Ankeny said.
Juggling a business, a book deal and kids hasn’t been easy for either woman. They both confide that they’ve felt overwhelmed lately.
“Well, this morning I was in tears,” Ankeny said.
“Yesterday I was the last mom to pick up my daughter from kindergarten,” Lyon added.
Despite those frustrating moments, both Ankeny and Lyon know they’re making a lasting impact on their children.
“It’s kind of cool, our kids are seeing us be entrepreneurs and successful and working hard and that’s a good life lesson for them. They can see that they can take an idea and make something of it,” Ankeny said.
While the cookbook isn’t due out until August 2012, The Cake Ball Company is already garnering attention from an international celebrity.
After a photo surfaced online of one of The Cake Ball Company’s t-shirts with the witty slogan, “One Ball is Not Enough,” professional cyclist Lance Armstrong got involved. “Disagree,” he posted on his Twitter account, along with a link to the photo. (Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer over a decade ago.)
“We sent him a shirt,” Lyon said with a laugh.