Obviously the inspiration for these delectable orbs comes from our kicky little friend the rum ball, a perennial holiday favorite. And just like rum balls, there's no baking required. And because they're not cooked, you can really taste the booze (which definitely helps keep your Christmas merry and bright).
NUTELLA BOOZE BALLS
Yield: about 65
1 1/2 cups (about 16
oz.) Nutella (hazelnut/cocoa spread)
4 tablespoons
unsalted butter, softened
2 pinches salt
2 1/2 cups finely
crushed graham crackers or vanilla wafers (10-12 oz.)
2 tablespoons cocoa
powder
1/4-1/2 cup liqueur
(or liquor) of choice (like amaretto, rum, frangelico, brandy or
bourbon),
plus
more if needed
possible coatings:
finely crushed cookies
shredded, toasted
coconut
finely chopped or
ground nuts
cinnamon sugar
powdered sugar
cocoa powder
finely crushed
cereal
melted chocolate
sprinkles
____________________________________________________________________
1. Combine
nutella, butter and salt in a large bowl and mix until thoroughly blended. Add crushed
cookie crumbs, cocoa powder and 3 tablespoons of the liqueur; mix thoroughly.
2. Let
stand for 2-3 hours (the cookie crumbs will absorb the liqueur and the mixture
will become dry and crumbly).
3. Add
more liqueur, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is the right
consistency to form into a ball that is moist, but will still hold its shape
nicely.
4. Roll nutella mixture into small balls (about 1
to 1 ½ teaspoons each). Roll each ball in your coating of choice. If using
melted chocolate, dip and place on a parchment or wax paper lined sheet pan;
refrigerate until set. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Copyright © by Susan Cleland, bloatalrecall.blogspot.com. All rights
reserved.
 |
| I was feeling very indecisive, so I split the difference and used both vanilla wafers and graham crackers. |
 |
| cookie crumbs |
 |
| Nutella jar |
 |
| creamy Nutella |
 |
| more creamy Nutella (I could take pictures of it all day) |
 |
| mixing softened butter with Nutella |
 |
| adding cocoa powder |
 |
| amaretto added I used amaretto (almond liqueur), but any complimentary tasting liqueur will work. |
 |
| adding cookie crumbs |
 |
| all mixed I did let it sit and then add more amaretto before mixing again (but I forgot to take a photo of that). |
 |
| Nutella mixture rolled into a ball |
 |
| rolling in toasted, shredded coconut |
 |
| rolling in cinnamon sugar To make cinnamon sugar, just mix sugar with cinnamon to taste (don't be shy -- use a lot). |
 |
| coated with cookie crumbs |
 |
| a variety of Nutella balls with different coatings I did roll some in cocoa powder (on the bottom right), but they're so messy (both when you roll them and eat them), that I decided I liked the other ones better. |
 |
| Nutella ball cross section |
