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How to make Israel’s ‘favorite dessert’

Chocolate balls are an easy-to-create iconic treat.
Israeli chocolate balls. (Photo: Tal Cohen)

From Ika Cohen’s award-winning confections, to the powerhouse Elite brand, to Max Brenner’s global chain of shops, Israel is a nation that takes its chocolate seriously.

But it’s really a homemade treat, rather than branded products, that remains the centerpiece of Israel’s chocolate love affair: Israeli chocolate balls.

“They are easy, fast to prepare and a great recipe to make with kids, but not just for kids,” Tal Cohen, an Israeli who owns Ba-li Cravings, a caterer in Ithaca, NY, told From The Grapevine.

What’s more, the recipe is easy to alter – you can flavor to your liking with alcohol (for the adults, of course), coffee, caramel or chocolate chips.

Adapted from Tal Cohen’s recipe:

Chocolate Balls Recipe

Print
Prep10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 200-250 grams cookies (preferably Petit Beurre)
  • 2 fluid ounces sugar
  • 4.5 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
  • 4 oz unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4-5 tbsp milk
  • Coconut sprinkles for dipping (or anything else you so desire)

Instructions

  • Crush the cookies – an easy way to do this is in a bag with a rolling pin. Leave some bigger pieces – these will make the balls nice and crunchy.
  • Add sugar, cacao, vanilla and melted butter and mix (best to do this by hand). Add milk as needed until you get a mix that is a bit sticky – this will enable the dips to cling to the balls.

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