Looking for the perfect bite-sized treat for a festive table, holidays, or simply a quick sweet treat with your coffee? These Coconut Rum Balls are the answer.
The combination of ground biscuits, chocolate, and a refreshing orange aroma, with a fine note of rum, makes them irresistible. The best part? There’s no baking involved, and the mixture is ready in under 20 minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-Bake: Saves time and energy.
- “Jaffa” Flavor: The combination of orange juice (or Fanta) and chocolate resembles the popular Jaffa cakes.
- Adaptable: You can easily control the strength of the rum or the type of biscuit used.
- High Yield: This recipe yields a full platter of delicious balls.
Ingredients
To make these delicious balls, you only need a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen:
- 450g (~3.5 cups) Ground biscuits (Digestive biscuits, graham crackers, or any plain dry biscuit of choice)
- 120g (1 cup) Powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
- 100g (3.5oz) Baking chocolate (quality dark chocolate gives the best flavor)
- 100g (7 tablespoons) Butter (or margarine for a vegan version)
- 1 cup Orange juice (You can use fresh-squeezed orange juice or a carbonated soda like Fanta)
- 1 Tablespoon Rum
- Desiccated coconut (for coating)
Preparation:
1. Prepare the dry ingredients
Pour 450g of ground biscuits into a large bowl. Add 120g of powdered sugar and mix well with a spoon to combine the ingredients and ensure there are no sugar lumps.
2. Melting
Melt 100g of chocolate and 100g of butter over low heat or in the microwave. Stir until you get a smooth, glossy glaze.
3. Combining the mixture
Add the melted chocolate and butter mixture to the bowl with the biscuits. Add one tablespoon of rum as well. Then, gradually start adding the orange juice (or Fanta).
Important Tip: Do not pour all the juice at once! The amount of liquid needed depends on the dryness of the biscuits you use. Pour in half a cup, mix with your hand or a wooden spoon, then add the rest as needed until you get a mixture that is compact and easy to shape, but not too sticky.
4. Cooling
When the mixture is uniform, cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Leave it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to an hour. This is a crucial step – the cold mixture is much easier to shape, and the balls will be more uniform.
5. Shaping and Decoration
Take the mixture out of the fridge. Take small amounts of the mixture and form balls the desired size with your palms (walnut size is ideal). Immediately roll each ball in desiccated coconut while the surface is still slightly moist so the coconut sticks nicely.
6. Storage
Arrange the balls on a tray and return them to the fridge to set completely before serving. Store them in a cool place.
Extra Tips
- If the mixture is too soft: Add a little more ground biscuit or even a little coconut into the mixture itself.
- If the mixture is too dry: Add another spoonful of juice.
- Variations: You can place a roasted hazelnut or a cherry from liqueur in the center of each ball for a surprise inside.
Enjoy!
