No-Bake Baubles

Hanging chcocolate drops Hanging chcocolate drops

This blended mix of nuts and dates is much healthier than the usual truffles made with chocolate and cream. They're gluten free and vegan, while tricking everyone into thinking they're being naughty.

12 people 45 minutes 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 25 g Dark Chocolate minimum 70% cocoa solids, roughly chopped
  • 1 tbsp Desiccated Coconut
  • 1 tbsp Goji Berries halved lengthways
  • 25 g Hazelnuts
  • 3 drops Red Gel Food Colouring optional
  • 12 parts Ribbon or string, 10cm pieces
  • 50 g SuperValu Goodness Cashew Nuts
  • 100 g SuperValu Goodness Pitted Dates
  • 25 g SuperValu Goodness Walnuts
  • 1 - SuperValu Orange very finely grated, zest only
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

To Decorate:

  • 1 tbsp Dried Apricots chopped
  • 1 tbsp Dried Cranberries
  • 1 tbsp SuperValu Goodness Pistachio Nuts chopped

Method

  1. Line a tray with non-stick baking paper and set aside.
  2. Melt the chocolate in a small bowl set over a pan of simmering water or in 30-second blasts in the microwave, stirring regularly. Remove and set aside.
  3. Put all the nuts in a mini-blender and blitz until very finely chopped. Add the dates, orange zest and vanilla extract and blend until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and blitz again until well combined.
  4. Divide the mixture into 12 even-sized pieces, about 20g each. Taking one piece at a time, flatten it slightly in the palms of your hands and place two ends of one piece of string in the centre. Shape the mixture into a ball, enclosing the string and with the loop sticking out. Repeat to make all of the balls, arranging them on the lined tray as you go. 
  5. Stick small pieces of the pistachios and dried fruits to the outside of eight of the baubles, arranging them in rows or other pretty patterns. Put the coconut in a ziplock food bag and, if liked, toss through a little red food colouring until completely coated. Toss the remaining baubles in the coconut until completely coated, pressing them lightly through the bag to stick if necessary.
  6. These will keep for up to three weeks in the fridge, layered between baking paper in an airtight container.
Secure payments with: Mastercard Visa