Inspired by buckeye candies, these chocolate-hazelnut treats get a light and crunchy texture from finely ground toasted rice cereal.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 hr |
| Prep: | 5 min |
| Inactive: | 40 min |
| Cook: | 15 min |
| Yield: | 32 to 36 balls |
Ingredients
- 36 whole blanched hazelnuts (about 1/3 cup)
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 cup toasted rice cereal
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the hazelnuts on a small baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool. Transfer the hazelnuts to a cup and line the baking sheet with wax paper.
- Meanwhile, combine the confectioners’ sugar, rice cereal and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, about 20 times. Add the chocolate-hazelnut spread and melted butter. Pulse until the mixture comes together in clumps, about 15 times; the mixture should be dry to the touch but hold together when pressed.
- Roll the mixture into teaspoon-size balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Press a hazelnut into each ball and then press the dough back into a ball shape, leaving part of the hazelnut exposed at the top. Freeze the balls at least 20 minutes to let them firm up.
- Put the chocolate chips, shortening and a pinch of salt in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until the chips on the bottom start to melt, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Stir until the mixture is melted and smooth. Gently stick a toothpick into the upper half of a ball, avoiding the hazelnut, and dip into the melted chocolate, leaving the top half uncoated. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off and return the ball to the baking sheet. Smooth over the hole from the toothpick with your fingertip. Repeat with the rest of the balls. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes. You can store the balls covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 34 servings |
| Calories | 57 |
| Total Fat | 3 g |
| Saturated Fat | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 1 mg |
| Sodium | 28 mg |
Reviews
Made these for my grandma for Christmas, and she loved them! One thing I noticed is if you over process the Nutella mixture, it will be impossible to work with because it’s too warm. I just popped it in the freezer for a few minutes, and it worked perfectly after that