RUM Balls

Truffles, Balls, Bites or what ever your preference is for the name of this keto-friendly, lower carb, treat–it spells delicious! This small-batch will last (one serving at a time) throughout a period of time, depending on how frequently you want a “bite” after a meal, but it is perfect for finishing those meals where you simply want one sweet/chocolate flavored bite. (See notes below for dairy-free and vegan options)

YIELD: 24 Rum Balls (about .5 carbs per rum ball)

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 TBSP Hersey’s Special Dark Cocoa Power
• 4 TBSP melted butter (or vegan butter, or coconut oil for dairy free)
• 4 TBSP Sweetener of choice (or to taste)
• 4 TBSP pecan flour (or grind your own)
• 3/4 Cup desiccated coconut (unsweetened, or grind your own from unsweetened regular coconut in your blender or small batches in your coffee or spice grinder)
• 4 TBSP Rum
• dash of heavy whipping cream (or unsweetened coconut milk, or boiling water) if needed
• something for rolling (more desiccated coconut, some cocoa powder, or pecans, or any other favorite option. this is optional)
• Cinnamon (dash-optional)

METHOD:

1. Starting with a clean work surface to work, assemble all of your ingredients and a bowl. Begin by measuring desiccated coconut into your bowl. NOTE: If you do not have desiccated coconut, you can take small batches of regular unsweetened coconut flakes and process them to smaller size (but not as fine as coconut flour) for use in this recipe.
2. Carefully measure the rum into your bowl and stir to saturate the desiccated coconut with the Rum. Stir well.
3. Add all dry ingredients to your bowl.
4. Add melted fat. NOTE: you have some options here, depending on your dietary needs. You can pick butter or coconut oil (or vegan butter if you are making the dairy-free version) but it should be a healthy fat which is a bit solid at typical room temperature to help hold these rum balls together.
5. (OPTIONAL) You can add a pinch of cinnamon if you would like. Alternatively, as coconut products vary in how quickly they absorb moisture, you may find your batch (even using the same ingredients) turns out dryer or more moist one time verses another. If you need more moisture to hold these together enough to roll, add a drop or two at a time, and stir before adding more one of the following options: HWC (Heavy Whipping Cream), Coconut Milk, or Boiling Water (it is amazing hat it does when combined with cocoa powder!)
6. Take a heaping teaspoon of dough and roll in your hand, placing on a piece of parchment paper in your storage dish. NOTE: If cocoa powder bothers your sense of touch, use food-safe gloves or a bit of coconut oil on your hands first before rolling. These are a tiny bit messy! (OPTIONAL) You can briefly roll these in a topping before placing in the fridge. Possible options to try: crushed pecans, crushed pistachios, cocoa powder or even more desiccated coconut.
7. Cover in air-tight container. Refrigerate.

TIPS:

• You can vary these a lot. Instead of Rum, try a stiffly-brewed espresso or other coffee, add peppermint extract or creme de menthe liqueur. I think I will also try a batch of these, soon, with a drop or two for the flavoring of YoungLiving Orange or Citrus vitality as yet another option.
• Instead of Pecans try another nut such as peanuts, hazelnut or pistachio.
• If you purchase and eat nuts, of any kind, on a normal basis this recipe is a GREAT use for that powdery bit of left over nuts at the bottom of the container of nuts.
• Swerve granular does not work in this recipe. Use the confection style sugar substitute or grind your own.

Observations:

I was somewhat disappointed with the “rum” flavor not being strong enough, over time, especially when compared to traditional Rum Balls. Whereas these were very strong (perhaps even too strong) in Rum flavor which overpowered the chocolate when they were first made, but then after they spent a few days in the fridge they mellowed so much the rum disappeared into the chocolate and coconut flavors. And frankly, if the rum flavor isn’t there, why bother with the extra calories of the rum–especially when there are SO many other flavors to try. However, having said that, this recipe is a worthy recipe to make a treat for those times when you want a bit of something sweet.