The Best Chocolate Butter Ball Cookie Recipe | Foodal (2024)

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Have you ever been in the mood for cookies, but didn’t want to turn on the oven?

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Make a tasty treat in no time at all with a few basic ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen right now.

From cookie bars to marshmallow crispy treats to oatmeal clusters, the choices are endless when it comes to whipping up a quick and easy dessert.

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And I’m more than happy to add to that list, with my cocoa butter balls recipe!

I was introduced to these tiny bite-sized sweets during my first holiday season with my in-laws. My mother-in-law grew up on the plains, and cereal was a common staple in their kitchens.

Quick oats, wheat puffs, and cornflakes were turned into decadent desserts, simply by adding butter, sugar, and other sweeteners like honey and maple syrup.

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I remember sitting around the table that year while we shared stories and rolled cookie balls until my hands were coated in cocoa.

Little ones are sure to enjoy helping out in the kitchen, especially when they can make a tasty dessert all on their own.

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But what they’ll really love is being able to use their hands to shape the dough… things might get a little messy!

Ready to get your hands dirty? Head to the recipe below, and let’s start rolling some cookies!

The Recipe

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The Best Recipe for Chocolate Butter Balls

Votes: 14
Rating: 3.57
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Don't feel like turning on the oven to make dessert? Create a quick and yummy no-bake treat with just a few simple ingredients.

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The Best Recipe for Chocolate Butter Balls

Votes: 14
Rating: 3.57
You:

Rate this recipe!

Print Recipe

Don't feel like turning on the oven to make dessert? Create a quick and yummy no-bake treat with just a few simple ingredients.

Servings Prep Time
24 small cookies 25 minutes
Passive Time
1 hour
Servings Prep Time
24 small cookies 25 minutes
Passive Time
1 hour

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 1/8 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup granulated Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/8 cup water
  • 1/2 cup Powdered sugar

Servings: small cookies

Units:

Instructions

  1. Combine all of the ingredients, except the powdered sugar, in a large bowl. Mix by hand or with a sturdy spoon until a uniform dough forms. Alternatively, mix ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until thoroughly combined.

  2. Shape the dough by hand into 24 small balls. Place on a plate or tray.

  3. Once all the cookies are formed, chill them in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, or until firm.

  4. When ready to serve, roll the chilled cookies in powdered sugar. Place on a serving tray and enjoy!

  5. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Re-roll in powdered sugar when ready to serve.

Nutritional Information*

Nutrition Facts

The Best Recipe for Chocolate Butter Balls

Amount Per Serving

Calories 123 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5g 8%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.4g

Cholesterol 10mg 3%

Sodium 0.3mg 0%

Potassium 19mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 18g 6%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 8g

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 4%

Calcium 6%

Iron 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep

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Gather all of the ingredients you will need for this recipe: butter, quick oats, water, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.

Step 2 – Make the Dough

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Combine all of the ingredients except the powdered sugar in a large bowl. Mix by hand, or with a sturdy spoon. Stir until a uniform dough is formed.

Alternatively, mix the ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until thoroughly combined.

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Step 3 – Roll

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Roll the mixture by hand into small balls that are about 1/2 inch big. The yield will be around 2 dozen. They should hold their shape firmly, without drooping or falling apart.

If the dough is falling apart, mix in more water, a teaspoon at a time.

If it is drooping after shaping, chill the dough for about 20 minutes to make it slightly firmer, and try again.

Place the rolled cookies on a plate or tray.

Step 4 – Chill

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Chill them for about 1 hour, or until they are completely firm. Keep them chilled until it’s time for dessert.

Step 5 – Roll in Powdered Sugar and Serve

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When ready to serve, place the powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll each cookie in the powdered sugar until completely coated.

Serve and enjoy!

A Handful of Scrumptious Fun!

Hand-rolled desserts are so much fun to make in the kitchen, especially when the kids are helping.

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These no-bake cocoa butter balls will be sure to entertain anyone who makes this recipe. And they are an even bigger delight to eat.

Any extras?

Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. But they will surely be gone before the week is up!

These treats freeze very well – we’ve made a triple batch before, and stored them in the freezer.

Just wait to roll them in powdered sugar until you’re ready to serve. The coating will slowly dissolve if the cookies aren’t eaten soon after rolling them.

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If you like this recipe, try our recipe for peanut butter and jelly balls. It’s another snack-worthy treat your kids will love. And take a peek at all of our other cookie goodies!

For healthier bite-sized sweets with no dairy or gluten, you don’t have to turn on the oven for our coconut dream truffles or cacao bliss balls!

Don’t forget to Pin It!

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Photos by Nikki Cervone, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published March 20th, 2015. Revised and updated September 6th, 2017, with additional writing and editing by Nikki Cervone.

*Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

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About Jennifer Swartvagher

Jennifer is an experienced journalist and author. Her work has been featured on TODAY Parents, The New York Times Blog, BlogHer, Scary Mommy, and scores of other parenting and cooking publications.

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The Best Chocolate Butter Ball Cookie Recipe | Foodal (2024)

FAQs

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Room temperature butter is just the right consistency to incorporate air when it's creamed with sugar. These trapped air pockets result in risen, fluffy cookies. If the butter is any warmer, it won't incorporate enough air and your cookies will have less rise.

What happens if too much butter is in cookies? ›

Too much butter makes cookies turn out just as you'd expect: very buttery. This batch of cookies was cakey in the middle, but also airy throughout, with crispy edges. They were yellow and slightly puffy in the middle, and brown and super thin around the perimeter.

Which is better butter or margarine for chocolate chip cookies? ›

Butter's high fat content is also what gives baked goods their texture. Margarine, which can contain more water and less fat, may make thin cookies that spread out while baking (and may burn). Butter is also the better choice for frying.

How do I keep my chocolate chip cookies from going flat? ›

If your cookies come out of the oven looking flat, you may not have adequately chilled the dough before baking. Chilling times may vary depending on the cookie you're making, but you should typically chill cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least two hours before you pop it in the oven.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

Which is better, baking soda or baking powder? ›

The leavening power of baking soda is about three to four times stronger than baking powder. This means that you need a lot less baking soda in your recipes. If a recipe calls for baking soda and you only have baking powder, you need to use the right baking soda to baking powder conversion.

What happens if you over cream butter and sugar for cookies? ›

Over-creamed butter and sugar adds in too much air and alters the final texture – typically to be more gummy and dense.

What is the best oil to bake cookies with? ›

Best Oils for Baking

Choosing vegetable oil is the best option for baking moist, delicious baked goods. Canola oil, the most common vegetable oil used in baking, doesn't add a strong flavor. It allows your cake's flavor will shine through while still achieving a moist texture.

What brand of butter is best for cookies? ›

Best for Baking: Land O'Lakes Unsalted

“Generally, European-style butters are easier to work with due to the higher butterfat content.” Land O'Lakes also makes an “extra creamy” European-style unsalted butter that might be even better for baking, though we didn't test it out.

Which oil is best for cookies? ›

Canola Oil

Canola oil is, without doubt, one of the best types of oil for baking. It's preferred in many recipes since it has the most neutral flavor compared to other types of oil. It also tends to be lighter in flavour, so it will not negatively affect the baked product's flavor and texture.

What ingredient makes a cookie chewy? ›

Cornstarch gives the cookies that ultra soft consistency we all love. Plus, it helps keep the cookies beautifully thick. We use the same trick when making shortbread cookies. Egg yolk: Another way to promise a super chewy chocolate chip cookie is to use an extra egg yolk.

Why do my cookies stay in a ball? ›

Yes, but if you add too much flour, your cookies won't spread as they bake. Too much flour causes the dough to become dry and crumbly, which prevents it from flattening out during baking. As a result, your cookies will stay in their original shape instead of spreading out into nice circles.

Why do my cookies go flat when I take them out of the oven? ›

Why do my cookies go flat when I take them out of the oven? If your cookies look perfect in the oven and fall flat upon taking them out, you may have used too much sugar or too little flour. Always be sure to measure carefully using a kitchen scale and be careful not to over-bake.

What makes cookies stay fluffy? ›

Butter keeps cookies fluffy in two ways. First, creaming cold butter with sugar creates tiny, uniform air pockets that will remain in the dough it bakes up. Second, cold butter naturally takes a longer time to melt in the oven.

What makes cookies too fluffy? ›

A spread with less fat, diet "margarines" or spreads in tubs contain have too much water. The water creates steam, causing the cookies to puff. Low protein flours, such as cake flour, absorb less water, leaving excess water to create steam, which causes the cookies to puff.

What makes cookies fluffy and soft? ›

If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

What makes cookies thick and fluffy? ›

Add 2 TBS of cornstarch to the dough. It makes the cookies fluffy and soft! I added 2 types of chips, which sounds so simple but it really made a big difference in the flavor. Mini semi sweet chips and milk chocolate chips are the perfect combination and they fill every bite with ooey, gooey, melty, chocolate goodness!

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