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Have you ever been in the mood for cookies, but didn’t want to turn on the oven?
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.
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.
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.
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
The Best Recipe for Chocolate Butter Balls
| Votes: 14 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 |
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| The Best Recipe for Chocolate Butter Balls
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.
|
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
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.
Shape the dough by hand into 24 small balls. Place on a plate or tray.
Once all the cookies are formed, chill them in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, or until firm.
When ready to serve, roll the chilled cookies in powdered sugar. Place on a serving tray and enjoy!
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
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
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.
Step 3 – Roll
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
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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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