Fudge it Fudge Balls.

You've got guests coming for dinner. You want to have a dessert but don't have the time.  What to do?  Here's my answer and it's healthy and pretty to look at, to boot! Wow! 

Where we live (there are no traffic lights here, if you can imagine). So we don't have many choices for stores or shops - many times it is necessary to rely on our own devices to "cook" something up in a jiffy. This is what I did to solve my dessert dilemma.  And the best part is that our guests wanted to take some home with them.  That's always a nice thing to hear. 

What is it, exactly? Basically, it's a chocolate fudge ball made from ground nuts, leftover granola, remains of some cocoa powder, a melted cube of bittersweet chocolate, some tahini, spices & a spoonfull of orange marmalade for moistness - ALL balled up and rolled in sesame seeds.  YUM!  See how below!

So HERE's HOW TO WING IT!  

THIS "RECIPE" made 12  small Fudge Balls (about 1" in size)
I used several different kinds of nuts that I had on hand.  About 1/2 cup each of 3 types (or use what you have) but it should total about 1.5 cups of nuts.  In my case I used: 

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup almonds (all seeds can be raw or toasted - but try not to use salted seeds, if possible)
  
• 1/2 cup sun flower seeds
  
• 1/2 cup homemade granola I had leftover
  
• 1 or 2 1oz cubes of Bittersweet chocolate melted in microwave until soft and stirred with forth until smooth. *Note: if you don't have this on hand - use something that is chocolatey.  I had a piece of leftover torte in the fridge, I could have use this.  OR - you could use Cocoa Powder (pure powder). 
• 1-2 TBSP of cocoa powder (this amount depends on consistency when all ingredients are pureed)
  
• 1/4 cup Tahini (don't have tahini - try using almond butter - it will change the flavor but go for it, try it!)
  
• 2 TBSP or so of Agave (if you don't have it - double up on Marmalade or a berry jam)
  
• 1 medium spoonful of Orange Marmalade 
  
• 1/4 tsp of nutmeg
  
• 1/4 tsp hot chile powder
  
• 1/4 tsp Allspice 
  
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt (or more to taste ... not tooooo much, though)*Note: I didn't have cinnamon on hand - but I definitely would use this as well - goes great with chile powder!
• 1 tsp Water (at a time) if mixture is too dry at the end of the process to mold into balls - add one and mix, then check ... DO NOT ADD WATER unless you need it. 
• Sesame Seeds to coat fudge balls (see how in picture below)
  

INSTRUCTONS

• Puree the seeds/nuts/granola until it becomes a fine meal
• With the blades spinning, slowly pour in the tahini and agave
• Add melted chocolate, cocoa and remaining ingredients except the water - see how the mixture looks (I wait until the end, taste the mixture and if it needs more chocolate, salt or spice that is when a I add more - REMEMBER - this is YOUR DISH when you serve it to people - taste it and make it to your standards)
• Check consistency - if it is too mealy or dry then add a bit of water (or a bit more marmalade) and mix with your hands until it can form a ball - it DOESN'T TAKE MUCH for it to form so do not over water - if you do, add more cocoa and slow down:)
• Let mixture sit at room temp for 15 minutes then form into 1" balls with your hands 
• To coat: Pour sesame seeds into small bowl, place your fudge ball inside the bowl and swoosh the bowl in small circles so that the ball inside rolls around and coasts itself in the seeds:)  SO EASY 
  

<---------- that's how you swoosh:)

When your fudge balls are all done and coated plate them and store in refridge.  They will harden - so, I remove them about 1 hour before dessert to let them soften a bit.  If they are too big cut the fudge balls in half with a sharp knife - you don't want to loose their shape - so don't squish - and plate stylishly atop one another. 

These Fudge Balls pack a tasty punch - so it is good to serve them with an after dinner drink that will balance their richness.  I serve them with coffee spiced with ground cardamom or with cinnamon (I love cardamom - but it is not for everyone).  HMMMMM GOOD!

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