So, every year at Christmas and Thanksgiving, I have an AMAZING aunt that makes Rum balls. Of course, she drinks a bit when cooking, so they are very very strong in flavor. Don't get me wrong, they are good, but I tend to gravitate toward caffeine over alcohol, in both consumption and flavor profile. So this year, I decided to try my hand at making my own "Coffee Balls" sans Rum. Hence the creation of my Buzz Balls. I too, followed tradition and went for a STRONG flavor profile. Therefore, if you eat too many of them, you can get a little buzzy. You have been forewarned.

Step 1: Ingredients

For these balls of bliss, I chose to create with my favorite flavors. Bittersweet chocolate, Coffee, and Pecans. You can of course play around with the recipe and use walnuts, or almonds, or coat them with granulated sugar. There are so many ways to make dessert balls. But if you have any questions about alterations for your preferences, please feel free to reach out, I will answer them as best as I can.

Base ingredients:

1 Box Vanilla Wafers

2 Cups Pecans

1-10oz bag of Bittersweet chocolate Chips

1/4 Cup honey

4 TBSP Instant Coffee

Rolling Coating:

2 TBSP Powdered Sugar

1 TBSP cocoa Powder

1 TBSP Instant Coffee (Optional) *Balls can be coated with sugar/cocoa mixture only if preferred*

Step 2: Prep the Vanilla Wafers, Pecans, and Coffee Concentrate

A-) Blend the Vanilla Wafers until they are finely Ground.

B-) Blend the 2 Cups of Pecans until they are moderately and evenly chopped to small bits. Stop before they start turning into butter.

C-) Mix 4 (heaping) Tablespoons of Instant Coffee into 1/2 cup of boiling water. I use my tea kettle to quickly heat the water, but the microwave can also be used. You can also use hot water from the tap, but boiling water allows for the coffee grounds to dissolve quickly.

Note: You can increase/decrease amount of coffee to taste. Reminder - I like it strong.

Step 3: Melt the Chocolate

A-) Set up your Double Boiler. My preferred method is to use a large soup pot, and a large metal bowl. This allows me to add all the ingredients into the bowl, instead of running a little tight for space using a regular double boiler.

B-) Melt the Chocolate Chips and Honey

C-) Add the Coffee Concentrate and Mix well

D-) Remove From Heat

Step 4: Mix and Finish

A-) Add Ground Vanilla Wafers and Chopped Pecans to the Chocolate mixture. Mix well.

B-) Allow mixture to cool about 5 minutes, or until they hold their shape when rolled.

C-) Roll into 1 inch balls

D-) Coat with sugar/cocoa/coffee mixture.

E-) Allow to set for at least 1 hour.

These can be made 1-2 weeks ahead of time to allow the flavors to develop. The longer they sit, the more flavorful they become.

ENJOY!

Thanks so much for reading and trying out my Buzz Balls. If you have any comments or questions, please comment below and I'll get back with you as soon as I can.

Cheers & Happy New Year!