Fudgey and chocolatey, these lovely chocolate cherry bliss balls are a super easy treat to make with leftover almond pulp (or with some almond meal; see recipe notes), and the hidden cherry inside gives these little chocolate bites an unexpected burst of freshness and fruitiness.
I made them at first just using some leftover almond pulp from making homemade almond meal and I really loved the the resulting texture. They're moist and very flavorful. And it's a great way to put that leftover pulp to good use.
And, most importantly somehow brought memories of... erm.. a very odd-sounding, yet extremely delicious dessert my parents used to buy me as a child from a Russian bakery -- "chocolate potatoes." When asked what kind of dessert I'd like them to bring, these "chocolate potatoes" were always high on the list.
Of course the original dessert had nothing to do with potatoes (as far as I know anyways!) -- it's just traditional a no-bake chocolate pastry shaped like a potato, often coated with a layer of chocolate, and sometimes flavored with a bit of rum (strangely enough rum-flavored candy was my favorite as a child, go figure! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).
Well no potatoes (or rum...) in these cherry chocolate bliss balls here, but something about the texture and moisture of the almond pulp in the making of these little fudge bites really reminded me of those chocolate potatoes. I might play around some day and see if I can recreate a closer mimic of the original. Meantime, these hit the spot well enough :)
Chocolate Cherry Bliss Balls
Fudgey and chocolatey, these chocolate cherry bliss balls are a super easy treat to make with leftover almond pulp. Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 5 - 6 balls
- Category: Candy & Fudge
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients
Chocolate Balls:
- 6 tbsp almond pulp*
- 3 soft medjool dates
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp almond extract
Filling:
- 3 cherries, pitted and halved
Topping:
- ~1 tablespoon extra cocoa powder for dusting
Instructions
1. Process all chocolate ball ingredients in a food processor until a fudge-brownie-like dough is formed.
2. Scoop up about a tablespoon and a half of this mixture and roll into a rough ball, then indent it with your fingers to create a little "bowl"-like shape. Place half a cherry inside, then close the "bowl" up and roll the mixture into a ball once again. Set aside, and repeat with the remaining mixture.
3. Refrigerate the balls for about an hour to set. Then dust with the extra cocoa powder (using a sieve) and enjoy! Store leftovers in the fridge.
Notes
*Leftover from making homemade almond milk. If you prefer, feel free to use store-bought almond meal. You'll likely need to add a bit of water to the mix, since almond pulp is somewhat moist by nature whereas almond meal is dry. Start by blending everything together as per the recipe, and if the mixture seems to dry, add a bit of water, 1 tablespoon at a time and blend once more until the correct consistency is achieved.
Valentina says
The traditional Russian dessert known as 'Potato' cake is crafted from biscuit crumbs blended with a delicate cream. Historians suggest that the recipe for this dessert gained prominence in the early 20th century. It was ingeniously prepared using dried unsold baked goods, biscuit crumbs, and trimmings left over from teahouses. To enhance its visual appeal, cocoa was incorporated. The cake derives its name from its distinct color and shape, reminiscent of potatoes. Additionally, a modest amount of cognac or rum is typically included in the recipe.
The Real Person!
I did not know it was originally prepared from teahouse leftovers! How clever :)
Linda says
I am going to try these for sure! But wanted to let you know there is a candy they make in Maine with mashed potatoes. While I have never tried them Bixby chocolates makes them. 😊
The Real Person!
Hi Linda, that sounds awesome. I've seen a traditional cookie out there made of potatoes and powdered sugar. I've been wanting to try something like that but never got around to it. Potato candy sounds interesting!
The Real Person!
Ok, I just looked those up -- they look and sound delish! :) I'd love to try a potato truffle type recipe sometime. I can totally see that tasting good!
Cassie Thuvan Tran says
Chocolate potatoes, how interesting! I kind of see how that could make sense. I might just one day try the combination of actually adding chocolate syrup or dark chocolate onto white potatoes. Anything chocolatey tastes PHENOMENAL on sweet potatoes! Cherries already taste fantastic in a chocolate treat, so I have to make this now!
The Real Person!
Thanks Cassie! Truthfully I can't say the concept of that particular chocolate potato dessert never made sense to me, especially since there was no potato in it! It was fun looking though and it made a lot of sense to my taste buds :D -- it was truly delicious.