Description
Sweet holiday magic comes alive with christmas chocolate pecan pie balls, combining rich pecans and chocolate in bite-sized festive treats. Small confections deliver intense flavor and delightful seasonal cheer you’ll savor with each delectable morsel.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Base:
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup melted butter
Nuts and Crumbs:
- 1.5 cups pecans
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Binding and Coating:
- 1/3 cup cream cheese
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup white chocolate (for coating)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Pulse pecans in a food processor until finely ground, creating a sandy texture without large chunks.
- Melt chocolate chips and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and glossy.
- Incorporate cocoa powder into the melted chocolate mixture, whisking until completely integrated and free of lumps.
- Add cream cheese, honey, vanilla extract, and salt to the chocolate base, mixing until the mixture becomes a uniform, silky consistency.
- Fold in graham cracker crumbs and ground pecans, stirring until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Refrigerate the mixture for 20-30 minutes to firm up, making it easier to shape into balls.
- Using clean hands, roll the chilled mixture into compact, uniform spheres approximately 1-inch in diameter.
- Melt white chocolate in a double boiler or microwave, stirring carefully to prevent burning.
- Gently dip each chocolate pecan ball into the melted white chocolate, ensuring complete coverage.
- Place coated balls on a parchment-lined tray and sprinkle with additional finely chopped pecans for decoration.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set the white chocolate coating and firm up the balls.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, allowing flavors to meld and texture to stabilize.
Notes
- Grind pecans finely to ensure a smooth, consistent texture without large chunks that might disrupt the ball’s delicate structure.
- Use room temperature cream cheese for easier blending and a more uniform mixture without lumps or uneven distribution.
- Chill the mixture thoroughly before shaping to prevent sticky hands and help maintain the perfect ball shape during rolling.
- Melt chocolate carefully at low temperatures to avoid burning, which can cause a grainy or separated coating.
- Consider using dairy-free white chocolate and vegan cream cheese for a plant-based version that maintains the rich, decadent flavor profile.
- Pat excess white chocolate off gently after dipping to create a cleaner, more professional-looking finish.
- Experiment with different nut coatings like crushed candy canes or toasted coconut for festive seasonal variations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Rolling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg