Every single day Christmas gets closer and closer and I get more and more excited! Throughout the year I put aside ideas and recipes to consider as part of my ‘Day of Christmas Cooking Madness’. I set aside one day early to mid December and go nuts in the kitchen making 5…. 6…. 7…. finger sized treats to see me, family and friends through the Christmas season. I like to make them a few weeks before Christmas and enjoy them during the lead up rather then on the day because there is always SOOOOO much food on Xmas day that you don’t really get a chance to savor these little treats they way they deserve.
So what is on my list this year? Cherry Coconut Bon Bons are!! These little bites are just delicious! Gooey cherry coconut mixture encased by a crunchy dark chocolate shell. I like to think they are similar to the Australia candy bar ‘Cherry Ripe’.
One thing is certain about these little balls: their success all comes down to the kind of Coconut flakes you use. You will lose texture if you use the desiccated variety, I used ‘McKenzies Moist Flakes Coconut’ (which the good people at McKenzie were kind enough to provide) they are long strips of sweetened shredded coconut but aren’t dry like shredded coconut usually is. I use them in most cases where coconut is called for when baking/treat making: they are great for ensuring my cupcakes and cakes stay moist and provide great texture: they really make the Coconut Almond Bars I made recently.
For more details on the McKenzie’s Moist Flakes Coconut visit the McKenzie’s website.
Cherry Coconut Bon Bons
Ingredients
- 200ml (7 fl oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/2tsp cherry brandy flavoring or cherry flavoring
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup icing (confectioners) sugar, sifted
- 300g (11 oz) McKenzie’s Moist Flakes Coconut
- 350g (12 oz) red glace cherries, diced finely
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut for rolling
- 450g (16 oz ) dark chocolate suitable for coating
Method
- Line a 23cm x 33cm (9 x13-inch) slice pan with baking paper.
- Combine condensed milk, cherry flavoring, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl.
- Add icing sugar and stir with a wooden spoon until fully incorporated.
- Add ‘Moist Flakes Coconut’ & glace cherries and stir until combined.
- Chill mixture in refrigerator until easy to mold, about 1 hour. Take 1 tablespoon of mixture at a time and roll into balls, then roll in desiccated coconut.
- Line a cookie tray with baking paper.
- Melt the chocolate and dip the balls into the chocolate, covering completely, and place them on the prepared tray until set. Store finished balls in the refrigerator.
They look so cute and colorful. I love their pink color on the inside.
These look so yummy!! I love coconut in almost anything and I love chocolate so this is definitely my sort of treat!! I love that the inside is pink- it’s really pretty =) These would be good for valentines day too!
They would be good for Valentines day! The pink is just from the red glace cherries – no food colouring needed
They look so delightfully Christmassy too! Well done!
These chocolate pralines look so pretty and delish!
Gosh these look amazing. You’ve inspired me to make my own chocolates now.
My hubby loves coconut so much. I know he’d go crazy for those. Yours looks heavenly. They should belong to the museumof art
Great job.
These look devine! What a great idea to share baked treats leading up the Christmas day. Everybody’s busy trying to get ready and sometimes we all just need a little bit of chocolate or sugar to help get us through. I’m bookmarking…thanks!
They sound so rich, but would make a lovely home-made gift for someone with a sweet tooth!
I’ve tried bon bons a few times, but never have tried cherry and coconut. This might be on my Christmas baking adventure list!
Yum! Those look perfectly delightful and delicious – and very, very professional!
Those look so divine! Perfect for Christmas.
Cheers,
Rosa
I’ve never seen those coconut flakes before, are they new? The cherry bites look dangerously good – I’d make them bigger to stop myself eating too many!
These look gorgeous and I’ll be looking for those coconut flakes in our supermarket – desiccated coconut is usually a bit too dry for my tastes.
How delicious are these!!!! Definately to make! I am very interested in your chooks! I feel the same about eggs and since my supply of “homegrown eggs” dried up ( my Dad’s chooks) I have been searching for good eggs! I really think the only way is having your own chooks. Can’t beat them for flavour and freshness!
The very first thing I thought upon seeing this post was “Cherry Ripes!” so you’re absolutely right in that regard. I must make these for my dad… he loves Cherry Ripes (and I already made him cherry ripe cookies, so clearly need to be more creative now!)
ahh ha, I posted the biscuit version of these today! They look delicious Susan.
I agree! I go baking crazy a few weeks before Christmas. I’m bookmarking these beauties for my pre-Christmas madness. They look so delicious…and you know I adore coconut. Thanks for sharing love!
Oh YUM! These are lovely. I use this brands for my coconut desserts too
I love cherries, i love coconuts, this sounds divine!
These look amazing!! I must try and remember these for my Xmas boxes.
This look delicious! gloria
ohhh yes, these little bites are addictive! I guarantee they will not last long!!
Thanks for the great comments, let me know what you think of them when you make them
Yummy, if I wasn’t soo full from your pancakes Susan I would have eaten lots of these. Cherry ripe is my favourite chocolate. I look forward to Christmas
Von
YUM! These look amazing. I love how your pictures are so perfect – if I tried to make anything like this, it would be a spattery, uneven mess.
Oh Yessss please!!! These sound great. I’m the same, I love having a weekend cook-a-thon in the lead up to Christmas too. Love the ingredients in your Coconut Cherry Bon Bons…
OMG, those are gorgeous and look delectable. Would make a great addition to my holiday sweet baskets!
These are such pretty treats! I love the pink color, and the cherry and coconut filling sounds great.
Oh MY GOODNESS! I love these! They are so cute. Kinda retro don’t you think? Just the perfect thing to use those sometimes wretched marchino cherries. I think these are going into my Christmas boxes this year!
I think these are going to have to be a new addition to my Christmas cooking. Awesome that they are gluten free
I got this email from Tessa today:
Hi Susan!
I’ve just seen your cherry bon bons in one of the christmas recipe posts. They look delicious!
I’m just wondering if you could tell me where i can find cherry flavouring? I’ve tried a couple supermarkets with no luck
Thank you !
Tessa
I thought I would include my reply just in case any else is having trouble finding the Cherry flavouring.
My Reply:
Hi Tessa,
I bought Queen brand ‘Cherry Brandy Liqueur Style Flavoring’ in the baking isle from either Woolworths (safeway) or coles. But I can’t seem to find it on their website.
I have found it on the Coles website. Here is a pic of what it looks like:
http://www.myfoodobsession.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/7325499.jpg
Hope this helps