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All right, I know this was only supposed to be a cookie recipe exchange, but the power of Santa compels me to share my Italian American aunt's killer "Frangelico Balls."
I suspect it was either her allegiance to the old country or a whacked out jones for hazelnuts that made her tweak the classic rum ball recipe.
So yeah, there's no actual baking required and these are technically considered candy, but we're talking alcoholic candy.
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
FRANGELICO BALLS
3 cups of vanilla wafer crumbs
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup chopped hazelnuts
¼ cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
½ cup Frangelico liqueur *
¼ cup light corn syrup
Mix cookie crumbs, sugar, nuts and cocoa well. Stir in liquor and corn syrup. Form into quarter size balls and roll in powdered sugar or cocoa. Chill in the fridge until hardened and then serve with a nice cuppa espresso.
A word of caution: Frangelico is a particularly sweet liqueur. Rolling these things in powdered sugar goes way beyond gilding the lily, but my Aunt did it anyway. I suggest using the bittersweet cocoa powder to cut through the sugar shock.
*This treat is not recommended for diabetics, alchies and the kiddies--trust me.