Introducing the delectable world of homemade Ferrero Rocher balls – an irresistible fusion of creamy hazelnut chocolate spread with crunchy wafers and roasted hazelnuts. This all dipped in chocolate and covered with more roasted hazelnuts. Let’s recreate this iconic Ferrero Rocher balls right in your own kitchen.
With a few simple ingredients and a touch of creativity, you can craft these delectable treats that are perfect for special occasions, gifts, or indulgent moments of self-care. Get ready to discover the joy of creating your own little spheres of bliss with our easy-to-follow recipe!
You are going to love this Ferrero rocher balls recipe
Crafting these delectable treats at home allows you to customize them to your preferences. You can adjust the sweetness, nuttiness, or even experiment with different coatings for a unique twist.
These homemade delights make fantastic gifts for special occasions. Whether it’s for birthdays, holidays, or simply to show appreciation, a batch of Ferrero Rocher balls can convey thoughtfulness and love. Making these treats at home can be more budget-friendly than buying the commercial version. You can make a large batch for a fraction of the cost of store-bought ones.
If you’re health-conscious, making them at home allows for healthier ingredient choices. You can opt for dark chocolate, reduce sugar content, or use alternative sweeteners for a guilt-free indulgence.
List of ingredients for Ferrero Rocher balls
Unsalted butter: Serves as the base for the chocolate panache that enrobes the Ferrero Rocher balls. It adds richness and a smooth, creamy texture to the chocolate coating. I prefer using unsalted butter because of the control of the salt content in the recipe. This prevent it from becoming overly salty.
Hazelnut Wafers: Provide a crunchy and nutty element to the Ferrero Rocher’s centre. They contribute to the signature hazelnut flavour and add a delightful texture contrast to the creamy Nutella and roasted hazelnut filling.
Nutella: Serves as the creamy hazelnut filling in the Ferrero Rocher balls. It not only imparts a rich hazelnut taste, but also a smooth and creamy consistency that binds the wafers and roasted hazelnuts together, creating the distinct core of these confections.
Roasted Hazelnuts: Are a star ingredient, providing the authentic nutty flavour and satisfying crunch within the Ferrero Rocher. They are placed at the centre of each ball, encapsulated by the Nutella and wafers, giving the treats their iconic whole hazelnut core.
Roughly Chopped Roasted Hazelnuts: Are used to add a layer of nuttiness and texture to the Ferrero Rocher. They coat the Nutella-covered hazelnut wafer, providing a second layer of nutty goodness and a delightful crunch in every bite.
Milk Chocolate Chips: Is the outermost layer of the Ferrero Rocher, and it serves to provide the smooth, sweet, and glossy coating that encases the entire treat. The quality of the chocolate is crucial to achieving the signature taste and texture of Ferrero Rocher, as it melts in your mouth to reveal the nutty centre.
How to make Ferrero rocher balls from scratch
STEP 1 – Preparing the dough
In a food processor, place hazelnut waffers and pulse few times to break down the wafers. You want to have roughly chopped wafers, not crumbled waffers. You can also break them by hand.
In a microwave safe ceramic bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Stir the butter and start adding rougly chopped hazelnut wafers & Nutella chocolate spread. Mix it all well with a spatula or woden spoon.
Once this mixture is combined together, place food foil over the saucepan and refrigerate for 30 minutes to one (1) hour. TIP: Do not skip this step, we need the chocolate dough to be cold, so it doesn’t stick to the hands.
STEP 2 – Shaping the Ferrero Rocher balls
Take the chocolate dough out of the refrigerator and measure 1 tablespoon of dough for each ball. Place 1 roasted hazelnut inside the dough and shape it in a ball, using palms of your hands.
Place already made balls on a plate or baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes. In the meanwhile you can prepare the chocolate coating by metling the semi-sweet chocolate in a double boiler. If the chocolate is tougher to melt, add 1 teaspoon of butter or coconut oil. Prepare also roughly chopped roasted hazelnuts for coating.
STEP 3 – Coating in chocolate and decorating
Take the chocolate balls from the refrigerator and, with a help of two forks, immerse the Ferrero Rocher balls in the melted chocolate. Once the balls are well coated with chocolate, roll them in roughly chopped roasted hazelnuts. If you wish, you can coat the Ferrero Rocher balls only in chocolate.
Place the finished Ferrero Rocher balls in small paper cups of your choice and serve.
Variations
- Dark Chocolate & Raspberry: Replace the milk chocolate with dark chocolate for a more intense flavour. Add a small amount of raspberry jam to the Nutella filling to introduce a fruity twist. The sweet-tart raspberry complements the richness of dark chocolate and hazelnuts.
- Coconut & Almond: Incorporate shredded coconut into the Nutella filling, and roll the finished Ferrero Rocher balls in finely chopped almonds. This variation adds a tropical flair and extra crunch.
- Coffee & White Chocolate: Mix finely ground coffee or espresso powder into the Nutella for a coffee-infused filling. Use white chocolate for the coating. The coffee flavour pairs beautifully with the creamy sweetness of white chocolate.
- Orange Zest & Grand Marnier: Add a touch of fresh orange zest to the Nutella filling, and for an adult twist, a splash of Grand Marnier (orange liqueur). The citrus notes and liqueur infuse a delightful orange flavour into the Ferrero Rocher.
- Nut-Free Option – Cookie Butter: For those with nut allergies or looking for a nut-free alternative, replace the hazelnuts with crushed graham crackers and use cookie butter instead of Nutella. Roll the balls in crushed graham crackers for a delicious, nut-free variation.
Serving suggestions for Ferrero rocher balls
- These no-baked chocolate candies/truffles are perfect for Christmas table. My family loves them every year for Christmas. If you prefer different coating of Ferrero rocher, you can dip them in dark chocolate, white chocolate or different sorts of nuts.
- Homemade Ferrero rocher balls can be made for gifting as well. Pack them in a decorative food box, lined with decorative wax paper and add touch with a bow on top. Either it’s for Christmas or another special occasion, it makes a great gift!
Storage
To ensure your homemade Ferrero Rocher balls stay fresh and maintain their delicious texture, here’s how you should store them:
- Room Temperature: If you plan to consume the Ferrero Rocher balls within a week or so, you can store them at room temperature in an airtight container. Make sure the container is sealed well to prevent moisture and air from affecting the chocolates. Place a layer of parchment paper or wax paper between the layers of Ferrero Rocher to prevent them from sticking together.
- Refrigeration: If you want to extend the shelf life of your homemade Ferrero Rocher balls, you can store them in the refrigerator. Again, use an airtight container, and if possible, place a piece of parchment paper between the layers. Storing them in the fridge can help them last for a few weeks to a couple of months.
- Freezing: For long-term storage, consider freezing your Ferrero Rocher balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until they’re firm. Then, transfer them to an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag, ensuring they are well protected from moisture and air. When ready to enjoy, allow them to come to room temperature gradually to avoid condensation forming on the chocolate.
- Avoid Moisture and Odors: Whether you store them at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or the freezer, it’s crucial to protect your Ferrero Rocher balls from moisture, strong odors, and direct sunlight. These factors can affect their taste and texture.
By following these storage tips, your homemade Ferrero Rocher balls should stay fresh and delightful for an extended period, allowing you to savor them at your leisure or share them with friends and family.
FAQ
Yes, you can use different types of chocolate based on your preference. Dark chocolate will give a richer and less sweet flavor, while white chocolate will provide a creamier and sweeter coating.
To make nut-free Ferrero Rocher balls, you can replace the hazelnuts with crushed graham crackers or a similar nut-free alternative. Use a nut-free spread instead of Nutella.
You can substitute Nutella with other chocolate or hazelnut spreads available in your region. Alternatively, you can make your own by blending roasted hazelnuts with melted chocolate and sweetener.
Absolutely, you can use pre-made hazelnut wafers or plain wafer cookies. Just make sure they are finely crushed to achieve the desired texture.
When stored properly, these can stay fresh for about a week at room temperature, a few weeks in the refrigerator, or even longer in the freezer. So, they can definitely be made in advance for events.
Work in a cool room and handle the Ferrero Rocher balls quickly to minimize the exposure of the chocolate coating to warmth. You can also chill the balls briefly in the refrigerator if needed.
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HOMEMADE FERRERO ROCHER BALLS
Equipment
- Kitchen bowl
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons (70 g) unsalted butter
- 10 pieces (80 g) hazelnut wafers crushed
- ½ cup (125 g) Nutella chocolate spread
- 15 pieces roasted hazelnuts whole
- 1 cup (100 g) roasted hazelnuts roughly chopped for coating
- 1 cup (225 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips for coating
Instructions
- In a saucepan on a medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and remove from the heat.
- Add in roughly chopped hazelnut wafers and Nutella spread. Mix well with a spoon.
- Cover this mixture with plastic food wrap and cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Take one tablespoon of the chocolate dough, place roasted hazelnut in the middle of the chocolate dough and shape it in a ball in between the palms of your hands.
- Place the Ferrero Rocher balls on a plate and refrigerate for 30 minutes. In the meanwhile, melt the milk chocolate and prepare a bowl of roughly chopped roasted hazelnuts for coating.
- Take the chocolate balls from the refrigerator and, with a help of two forks, immerse the Ferrero Rocher balls in the melted chocolate. Once the balls are well coated with chocolate, roll them in roughly chopped roasted hazelnuts.
- Place the finished Ferrero Rocher balls in small paper cups of your choice. Store in the refrigerator and eat within 10 days.
Notes
- Room Temperature: If you plan to consume the Ferrero Rocher balls within a week or so, you can store them at room temperature in an airtight container. Make sure the container is sealed well to prevent moisture and air from affecting the chocolates. Place a layer of parchment paper or wax paper between the layers of Ferrero Rocher to prevent them from sticking together.
- Refrigeration: If you want to extend the shelf life of your homemade Ferrero Rocher balls, you can store them in the refrigerator. Again, use an airtight container, and if possible, place a piece of parchment paper between the layers. Storing them in the fridge can help them last for a few weeks to a couple of months.
- Freezing: For long-term storage, consider freezing your Ferrero Rocher balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until they’re firm. Then, transfer them to an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag, ensuring they are well protected from moisture and air. When ready to enjoy, allow them to come to room temperature gradually to avoid condensation forming on the chocolate.
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