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raffaello balls on a small white plate with almonds around it.
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5 from 13 votes

Homemade Raffaello Balls (3 Ingredients)

Make our homemade Raffaello balls - coconut, condensed milk, and an almond center. Perfect for Christmas gifts!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time3 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American, German
Servings: 30 raffaello balls
Calories: 116kcal
Author: Adina

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 30 whole almonds Note 1
  • about 3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut 250 g/ 8.5 oz, Note 2
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk 400 g/ 14 oz
  • cup shredded coconut extra for coating the balls

Instructions

  • Roast the almonds in a small pan without adding any fat. Shake the pan often until the almonds are golden on both sides. Don't leave them unattended; this will only take a few minutes and burn in seconds if you don’t watch out. Transfer them to a plate immediately and let them cool.
  • Mix the coconut and the sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl. Leave it to stand for about 10 minutes so the shredded coconut completely absorbs the milk.
  • Shape the balls (Note 2). Take a small amount of the coconut mixture in your hand, flatten it, place a roasted almond in the middle, and roll the ball. The ball should be more or less the size of a larger cherry or the size of a real Raffaello.
  • Roll the balls into the extra coconut in a bowl and place them on a platter.
  • Chill the balls for a few hours until they become firm. Store them in an airtight container and keep them refrigerated.

Notes

  1. Almonds: You will need one for each ball. Blanched almonds look nicer because they are perfectly white, fitting the whole truffle. However, whole almonds that still have their thin brown skin on are also great.
  2. Coconut: Shredded coconut typically weighs around 70 g/2.5 oz per cup, while desiccated coconut weighs about 90 g/3 oz per cup. While it's not essential, adjusting the amount of coconut used helps achieve the desired mixture consistency. Knowing these differences can be helpful in preparing the mixture.
  3. Shaping the mixture is easier if you dampen your hands slightly with water or rub them with coconut oil. This helps reduce the mixture from sticking to your hands.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ball | Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 0.4mg