Name of Recipe: Rara's Cherry Bites
Number of People: Approx 30-36 depending on size
Ingredients: 200g glace cherries - Big Sister brand is best
200g condensed milk (half a can)
2.5 to 3 cups of desiccated coconut
1 drop of red food colouring (optional....I use hullabaloo food colourings)
200g good quality dark chocolate (I use cadbury milk)
Preparation: Place cherries in TM and pulse for 1 - 2 seconds. This will depend if you like chunky cherries or a more smooth texture. My kids prefer smooth
Add the rest of the ingredients except the chocolate and
for 20 to 30 seconds on speed 2/3 with the aid of the spatula.
Roll into bite size balls and place on a tray lined with baking paper.
Place in the fridge to harden up (about half an hour)
Melt chocolate (I use the double boiler method as its easier to dip and coat the balls)
Dip and coat balls in chocolate and place on a lined tray (I use the same tray)
Back in the fridge they go for about 20 minutes.
Viola......cherry bites!
Photos:
Tips/Hints: I used a different brand of glace cherries as my stoopidmarket had sold out/discontinued the brand I usually buy. I was disappointed with this batch as it didn't have the "cherry taste" nor the red colour (more like purple
) Big Sister is the best brand to use for this recipe.
Members' CommentsLeeJ - I had the Big Sister here, still used some food coloring, they came up a treat with some milk chocolate.
Took some to a mums group today, there were none left when I left.
My hubby like them 'more' then cherry ripes, apparently the flavour is just right. Thanks Rara, they will be a party favourite, I'm sure.
maddy - YUM Rara!! These were a big hit. I did put 3 cups of coconut into the mix, but found it was not wet enough to roll, so added a little more condensed milk. I think next time I will stick with just the 2 1/2 cups of coconut.
JD - I did the first stage of these last night and will coat them in chocolate this morning. I made 56 balls, how many did you get maddy? I figured the smaller the better calorie wise and I will have even more to give away to others to try. I used latex gloves and mine are the size of a 20 cent piece. Had to melt more chocolate because of the extras though.
I find them moister than the actual Cherry Ripe Bars - my SIL loved his when I gave them to him for Easter and immediately said to my DD, you must get the recipe off your Mum for these.
maddy - I'm fairly sure there would have been around low 40's amount. Will probably halve recipe if they are just for us next time.
Chookie - Rara, had a bread demo today and offered your Cherry Bites with coffee . I'd made 40. What they didn't eat they took home. They loved them. I didn't mind as I love them also. Next time I make them I will put 2 drops of vanilla in. Thanks for this recipe.
MJ - Rather than vanilla, add a couple of drops of cherry flavouring if you can get hold of it.
earthmumma - I loved the idea of this recipe, but really don't like glace cherries. I was in my local wholefood store and - bingo - they had a packet of dried tart cherries. I thought I would try them out. I blitzed some almonds into paste with a little raw sugar, then added the dried cherries and some shredded coconut and blitzed this on speed 7-8 until I liked the look of them. I added a tablespoon of boiling water and stirred them until them came together. I then rolled them into balls (refridge) then melted some chocolate and coated them. They were really yummy and the kids were rapt - didn't make a big batch though about 20. Anyway thanks for the idea - certainly a great treat.
hools003 - WOW... Is all I can say. Impressed the whole family and a neighbour that popped in! I thought I'd finally make these today. I made half dark and half milk chocolate. Dark was more authentic. Think I'll have to make more tomorrow as I still have half a tin of condensed milk left. The batch made disappeared very quickly. Just have to get some more cherries in the morning.
Thanks Rara, they are just brilliant!
JD's dipping method - I used one of those small dessert forks, held it up to let the excess drip back into the bowl then used another fork to push it off onto a tray. I then just added a few more drops of chocolate to fill in any holes in the top. Not messy at all for me.
cookie1 - I cheated and bought a chocolate dipper thing a ma jig from the kitchen store. I'm sure it was less than $10. These were delicious.
johnro - Thanks Rara for this divine sweet bite - DD and I did the dessert and sweet bar for a wedding last night. DD used a choc fondue to keep choc melted and used a choc dipper swirler (I think this is what cookie referred to). The cherry bites looked like rose buds - used both milk and dark chocolate and they were put in a large brandy balloon at the sweets bar.
Chelsea - I made these yesterday for an Easter gift and they are very moorish (I had to sample Grin). I just used two forks and that worked well without any mess. I didn't add the food colouring and they were a nice pinkish colour. I used couverture chocolate as a special (and slightly healthier) touch. I am looking forward to trying them with dried cherries next time.
foodiepep - I made a double batch of these and used a small spiral dipping fork.
Marina - I made these again over the weekend and used a spiral scoop (sorry, useless explanation, I think it's original purpose would have been to remove small cooked or fried items from the wok or pot) which I purchased from one of the local Chinese shops, it made this a whole lot easier than any method I have used in the past. Thanks for the inspiration to try this method everyone.
Millipede - Oh my. I just made a batch. These are delicious. They taste just like a cherry ripe only healthier! They are hand made so they must be healthier right?
RosieB - I gave these a try today with a few little tweaks.
They are for the grandson's 'school breakup party' so I wanted to avoid artificial colours and flavours.
I used Glace Cherries with no colours or flavours so the balls are a creamy colour and a bit bland (I think I will add cherry brandy flavouring for our adult variety) and I rolled them in sprinkles that are also artificial free.
I am happy with the result and DH gave the thumbs up.
nola276 - I think it's official, Rara's Cherry Bites are the 8th wonder of the world Tongue Even Cherry Bites that look like they have battled Hedgehogs, taste great.
Moo2 - Made these tonight. Seriously yummy!!! Had to eat some before I even dipped them in Choc. Will be even better once I have put he Choc on them I am sure. I used the Big Sister as you suggested Rara and they are great. Thanks.
GF - we did enjoy them! They didn't last long at all - made them as part of dessert for a pre Christmas lunch for my daughter and her partner. Did half in milk chocolate and the other half in dark. Couldn't find a Cadbury's dark block so had the Cadbury's milk and Lindt 85% cocoa dark. The milk choc ones tasted fine but I must say that the Lindt was just so much easier to work with and we had the little balls done in half the time it took with the Cadbury's. That little dipper/strainer from the Asian grocery shop was just brilliant for dipping the balls into the chocolate.
snappy - I've just made a batch of these to take over to SIL's house for Christmas lunch tomorrow. DH and the boys are sneaking in and taking a few so I'm hoping there will be at least some left to take - they have the seal of approval from our house.
Delightful Den - I have made these twice. Once with DD helping her make food for a party. They were nice but she had cheeped out on the glace cherries and the colour and flavour were not strong.
The second time I made them as my goodie bag item for the Gracetown Forumfest with a couple of tweeks.
200gms dried cherries
enough cherry brandy to cover
150gm sweetened condensed milk
2.5 to 3 cups desiccated coconut
place cherries into small sauce pan an pour over just enough cherry brandy to cover. I didn't actually cover them completely just about halfway up the sides of the very top cherries in the pan. Heat on a low to medium heat until just starting to boil. Remove from heat and let stand until most of the brandy is absorbed, about an hour or two. Follow Rara's recipe as above.
Oh yeah and after you tip the cherries and unabsorbed brandy into the TM bowl lick the pan clean of all juice.
Zada - Just made these, they are yummy! Thank you.
Amy - I made a triple batch of these for a bake sale fundraiser.
Just a tip for anyone as stupid as me... don't try a triple batch all at once, MESSY.
But I saved the mixture and mum says they taste awesome... "BETTER THAN CHERRY RIPES!!!"
Some are a bit messy, but what can you expect at 1am.
Courton - I am half way through making these. After 3 Hours the mixture is not hard. Maybe the rum soaked cherries have something to do with this.
Leaving it overnight and investing in a choc dipping spoon seems to have done the trick. Thanks everyone. Lindt dark choc made it easy to coat the balls.
Jeninwa - these are a family Christmas favourite. I add 3 drops of cherry essence and red food colouring. So much easier to make than the old days before thermomix.
Obbie - I just made a double batch of these in cherry, and another double batch in apricot. Just need to say YUMMY, went down so well last night.
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