RICH CHOCOLATE CRUMBLE BALLS

Still looking for an easy dessert recipe that shouts ‘I LOVE YOU’ without making you labor like a pro French pastry chef? Want something romantic that will end the dinner on a high note and yet won’t be too obvious like a crème brulee or a chocolaty fudge? Well, let me share a memorable and manageable and yet creative and thoughtful recipe that will make your partner fall in love with you all over again this Valentines Day! The magic dessert I am talking about is rich Chocolate Crumble Balls. 

Chocolate Crumble Balls

Ingredients for Ice Cream Balls

• Hot fudge sauce
• One and a half quarts of vanilla ice cream
• One and a half cups of chocolate cookie crumbs

Ingredients for Hot Fudge Sauce

• A teaspoon of vanilla extract
• An ounce of 6 squares of unsweetened chocolate
• Two and a half cups of unsifted powdered sugar
• 5 ounces or one can of evaporated milk
• Half cup butter

Procedure for Ice Cream Balls

To make cookie crumbs, you have to get hold of cream-filled sandwich cookies available in all grocery stores (look for brands like Oreos) and then you have to grind or crush the cookies till they are reduced to fine crumbs.

Take a medium scoop and scoop out 8 balls of ice cream and immediately coat the ice cream balls with cookie crumbs. Place the cookie crumbs covered ice cream balls on a decorative serving dish and pour hot fudge sauce on top. You need not pour the extra left over hot fudge sauce on the ice cream balls.

If you want, you may freeze the cookie crumbs covered ice cream balls in the refrigerator to prevent them from thawing.

Procedure for Hot Fudge Sauce

Take a pan, place it on mild heat and melt butter in it. Pour in chocolate, powdered sugar and evaporated milk and stir continuously. Heat the mixture for about half an hour till the chocolate melts completely. Don’t forget to stir frequently.

Then remove the mixture from heat, toss in the vanilla extract and vigorously stir the sauce. This fudge sauce tastes best when it is served hot over cold desserts and at room temperatures. You can preserve this sauce for an indefinite period in the refrigerator.   

Decorating Tip

Adding nut crumbs, colorful fruit pieces or fruit compote and a caramel wafer curl can work wonders for the visual appeal of this simple dessert dish. Place the sauce covered vanilla ice cream balls on a clear, transparent glass dish or in a martini glass, arrange the fruit compote on the sides of the ice cream balls, sprinkle nut crumbs on top and sign off by placing a wafer curl on top as an aesthetic finishing touch. Drop dead delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!