Swedish Chocolate Balls Recipe – Chokladbollar

Swedish Chocolate balls, a beloved Swedish classic found in every coffee shop, are among the most popular sweet treats in Sweden and the easiest treat to make at home! Made using simple ingredients, Swedish Chokladbollar are often the first thing a Swedish child learns to make, and this is a great recipe to start with.

My best tips for making delicious chocolate balls

• You can adjust the sweetness to suit the occasion. Because this is a no bake recipe,  using less sugar won’t affect the finished result.
  
• Choose a size that works for you! The chocolate balls found at  Swedish bakeries, restaurants, and cafes are often really big! When they are homemade, they’re usually smaller, about the size of a table tennis ball.
  
• They can be rolled in a variety of toppings. Choose between pearl sugar ( crystallized white sugar pearls), shredded coconut, coconut flakes, colorful cake sprinkles,  sesame seeds, unsweetened cacao powder, cocoa powder sweetened with a little powdered sugar, and finely chopped nuts. They can also be without toppings!
  
• If you’re making these for a crowd, you can use gluten-free oats and plant-based butter or coconut oil to accommodate any allergies and refrain from using sesame seed or nut toppings.
  
• If you plan to make a large batch, you can use a hand mixer for speed and convenience. The traditional recipe varies in how it is made. Many recipes call for chunky oats; some require a food processor to make a smoother paste. We like chewy oats and, therefore, mix these by hand. 

Ingredients 

• 1.5 Sticks / 170g Butter – At room temperature.
• 5 Tablespoons Cacao powder—For the best flavor, Use high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder. The original recipe calls for 3 tablespoons.
• 1.5 Cups / 120g rolled oats— Quick-cooking oats are smaller and often easier to form balls with, but we prefer whole-rolled oats, as they make chocolate balls with the best texture.
• 1/3 Cup / 70g brown sugar – regular sugar, coconut sugar, or maple syrup work too. I find the traditional recipe, which uses 1/2 cup of sugar, to be too sweet and have reduced the amount of sugar slightly.  
• 3 Tablespoons Cold, strong coffee – If you’re making these with kids, you can either use decaffeinated coffee or substitute it with cold water.
• Pinch of salt 
• Optional: 1/2 cup shredded coconut, pearl sugar (crystallized white sugar), sesame seeds, cacao powder, chopped oats or chopped nuts. 

Equipment 

• Large bowl 
  Optional:
• Electric mixer
• Food processor.

Method

1. In a large bowl, mix the butter, sugar, oatmeal, and cacao powder with a fork or an electric hand mixer.
2. Add the cold coffee and mix thoroughly. If the mixture seems too dry, add a teaspoon of water. If it seems too wet, add a few tablespoons of oats.
3. Rest the mixture for 10 minutes to allow it to absorb the liquid.
4. Using clean hands, roll the mixture into small balls.
5. Fill a small bowl with shredded coconut and roll or dip each chocolate ball until covered.

 You can also make these using a food processor, blending the ingredients to a smooth, thick paste—just enough to combine them!

Serving tips and storage 

Swedes are famous for their Fika (the Swedish word for coffee break). Enjoy these simple chocolate balls with a cup of coffee, a glass of milk, A Babyccino, or Nordic Spiced Hot Chocolate. We prefer to serve them at room temperature, but they can also be served chilled. If you’re making them ahead of time, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Variations 

This is our family’s favorite recipe, but feel free to experiment with different flavors and ingredients to find your own favorites! Here are a few ideas;

Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, vanilla sugar, a handful of dark chocolate chips to the mixture. OR for a healthier treat add some pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or some dried cranberries.