Congratulations to our winner - Vintage Mum - drawn via random.org
Every year for as long as I can remember my grandmother made what we called 'Molly's Balls'. A yummy Christmas treat which she must have spent months making as we each got a filled tin and last count I think she must have made at the least 20 tins for grandchildren and her daughters (not sure if the spouses got their own tins which would really have hiked up the number).
When Molly passed away I decided I would carry on the tradition in my own family, the only problem being, I had never learned the art from Molly herself and trust me as a non baker - it is an art.
After many failed years I finally realized I was reading the recipe incorrectly (dah) and last year made the perfect Molly's Balls!
I am now determined that my own kids will learn the skill and pass it on to their kids and my grandmothers memory will live on. Especially as my son says he is having 10 kids so that they can have heaps of Molly's balls!
Leave me a comment about your own family traditions and I will put you into the draw to win a BabyBaby Tote bag.
Molly's Balls Recipe NZ/US
1/4 pound of butter/ 1 stick of butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 1/2 - 2 cups finely crushed vanilla wines/honey graham crackers
3 teaspoons of cocoa
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tin of condensed milk
24 marshmallows cut in half/in the US I buy Kraft holiday marshmallows and use them whole.
A bowl of dessicated coconut/organic coconut (the organic is finer than regular which will work too).
Melt the butter and mix with the vanilla, cocoa, sugar, condensed milk.
with damp fingers roll a teaspoon of mixture around a marshmallow and form into a ball.
Roll ball in coconut (finely crushed nuts also works well).
Set on a tray lined with greaseproof paper/parchment or wax paper
Once all balls are made refrigerate.
NOTE: If mix gets too dry during process place bowl in sink filled with hot water.
You can freeze the balls for later consumption.
I double the mix - needed in our family!
