Chocolate pinecones: The no‑bake holiday treat kids love
Chocolate pinecones are a delightful decoration for the holiday table. They're better than natural pinecones—not only because you can eat them, but also because you can make them to the exact size you need. Preparing this small holiday touch allows the magic of Christmas to be felt by your entire family.
When the oven is running at full capacity before the holidays, a dessert that doesn't require baking is a balm for the heart. It makes everything in the kitchen take a favorable turn, as another item on the list is ready in no time. This dessert wins the hearts of kids because of one specific ingredient.
Sweets that adorn the holiday table
The most popular sweet decoration for Christmas is iced gingerbread cookies. But they're not the only treats that look great among Christmas dishes. The group of tasty decorations also includes chocolate pinecones. You make them similarly to pralines. Sprinkled with confectioner's sugar, they look like they're dusted with snow.
Why do kids love chocolate pinecones?
For sweet pinecones, you'll need chocolate cereal shells. Choose ones with the best ingredients, meaning a high content of whole grains and minimal sugar. Avoid glucose syrup and palm oil, which consists of about 50% saturated fatty acids.
It's best to prepare the dough for pinecones in a water bath, using a metal bowl suspended over the rim of a pot of boiling water.
Ingredients:
- 11 oz of cocoa biscuits
- 5 oz of soft butter
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa
- 5 oz of dark chocolate
- 2 oz of heavy cream
- 1 package of chocolate breakfast cereal
- confectioner's sugar
Instructions:
- Crush the biscuits into a powder—use a blender to speed up the process.
- Melt the chopped chocolate in a water bath, then mix it with butter and cream to create a smooth texture. Add cocoa, mix thoroughly, and remove from the stove.
- Add the crushed biscuits to the thick chocolate cream.
- Shape the mixture into balls with your hands and form them into pinecone shapes.
- Insert the chocolate cereal into the finished pralines, starting from the top.
- Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar and store in the refrigerator until hardened.
