12 Recipes of Christmas: Chocolate rum balls

Would it even be Christmas without rum balls? Not in my house!

I can’t go giving away family secrets, so I came up with this little twist on the festive season favourite. It’s another of those great edible gifts you can offer up to neighbours, co-workers, family members who seem to have everything, and members of your social club.

Makes 15-20.

Ingredients

• 200g dark cooking chocolate
• 1/4 cup cream
• 30g butter
• 50g basic chocolate cake crumbed
• 2 tsp rum
• 1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles or crushed candy cane pieces

Method

1. Place the chocolate in a bowl.
2. Combine the cream and butter in a small pan and stir over low heat until the butter melts and the mixture is just boiling.
3. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth.
4. Stir in the cake crumbs and rum.
5. Refrigerate for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until just firm enough to handle.
6. Roll heaped teaspoons of the mixture into balls.
7. Spread the chocolate sprinkles on a sheet of greaseproof paper. Carefully roll each rum ball in the sprinkles, then place on tray.
8. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.