Bon Bons- Chocolate Covered Cherries

Chocolate Covered Cherries

I wanted to stroll down memory lane and make one of the candies I remember making in the 1960's.   I can remember making Chocolate Covered Cherries for Christmas.  The two things I remembered about them was using mashed potatoes in the filling and using paraffin wax in the chocolate.  I tried to find the original recipe on line, but could not.  So, I am making a take on the old fashioned  chocolate cherry recipe.  They are easy to make with just a few ingredients. The filling is tricky, but found an easy solution by freezing the candy at certain stages in the assembly.  And, it takes a little practice melting the chocolate to just the right consistency when covering the cherries.  I will be making these a tradition and will try different methods of forming the balls and dipping the chocolate until I find just the right technique for a special Holiday treat for my family.

Ingredients:

• 3/8 cup very hot mashed potatoes
• 2 cups each powdered sugar and chopped coconut
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 12-oz. chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Dark Chocolate)
• 1-2 tsp. shortening (Crisco)

(this recipe is from cooks.com)

Printable Version of Recipe:  Bon Bons-Chocolate Covered Cherries PDF

Gather the ingredients.

Measure 2 cups powdered sugar in a bowl.

Add 2 cups chopped coconut.

Measure and add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Add 1 Tbsp. butter.

Drain 1 bottle maraschino cherries with stems.

Add 3/8 cups very hot mashed potatoes.

Mix until thoroughly combined and cool until stiff.
To cool quickly you can put into the freezer.

When mixture is stiff enough to roll into balls, scoop onto  wax paper or mat and roll into balls.

Place drained maraschino cherry in middle and roll filling around it.

 Freeze cherries until filling is solid and can be easily handled.

Melt chocolate chips and Crisco shortening  in microwave in 30 second intervals until melted.

 Spoon chocolate over each cherry.

Let chocolate harden.

Enjoy!

These have a great flavor and are a festive addition to your Christmas Holidays!