Frangelico Balls Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the crumbs, the first amount of icing sugar, nuts, cocoa and cinnamon; combine well.
• Dissolve coffee in boiling water, then stir in liqueur and vanilla into coffee.
• Mix wet mixture into dry mixture until all ingredients are moistened.
• Shape mixture into one-inch balls (depending on the temperature in your kitchen, you may have to chill mixture first to get them to hold together properly) and roll in either white sugar or icing sugar.
• Keep prepared balls refrigerated in a covered container.
• These will be great straight-off, but will improve if allowed to mellow for at least a day or two before serving.

Steps:

• 1. Combine chopped hazelnuts, vodka, and brandy in a sealable jar. Shake and let steep at room temperature for 2 weeks.
• 2. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved. Let cool, then add to the hazelnut mixture. Shake and let steep for 3 days, then add the vanilla bean and let steep for additional 3 to 5 days.
• 3. Sample often. Once desired flavor is achieved, strain through sieve and then again through cheesecloth or coffee filter. Refrigerate for up to 2 months.

Steps:

• For cakes:
• Preheat oven to 300°F. Butter and flour 12 miniature Bundt molds or 12 oversize muffin cups (each about 1-cup capacity). Toss nuts, figs, chocolate and ginger in medium bowl to blend.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1/4 cup Frangelico and orange peel (mixture may look curdled). Sift both flours and salt over batter; mix in. Stir in nut and fruit mixture.
• Divide batter among molds. Bake cakes until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 45 minutes (about 55 minutes if using muffin cups). Turn cakes out onto racks; brush with 1/4 cup liqueur. Cool cakes completely.
• Cut out twelve 10-inch cheesecloth squares. Pour 1 1/2 cups liqueur into small bowl. Dip 1 square into liqueur; squeeze out some but not all liqueur. Wrap 1 cake in liqueur-soaked cheesecloth, then in foil. Repeat dipping and wrapping with remaining cakes, adding more liqueur if needed. Chill at least 1 week and up to 2 weeks. Bring cakes to room temperature before serving.
• For sauce:
• Stir chocolate, 2/3 cup cream and liqueur in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until chocolate melts and sauce is smooth.
• Arrange 1 cake on each plate. Drizzle with sauce. Pipe or spoon whipped cream alongside, if desired, and serve.