ITALIAN CHOCOLATE BALLS (TUTTU BALLS)

Italian Chocolate Balls (Tuttu Balls) image

Delicious round chocolate Italian cookies. Store cookies in a sealed can or cookie jars.

Provided by Sam Scopellite

Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian

Time 1h45m

Yield 48

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

½ pound almonds
8 cups all-purpose flour
¼ pound unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups white sugar
1 ½ cups shortening
6 eggs
1 (6 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar
¼ teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon water, or as needed

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spread almonds onto a baking sheet.
Bake almonds until toasted and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven and cool almonds slightly; chop.
Sift flour 2 times. Mix cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together with flour in a bowl. Beat white sugar, shortening, and eggs together in a separate bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
Mix creamed mixture into flour mixture. Add almonds, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract to flour mixture and mix well using your hands or a large spoon until dough holds together and is smooth. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet.
Bake in the oven until bottoms are slightly brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Stir confectioners' sugar and almond extract together in a bowl; add enough water to make a thin frosting. Roll cookies in the frosting and place on a wire rack to dry.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 238.6 calories, Carbohydrate 34 g, Cholesterol 24.3 mg, Fat 10.2 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 4.7 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 122.9 mg, Sugar 15.8 g