Over the years, people have experimented with chocolate balls and come up with new variations. One is the “arraksbollar.” These chocolate balls are made with arrack (also known as arak)—a liquor from India—and instead of oats, old bread or cake is crumbled and used for the stuffing. These chocolate balls are usually rolled in chocolate sprinkles. Sometimes they are shaped as sticks instead of balls and coated in green marzipan, with the edges dipped in dark chocolate. This is popularly called a “dammsugare” (a vacuum cleaner…supposedly because some vacuum cleaners used to have the same shape).
As healthy foods have become increasingly popular, healthier versions of chocolate balls have also started appearing. In some recipes the sugar is exchanged for honey or some other sweetener, such as dates (if using a blender) or date syrup. In other recipes, the butter is exchanged for virgin coconut oil. And in some recipes, both fat and sugar is omitted and instead bananas are used as a substitute for both!
There’s also a “milder” version of chocolate balls, with less cacao, which is called oatmeal balls.
People simply add new flavors to the traditional recipe as well. For example, adding some orange essence, chili, or gingerbread spice can give the chocolate balls a flavorful kick!
And if you prefer, you can roll the balls in crushed nuts, cinnamon and sugar, melted chocolate, or even berry powder instead of using the traditional sugar or coconut. An if you're feeling creative, you can shape the dough into animals and turn them into Halloween treats, or treats for your kids/nieces/nephews next birthday party!
Today you can buy the traditional chocolate balls, the healthy versions, and arrack balls in bakeries and supermarkets in Sweden. In fact, we stock all three. We even offer Dave and Jon’s Dates in chocolate ball flavor and have DIG’s super healthy chocolate balls that taste like a dream!