Chocolate Lebkuchen Cherry Balls

Name: Chocolate Lebkuchen Cherry Balls
Prep time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 5 dozen
Cuisine: Europe, German
Ingredients: 40 gingersnap cookies; 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened; 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided; 1-1/4 cups sliced almonds, divided; 2 tablespoons chopped candied orange peel; 1 teaspoon almond extract; 60 maraschino cherries, stems removed

TEST KITCHEN APPROVED

3 Reviews

Total Time:Prep: 45 min. + chilling

By Taste Of Home Editorial Team

Recipe by Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

Tested by Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated on Sep. 12, 2022

Here’s my twist on the traditional German holiday lebkuchen—with a surprise inside. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

TEST KITCHEN APPROVED

Chocolate Lebkuchen Cherry Balls

Contest Winner

3 Reviews Add your review

Yield:5 dozen

Prep:45 min

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Ingredients

40 gingersnap cookies
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided
1-1/4 cups sliced almonds, divided
2 tablespoons chopped candied orange peel
1 teaspoon almond extract
60 maraschino cherries, stems removed

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Directions

1
Place gingersnaps, cream cheese, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 cup almonds, orange peel and extract in a food processor; process until combined. Refrigerate until firm enough to form into balls. Pat cherries dry with paper towels. Wrap each cherry with a rounded tablespoon of cream cheese mixture; shape into a ball. Freeze until balls are firm, about 20 minutes.

2
Chop remaining sliced almonds; set aside. In a double boiler, melt remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Dip cherry balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle balls with almonds. Place on waxed paper. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.