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No-bake Christmas cookies are an ideal choice when you want to delight at the festive table without spending time at the oven. These two types of balls share simple preparation, a beautiful appearance, and an irresistible taste. One variant recalls the well-known Hungarian dessert Gerbeaud (nuts, apricots, chocolate), the other brings the delicacy of poppy seeds and marzipan with a typically Christmas aroma.
Quick facts
- Servings: approx. 40 balls (2 × 20 pieces)
- Preparation time: 30 minutes
- Setting time: 60 minutes
- Total time: 90 minutes
Ingredients
Walnut-apricot balls
- 200 g ground walnuts
- 200 g ground butter cookies
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 5–6 tablespoons apricot jam
- 200 g dark chocolate
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- chopped walnuts or white chocolate for decoration
Poppy balls with marzipan
- 200 g ground poppy seeds
- 200 g ground butter cookies
- 200 ml water
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons fruit jam (cherry, sour cherry)
- grated zest of 1 lemon
- approx. 100 g marzipan paste
- 200 g white chocolate
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ground poppy seeds for sprinkling
- remaining dark chocolate for decoration
Method
Walnut-apricot balls
- In a bowl, mix the ground walnuts, crushed cookies, and powdered sugar.
- Add the apricot jam and work into a firm, pliable mass.
- Shape into small balls and chill briefly to set.
- Melt the chocolate with the oil over a double boiler and dip the balls into it.
- Let set on baking paper and decorate with nuts or white chocolate.
Poppy balls with marzipan
- In a small saucepan, heat the water with the sugar.
- Add the ground poppy seeds, cookies, jam, and lemon zest, stirring until combined.
- Form small marzipan balls to serve as the filling center.
- Shape the poppy mixture around the marzipan into balls.
- Melt the white chocolate with the oil and coat the balls in it.
- Decorate by sprinkling poppy seeds or with strips of dark chocolate.
- Let set in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
These Christmas balls are the kind of treats worth preparing in advance – when chilled they keep for several days and the flavors will meld even more. The walnut-apricot variant will please lovers of traditional tastes, while the poppy-marzipan balls will captivate with their delicacy and aroma, evoking some of the loveliest Christmas moments. They make a great addition to the Christmas plate, adorn the festive table, and also make a delightful edible gift.
