Chocolate balls from Sweden – a savoury chocolate temptation.
“Chokladbollar” in Sweden
Chokladbollar are absolute classics of the Swedish bakery. Chocolate balls are standard in most Swedish cafés and it is hard to imagine the confectioners’ refrigerated display cases without them. These chocolate balls from Sweden are not only very delicious and savoury, but they are also very easy to prepare.
Almost every Swede has eaten or prepared chokladbollar at some time or another. For many Swedish parents it is customary to introduce children to baking and kneading the dough together, and rolling it into balls. A quick sense of achievement, and above all tasty.
How to NOT call chokladbollar (anymore)
How you should rather not call the chocolate ball in Sweden – but many Swedes do
Not so long ago, the chokladboll was still called “negerboll“, i.e. negerballs. In 2003, a naming debate arose when a Swedish pastry chef was charged with discrimination. Generally speaking, the only name you can find in Swedish cafés today is chokladbollar. But some Swedes make jokes behind closed doors and tell each other that they are hungry for “negerbollar“.
Eating chokladbollar
Trying a Swedish chocolate ball should definitely be on your to-do list for your next holiday in Sweden – as well as kanelbullar and Princess Cake. In case you can’t wait until then and your mouth is already watering, here’s the simple chokladbollar recipe:
Swedish chocolate balls, chokladbollar recipe
Duration: about 20 min
Ingredients
• 150 gr butter (room temperature)
• 2 dl sugar
• 1.5 teaspoon vanilla sugar
• 4-5 teaspoons cocoa (unsweetened)
• 3.5 dl oat flakes
• 1 dl grated coconut
• 2-3 tablespoons strong coffee (cold)
• or water
• or orange juice
Garnishing
• Coconut flakes
• Alternative: granulated sugar
Preparation
Mix the soft butter, sugar and vanilla sugar. Add cocoa, oat flakes and cold coffee and mix well. Roll the finished tough dough into small balls. If the dough is too soft, you can let it cool down a little in the fridge before rolling it. Then roll the balls into plates filled with granulated sugar or coconut flakes so that the garnish remains evenly distributed on the ball.
Then keep them in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before eating them.
Shelf life: in the refrigerator at least 3 weeks, in the freezer at least 3 months.
Coconut or granulated sugar – which chokladboll is the most popular?
According to a confectioner in Växjö, the chocolate ball with granulated sugar is, on the whole, a little more popular in Sweden than the coconut variant.
Swedish baking
Hungry for more? Check out other delicious Swedish recipes.
More about Sweden
- Sweden FAQ – basic facts and knowledge
- Sweden travel guide
- Speak Swedish – basic words & phrases you should know
