Chocolate HiFi Buddy Balls—Prototype 2:
 
I updated these bran balls to a yogurt cheese version. I sought out plain, nonfat Market Basket yogurt, because I trusted this store brand. But I could not find this exact product stocked at the Market Basket store where I was shopping at the time. So I settled for a vanilla version. Because of this, I reduced the amounts of vanilla extract and sugar added by the Buddy Balls recipe in an effort to compensate for the vanilla and sugar already included in the yogurt.
 
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup skim milk (heated and combined with the cocoa powder)
16 oz. nonfat vanilla yogurt cheese (derived through straining from 32 oz. of nonfat vanilla yogurt, preferably Market Basket)
7/8 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
8.8 oz. finely ground Bran Buds (last ingredient, mix this one in quickly with vigor)

Let resulting mixture sit for at least 5-10 minutes, perhaps even in the refrigerator. Then form into balls. Refrigerate until firm. Makes about 25-30 (each one close to 1 1/2" in diameter, based upon about 2 ounces per ball).

Chocolate HiFi Buddy Balls—Prototype 2

I prepared these for New Year's Eve as 2013 arrived and brought them to the Italian Community Center in Beverly. Steve's main comment on this recipe: "intense chocolate". Another guest described this one as "decadent".

I also served these treats the following Friday night at Congregation Sar Shalom, my monthly Messianic Jewish congregation, where they were well-received.

Even though no cottage cheese was used in this prototype—just yogurt as the cheese-type ingredient—I did not find any excess tart problems whatsoever with the resulting recipe.
 

Back to my bushy homepage