italian chocolate balls (tuttu balls)

Ingredients

• Servings: 48
• 1/2 pound almonds
• 8 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 pound unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups shortening
• 6 eggs
• 1 (6 ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• frosting:
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 tablespoon water, or as needed

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Ready Time: 1 hr 45 mins


• preheat oven to 375 degrees f (190 degrees c). spread almonds a baking sheet.
• bake almonds until toasted and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. remove baking sheet from oven and cool almonds slightly; chop.
• sift flour 2 times. mix cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together with flour in a bowl. beat white sugar, shortening, and eggs together in a separate bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
• mix creamed mixture into flour mixture. add almonds, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract to flour mixture and mix well using your hands or a large spoon until dough holds together and is smooth. roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet.
• bake in the oven until bottoms are slightly brown, about 10 minutes. transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
• stir confectioners' sugar and almond extract together in a bowl; add enough water to make a thin frosting. roll cookies in the frosting and place on a wire rack to dry.