If you like Indian sweets, you’ll love these chocolate hazelnut ladoo. Sweet chocolatey balls are covered in hazelnut chocolate and then coated in roasted hazelnuts. If you’ve never tried Indian sweets, now’s the time to do it.
Indian sweets have long held a fascination for me, they are so very different to our own. I got my first taste of them when I was a student living in London where a couple of Indian sweet shops were located just around the corner from the faculty building. Later on, when I lived in the Midlands, I was surrounded by balti houses and Indian supermarkets, so I was able to indulge from time to time.
Indian Sweet Challenge
Now I live back home in Cornwall, I no longer have that option. Luckily Devnaa, an online purveyor of Indian inspired confectionery, has come to the rescue. Indian-Inspired Desserts, their book written by co-founder Roopa Rawal means I can now make my own.
I was recently sent a signed copy of the book along with the ingredients to make two specific sweets. Both contain chocolate. The recipes were kindly bookmarked and the ingredients all weighed and ready to go. If only things were this easy normally. In true Devnaa style, the ingredients arrived in bright pink bags which match both the colour used in the book and on the accompanying box of chocolates. Oops, didn’t I mention the box of chocolates? An unexpected gesture and much appreciated.
It must be the time of year, because last September I made blackberry barfi by adapting a recipe from this very book. This time around, I tried hard to follow the recipe for once and I mostly succeeded. The process was enjoyable, less messy than making truffles and a lot easier than I was expecting it to be.
Chocolate Hazelnut Ladoo
The recipe was mostly easy to follow, although I needed to interpret quite a bit of it. However, overall I was really pleased with the result.
I was particularly pleased with the result of the chocolate coating which looked shiny and enticing. With the problems I’ve been having tempering chocolate, the shiny surface produced was an unexpected bonus – it looked tempered, even though it wasn’t. It was almost a shame to cover it with the roasted nuts.
But I’m glad I did as they were an integral part of the experience. They not only augmented the flavour, but gave a crunchy contrast to the chewy interior. I now realise I should have chopped them a little more finely as I only had enough to coat ten ladoos. Lesson learned. But, it must be said, I quite liked the chunky nature of my creations.
The centres were not soft like a truffle, but firm with the texture of the Indian sweets I remember. Spending time chewing on these was a real delight, in fact they ought to carry a health warning about their addictive qualities. Surprisingly they weren’t overly sweet. Chocolatey and creamy with a strong flavour of hazelnuts, I shall be making these again.
I really enjoyed this challenge and would like to thank Devnaa for encouraging me to make some sweets I might not otherwise have attempted. I’ve also now made the Pistachio and Chocolate Kachori.
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Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make these chocolate hazelnut ladoo, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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Choclette x
Chocolate Hazelnut Ladoo. PIN IT.
Chocolate Hazelnut Ladoo – The Recipe
Chocolate Hazelnut Ladoos
Ingredients
- 220 g condensed milk
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 100 g milk powder
- 60 g skinned hazelnuts
- 100 g milk chocolate drops
- 1 tbsp chocolate hazelnut spread
Instructions
- Stir the condensed milk in a medium saucepan over a low heat with the milk and cocoa until smooth.
- Add the milk powder and continue to stir over a low heat for about ten minutes until the mixture is cooked and comes together in a ball. Leave until cool enough to handle but still warm.
- Take a teaspoonful of the mixture at a time and roll into balls between the palms of your hands – you should get 18 balls.
- Place on a wire rack, cover with baking parchment and leave to cool completely.
- Toast the hazelnuts by dry frying in a pan over a medium heat for about 8 minutes, shaking from time to time to ensure they don’t burn.
- Leave to cool, then finely chop with a knife and put into a small bowl.
- Melt the chocolate buttons gently in a bowl suspended over a pan of hot water. Stir until smooth. Remove from the heat then add the chocolate hazelnut spread.
- Dip the ladoos into the chocolate and remove with a fork. Tap the fork on the side of a bowl to remove as much of the surplus chocolate as possible.
- Roll in the nuts, then place back on the rack to set.
Chloe Edges says
Oh wow, I’ve never even heard of ladoo! But they look delicious. I’m totally intrigued by the texture too!
Choclette says
It’s very similar to the barfi, which you also haven’t tried. But not quite as firm.
bn100 says
This looks tasty and fun to make
Baking Addict says
I’ve never been a fan of Indian sweets but these look quite tempting!
Galina Varese says
Heavenly! Hazelnuts are probably my most favourite nuts, will have to try this recipe
David Shams says
Looks really delicious! Nice combination of chocolate and hazelnuts yummy 🙂
Miss C Flash says
These look delicious! I love Indian sweets, so sweet and delicious 🙂 x
Alida says
Wow they look amazing! They must melt in your mouth ever so nicely…yum!
Brogan says
These look really lovely! I’m going to do this sort of thing for Christmas stocking fillers! xx
Foodycat says
What a beautiful concoction!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Don’t think my comment went through there. I was just saying the last photo was my undoing!
Hazel - Chicken in a Cherry Sauce says
Very interesting. I’ve never tried Indian sweets before. The gloss is beautiful! They sound lovely, will definitely be on the look out!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I’ve never heard of these but now I want one! How pretty!
Nazima FranglaisKitchen says
these look so beautiful. I think I like the look of these more than traditional ladoo. Well done on your Indian dessert making. Chocolate Gulab Jamun next? x