Frangelico Balls Recipes

Steps:

• In a glass bottle or jar, steep the chopped hazelnuts in the vodka for about 2 weeks in a cool, dark place, gently shaking the bottle every day.
• Gently pour the jar's contents through a regular strainer or sieve, pressing hard on the nuts to release all of their flavor.
• Follow this by two strainings through slightly dampened cheesecloth.
• For true clarity and professional looking results, pour the strained mixture through a large clean coffee filter placed inside a funnel or clean coffee cone; loosely cover with plastic wrap since the process may take several hours.
• In a very small saucepan, combine the sugar and water.
• Bring to a boil over moderately high heat.
• Simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes.
• Let cool to room temperature.
• Stir in the vanilla.
• Funnel the strained hazelnut mixture into a clean, sterilized, glass bottle and then funnel in the sugar syrup.
• Cover tightly; shake to blend.
• Let mature, at room temperature or slightly cooler, for at least three weeks.

Steps:

• For cakes:
• Preheat oven to 300°F. Butter and flour 12 miniature Bundt molds or 12 oversize muffin cups (each about 1-cup capacity). Toss nuts, figs, chocolate and ginger in medium bowl to blend.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1/4 cup Frangelico and orange peel (mixture may look curdled). Sift both flours and salt over batter; mix in. Stir in nut and fruit mixture.
• Divide batter among molds. Bake cakes until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 45 minutes (about 55 minutes if using muffin cups). Turn cakes out onto racks; brush with 1/4 cup liqueur. Cool cakes completely.
• Cut out twelve 10-inch cheesecloth squares. Pour 1 1/2 cups liqueur into small bowl. Dip 1 square into liqueur; squeeze out some but not all liqueur. Wrap 1 cake in liqueur-soaked cheesecloth, then in foil. Repeat dipping and wrapping with remaining cakes, adding more liqueur if needed. Chill at least 1 week and up to 2 weeks. Bring cakes to room temperature before serving.
• For sauce:
• Stir chocolate, 2/3 cup cream and liqueur in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until chocolate melts and sauce is smooth.
• Arrange 1 cake on each plate. Drizzle with sauce. Pipe or spoon whipped cream alongside, if desired, and serve.

Steps:

• 1. Combine chopped hazelnuts, vodka, and brandy in a sealable jar. Shake and let steep at room temperature for 2 weeks.
• 2. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved. Let cool, then add to the hazelnut mixture. Shake and let steep for 3 days, then add the vanilla bean and let steep for additional 3 to 5 days.
• 3. Sample often. Once desired flavor is achieved, strain through sieve and then again through cheesecloth or coffee filter. Refrigerate for up to 2 months.