Makes: 8 bonbons
Ingredients:
- 8 Medjool Dates (we use our “Grinders” for this), pitted
- 1 scoop (about 1/2 cup) vanilla ice cream
- 4 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (or 1 cup chocolate chips)
You will need:
Mini cupcake liners
Pastry big fitted with medium piping tip (or large ziptop bag)
Toothpicks
Parchment paper
Line a mini muffin tin with 8 paper liners (this will help with clean-up).
Scoop the ice cream into a piping bag fitted with a medium piping tip. (Alternatively, fill a large ziptop bag and snip off the very tip of a bottom corner). Use your hands to massage the ice cream into the bottom corner of the bag. This will also warm it up enough for piping.
Working quickly, pipe a small amount of ice cream into each date, stopping when it starts to ooze out of the top. (If your hand gets too cold to pipe, wrap a dish towel around the piping bag). Thread a toothpick through the center of each date, then transfer to the mini muffin tin. Repeat with remaining dates and ice cream. Freeze until the ice cream is completely solid, at least one hour.
Place the chocolate in a small microwave bowl and microwave on HIGH in 30 second bursts, stirring at each interval, until melted. Line a baking sheet or plate that will fit in the freezer with parchment paper.
Holding the toothpick so the date is horizontal to the bowl, lower the date into the chocolate. Flip to coat the other side. Remove the date, letting any excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Use a second toothpick to push the date off of the toothpick and onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dates.
Freeze until the chocolate is set, about 10 minutes, then transfer to the empty 9-oz Grinders cup and return to the freezer for storage.
Variations:
- Jamocha Almond Fudge: Use coffee ice cream and push a salted almond into the center halfway through piping.
- Rocky Road: Use chocolate ice cream and push a mini marshmallow into the center halfway through piping.
Dairy-free version: Use vegan ice cream and dairy-free chocolate, such as Hu Kitchen
Recipe & photos: Grace Elkus @graceelkus