Bonbons à la noix de coco et chocolat noir

In my less-enlightened days*, I used to have a particular affinity for Coco Pops and Bounty bars. These little chocolate and coconut bonbons are infinitely more wholesome and at least twenty times more palate-pleasing than those highly-processed pseudo-foods (although I must confess I still have a fondness for Coco Pops). Highly recommended (my bonbons, not Coco Pops). I made them last night and have been dipping my hand into the box in the fridge ever since; as a matter of fact I believe I ate six yesterday alone. You may use agave nectar for a sweeter bonbon; I find the brown rice syrup to be sweet enough without being cloying.

There were eighteen yesterday.

Bonbons à la noix de coco et chocolat noir (Dark Chocolate-Coconut Bonbons)

(makes about 20 little bonbons, provided you don’t keep tasting)

·        45g (1½ cups) puffed rice (I used white, because brown costs three times as much, but if you have brown then I suppose you can use that and feel virtuous)

·        55g coconut butter (simply whiz desiccated coconut in a blender until smooth and creamy – takes 45 seconds in my Vitamix for a 200g batch)

·        20g 100% cocoa dark chocolate (I bought Ghirardelli online from iHerb, it’s cheaper than Lindt)

·        80g brown rice syrup (viscosity similar to honey and with a gentle sweetness that is somewhat buttery and seem-ply divine, dahlings!)

·        5g vanilla bean paste

·        tiny pinch salt (I use about a twist of ordinary sea salt that I bought because I feel so much cooler twisting salt as opposed to shaking it)

Combine all ingredients except rice in a microwave-safe jug (I use my 250ml Pyrex) and heat in microwave until melted (this takes approximately 30-40 seconds). Whisk briskly with a spoon. Pour over the rice and stir well to ensure that every grain is coated with the melted chocolate. Spoon into patty pans using two spoons or a spoon and your finger – this gets messy.  Permit ze bonbons to set dans le frigo.

*days prior to age 12 when I was omnivorous

Five mysteriously disappeared while I was photographing them.

Ils sont si beaux, mes petits bonbons.