Chocolate cuties

Hi everyone,

Am back after a break. Had been away spending time with some relatives over diwali and so. I am posting some sweet recipes I made for diwali. I made this one on the go just adding things, but it turned out very nice. I am very bad at photographing( which reminds me I have to buy a new camera. I am taking photos with my cell phone:(  still. ), but I tell you these cuties looked very cute and tasty too.

Here is the recipe without much ado
Besan ( Chickpea flour) - 1 cup
Unsweetened Cocoa powder - 1/3 cup ( I used cadbury powder)
Cardamom / Cinnamon powder for flavor
Almonds for garnish
Ghee - 4 tbsp + some for rubbing

For syrup

Sugar - 1 cup

Water - 1 cup

- Sieve the besan and cocoa powder separately and keep aside.

- Heat a non-stick pan or kadai and add 1 tbsp ghee and in low to medium flame roast the besan till the rawness of besan is gone and  a nice aroma fills the air (ahhhh, If smells can be delicious, this certainly is). Take care not to brown it.

- On the side you can prepare the syrup by boiling the sugar and water together for 5 mins.

- Keep the flame low. Add the sugar syrup to the besan and stir continuously so that no lumps are formed. (Besan is quite fast in forming lumps and you have to keep up with it to make a smooth paste).

- Add 1 tbsp ghee now.

- Add the sieved cocoa powder and mix it well.

- Add the cardamom or cinnamon powder and mix it in.

- Now with the flame low, keep stirring this mixture every minute or so adding 1/2 tbsp of ghee every minute till the mixture forms a ball. It should not stick to the sides of the pan and when the mixture is taken in a spatula and inverted it should not fall. Another way of checking is rub your hands with ghee and take a small mount of mixture and try to shape it into a ball. It should  keep its shape and not crumble.

- Turn off the gas. Once the mixture comes to a bearable temperature, shape it into balls, press with your palms lightly to flatten it a little and place a slivered almond in the centre of each.

Tips:

- Do not let the mixture get very cold as it might harden and making shapes will not be possible.

- In case you have overcooked the mixture, you can add a few drops of milk, and stir vigorously in low flame to get it back