Ricotta and Coconut Balls

Ricotta and coconut balls are simple and tasty treats, perfect for a sweet snack or as a dessert. Here’s the recipe for you:

Ingredients

• 250 g of fresh ricotta cheese
• 100 g of powdered sugar (plus a little more for the finish)
• 100 g of grated coconut (plus a little more for the coating)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (or the seeds from a vanilla bean)

Preparation

1. Start by draining the ricotta well to remove any excess whey. You can do this by placing the ricotta in a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl and leaving it in the fridge for a few hours, or by gently pressing it with a spoon.
2. Once the ricotta is well-drained, put it in a large bowl.
3. Add the powdered sugar and the vanilla extract to the ricotta and mix well with a wooden spoon or a spatula until you have a homogeneous mixture.
4. Fold the grated coconut into the ricotta and sugar mixture, blending all the ingredients well.
5. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to make it more manageable.
6. After the resting time, use a teaspoon to scoop portions of the mixture and form balls with your hands.
7. Roll the balls in the grated coconut set aside, so that they are completely covered.
8. Arrange the balls on a serving plate and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving so that they firm up well.

For a chocolate variant, you can melt some coating chocolate and dip the balls into it before rolling them in coconut, or you can add finely chopped chocolate pieces to the ricotta.

Curiosity

These sweets are very popular in many regions of Italy, especially as a treat for buffets or holidays. Their preparation does not require baking and the recipe can be easily customized with different flavors or additions, such as grated lemon zest or chocolate chips.