JAMAICAN HONEYMOON

I had a thought yesterday, "What would I get if I marry two classics - one from Germany, and the other South Africa?" The answer, "A Jamaican Honeymoon!"

Ever since I discovered Cape Malay style date balls the other day, and how similarly the mashed dates not only behave to chocolate ganache but also adopts chocolate as its primary flavour, I've been having a field day creating my own variations of truffles.

It was however, not until I was finally making Marzipan yesterday, and looking into the rest of the ingredients I'll be needing for the Stollen, that my eye caught the rum connection. 

Now I've known rum balls my whole life, yet while investigating them I discovered that they are actually a German classic - Rumkugeln. In Germany, besides the rum, they include chocolate and sometimes Lebkkuchen (ginger bread) and ground nuts.

Seriously, all I needed to do was add some chocolate and rum to the existing date ball recipe, substitute the coconut biscuits with ginger ones, and roll it in cocoa powder or chocolate sprinkles instead of coconut, and I'd have a truly South African take on this German classic. 

Besides, I had to get rum for the Stollen anyway, so I might just as well give it a try, right?!? So I made do with what I had on hand, and gave it a bash.

The verdict? 

Perhaps my best truffle variation yet... well, either that or I'm a little tipsy right now, nothing serious, just enough for them to be tastier than ever. 

Which ever way, I'm very glad I paired these two - this Jamaican Honeymoon will be my take on Rumkugeln, henceforth!

WORDS: rhodenel©22NOV2024 

PHOTOGRAPHY: rhoderuth©NOV2024