Chocolate Covered Coconut Balls

Here is a recipe for one of our favorite Christmas treats.  If you like Mounds bars, you will love these!  They are pretty easy to make, delicious, and make great gifts.

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flaked coconut
1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 T. vegetable oil

In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar, coconut, and walnuts.  Mix well.  In a small bowl, stir together melted butter, vanilla, and sweetened condensed milk until well blended.  Stir into coconut mixture, blending well (I start with a spoon and then use my hands) until mixed.

Form mixture into about 35 (1-inch) balls.  Place on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours.

In a double boiler, combine chocolate and oil.  Heat and stir until chocolate is melted, then pour into a small bowl.

With tongs, dip chilled balls, one at a time, into melted chocolate.  Let excess drip off, then place back onto wax paper-lined cookie sheet.  Chill until set, then place in container and store in refrigerator.

*Note:  If you want a nice shiny look, you can do what my mother-in-law does and add a small bit of parafin wax to your chocolate.