Adorable Watermelon Shaped Bites are no-bake treats that bring together ground walnuts, biscuits, and a hint of rum for a delightful, chewy texture. Vibrant and fun, these are a delicious dessert for any occasion. Shall we?
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Background
Today's watermelon-shaped treats are a creative twist on traditional Balkan no-bake desserts. They combine nuts and biscuits (remember bajadera or oblatne?) for a soft, flavorful bite.
Layering and shaping play a big role in this dessert as it's made to mimic the look of a real watermelon slice. They offer a delightful combination of chewiness and crunch, and are among the favorites for holidays and festivities.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Visually Stunning! Can we talk about how beautiful these are?
- No-Bake & Easy! No need to turn on the oven!
- Customizable! Switch up the nuts or food coloring for a different taste.
Ingredients
Here's all you need to make Watermelon-Shaped Bites:
Red layer
- Butter. Regular butter or lard. Avoid margarine.
- Powdered Sugar. Confectioner's sugar. Avoid granulated sugar.
- Ground Biscuits (Cookie Crumbs). Also known as digestive biscuits these are cookies like Graham Crackers, Vanilla Wafers, Plazma biscuits, or Petit Beurre ground to the consistency of flour.
- Hard-Boiled Egg Yolks.
- Rum or Vanilla Extract. Or a similar flavor enhancer like a liqueur.
- Red Food Coloring.
Green Layer
- Ground Walnuts. Substitute with ground hazelnuts or almonds.
- Powdered Sugar. Same as above.
- Milk. Regular or almond milk.
- Green Food Coloring.
- Chocolate Sprinkles. A few, to create 'seeds.'
Instructions
The steps seem complicated, but if you follow our instructions you'll make the watermelon shaped no-bake Balkan dessert very easily.
Step 1. Make the red layer by adding all ingredients, one by one, and mixing them.
Step 2. Knead into dough. Cut into 10 equal pieces. Shape into balls. Freeze 15 min.
Step 3. Make a green layer by adding all ingredients, one by one, and mixing them.
Step 4. Knead into dough. Cut into 10 equal pieces. Flatten each piece.
Step 5. Envelop red pieces with green pieces. Freeze again.
Step 6. Quarter each ball. Add chocolate sprinkles. Store.
Handling
- Serve with coffee or tea for the best taste.
- Store them in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge.
Expert Tips
- Use gloves! If you want to avoid green and red hands, use gloves when working with food coloring.
- Chill between steps! This makes the assembly much easier.
- A good knife! Using a sharp knife will save you a headache in this recipe.
- Make Variations! A few drops of orange extract add a unique taste. Replace walnuts with hazelnuts. For a nut-free version, use finely ground sunflower seeds.
Thoughts?
If you make today's watermelon-shaped bites and like them, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5-star) rating. This will help others find the recipe more easily!
You can also leave a comment, I read EVERY one! Finally, if IG is more your thing, consider tagging us @balkanlunchbox.
Prijatno, Dobar Tek, and Bon Appetit!
Watermelon Shaped Bites
Equipment
- 1 pair of Laytex gloves to protect hands from food coloring
Ingredients
Red Layer
- 2.8 ounces butter room temperature
- 2.8 ounces confectioner's sugar
- 5.3 ounces ground biscuit (cookie crumbs) Petit Beurre, Graham Crackers, Plazma or similar
- 2 hard-boiled yolks
- 1 tablespoon rum or vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring strawberry or similar
Green Layer
- 5.2 ounces ground walnuts substitute with hazelnuts, almonds or pumpkin seeds
- 5.2 ounces confectioner's sugar
- 4-6 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon green food coloring mint or similar
Topping
- 1-2 tablespoons chocolate sprinkles
Instructions
Red Layer
- In a large mixing bowl, use a fork to beat the butter until smooth. Add the egg yolks and mix until fully incorporated. Stir in the confectioner's sugar and blend well. Add the biscuit crumbs and mix until combined. Pour in the rum extract and stir to incorporate. Lastly, add the food coloring and mix with your hands until the dough is evenly tinted red.
- Divide the mixture into ten equal portions and roll each into a small ball. Arrange them on a plate and place in the freezer while you prepare the green portion.
Green Layer
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground walnuts and confectioner's sugar, mixing well. Add the milk and stir to combine. Add the food coloring and knead the dough with your hands until it’s evenly green.
- Divide the mixture into ten equal portions and flatten each into a thin, round disk.
Assembling
- Take one red ball and place it on a green disk. Gently roll it with your hands until the green covers the red, forming a small green ball. Repeat this process with the remaining nine.
- Return to the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Take out and cut each ball into quarters. Decorate with chocolate sprinkles. Leave covered outside at room temperature overnight. Transfer to a cookie jar or a box. Keep in a cool place.
Handling
- Serve with coffee or tea for the best taste.Store them in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge.
Video
Notes
- Nutritional and Serving Size Information
Ellyn says
How long do the watermelon sweets keep? Do they need ro be stored in the fridge?
Aida says
About 3-4 days. Keep them in a cookie jar, or Tupperware. No need for the fridge, dark, cool pantry is ok.
Mary Obradovich says
Just curious as to what can be substituted for the yolks.
Aida says
Perhaps soy lecithin? Let us know how they turn out.