Cocoa Cherry Balls

Indulge in these yummy chocolate balls. The secret ingredient is good-for-you cheese.

1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup coconut

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Sour cherries, pitted*

Extra coconut and cocoa

Drain excess moisture from ricotta cheese: place in a fine mesh sieve and leave to drain for one hour or longer. In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, sugar, coconut and cocoa together well. Chill for several hours or overnight in fridge.

Scoop a small amount into your hand and work it into a ball about the size of a walnut, wrapping a cherry in the centre of each ball. If the mixture sticks to your hand, dip your fingers in water.

Refrigerate the cocoa cherry balls until serving time. Just before serving, roll half the balls in cocoa power and half in coconut.

*You can buy locally-grown sour cherries at the Saskatoon Farmers' Market. Or, you can pick your own - many of these cherry trees are growing in yards and gardens in Saskatoon. No cherries? You can make these without the cherry inside.