No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies, also called ‘Small Rocks’ or ‘Скалички’ in Bulgarian). A traditional Bulgarian recipe for a no bake dessert that can be enjoyed around Christmas or all year round. Prepared with crushed tea biscuits (or basic graham crackers), nuts, butter, milk, chocolate and a handful of flavoring, these easy no-bake desserts will be loved by all.
With Christmas time fast approaching, I’d love to share with you an easy recipe (no baking needed) for a beloved dessert from my childhood. I used to buy one from the way back home from school every time I had a chance (read some coins in my pocket). These Christmas Trees as we call them at home are actually called ‘скалички’, meaning ‘small rocks’ due to the resemblance with montunoes Bulgarian regions. In taste they stand pretty close to the American Cake Pops, Chocolate Salami or Russian Kartoshka.
FUN FACTS: Although the history of скалички (skalichki) is not well-documented, they are considered a traditional homemade dessert that likely evolved from simple, practical recipes at poor Bulgarian households. The dessert became popular in Bulgaria during the mid-20th century, a time when the country, like many others in Eastern Europe, experienced periods of economic hardship. The idea behind this simple dessert to use whatever ingredients were available at the time, without breaking the bank. Over time, the recipe evolved to include nuts and different types of seasonings, so today most households have their own versions of it. So, here’s mine.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Plain tea biscuits – similar to these – or graham crackers, digestive biscuits or plain vanilla cookies
- Finely chopped walnuts – or hazelnuts
- Melted butter
- Brown sugar
- Cacao powder – this is the one I prefer
- Milk, lukewarm – or vegan oat milk or even fresh orange juice for an intense feeling
- Shredded dark chocolate
- Orange zest – from an organic orange peel
- Orange essence for baking, optional – similar to this one
How to make No bake Christmas Tree Cookies?
1st: Finely chop tea biscuits and walnuts. Add in all dry ingredients (like cacao powder, sugar, dark chocolate, orange zest and essence. Mix well to combine.
2nd: Add in the melted butter and milk. Stir well with a spoon to mix everything perfectly. Then with your hands start pressing and ‘kneading’ the dough, so biscuits can become moist and incorporate all ingredients well.
3rd: Shape Cookies with your hands and place onto a platter. Leave in the fridge for 20-30 minutes so they harden. Then prepare the chocolate ganache and brush the tops of the cookies with a kitchen brush. Serve.
TIP: When shaping cookies, dough may seem crumbly at first. Squeeze the dough in your arms a couple of times before deciding to add more liquid. If it starts to shape well, do not add more as it becomes water-y and quite difficult to retain the shape.
More Bulgarian Recipes:
A few you might have never seen before:
NO-BAKE Christmas Tree Cookies
Equipment
- 2 mixing bowls
- 1 presentation tray
- 1 Food Processor
- 1 small pot, for melting butter in
Ingredients
Cookies
- 260 g plain tea biscuits*
- 90 g finely chopped walnuts
- 110 g melted butter
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 4 tbsp. cacao powder
- 100 ml milk, lukewarm
- 2 tbsp. shredded dark chocolate
- orange zest from one medium orange, organic
- 1-2 drops orange essence for baking, optional
Chocolate Ganache
- 50 g dark chocolate, for chocolate ganache
- 1 tbsp. butter, for chocolate ganache
Instructions
- In a food processor add biscuits and walnuts. Pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Add sugar, cacao powder, shredded chocolate, orange zest and orange essence. Mix well together.
- Then, add milk and melted butter and incorporate well. Adjust liquid quantities if needed. Mix well with your hands. The dough should be soft, workable and not-sticky.
- Divide into 10 equal parts and with hands start shaping conus like cookies. Place onto platter and leave in the fridge for 20-30 minutes to harden.
- Finally, remove from fridge and prepare chocolate ganache. On the stove top add chocolate and butter and let melt onto low heat. Stir all the time. With a kitchen brush brush the tops of the trees and serve.
Notes
- Milk can be substituted with vegan oat milk or fresh orange juice
- Tea biscuits can be substituted with digestive biscuits, graham crackers, plain shortbread cookies or even leftover cake.
Nutrition
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Wonderful recipe, so easy to make. Delicious too!