Chocolate – pinipig balls inspired by Magnolia’s pinipig crunch
Filipinos who grew up, or who reside, in the Philippines will know what I mean by ‘Magnolia’s pinipig crunch’. Filipinos who grew up abroad might not. I don’t expect too many foreigners to be familiar with it either.
Magnolia was an ice cream company that was bought out by Nestle a few years ago. Pinipig crunch was one of their original products. What is it? Imagine a popsicle but there’s vanilla ice cream instead of frozen juice. The vanilla ice cream is coated with chocolate and bits of pinipig are embedded in the chocolate.
What is pinipig? The most convenient description would be puffed rice or rice krispies — something similar to what you get in a bar of Nestle Crunch. But, according to the oldies, pinipig is not just any puffed rice. It is pounded immature glutinous rice. There are even some claims that genuine pinipig can only be made from a special variety of rice.
These chocolate-pinipig balls were inspired by Magnolia’s pinipig crunch. I was in the supermarket the other day and found cooked pinipig being sold in pouches. I took a pouch, inspected it, and I just knew I would buy it. My first instinct was to use the pinipig as topping for brownies — and I will soon — but, earlier today, I wanted to create a quick dessert. My daughter, Sam, had been asking me for days to make dessert and I had been too lethargic… the heat, you know? But I figured if I made something really easy, it wouldn’t be such a hassle and I’d be making my daughter happy. And my chocolate-pinipig balls were born.
Just mix together equal amounts of melted chocolate and pinipig, form into balls and let stand until firm.
Equal amounts refers to mass, not weight. So, if you have 1 cup of melted chocolate, you mix that with 1 cup of pinipig.
How do you melt the chocolate?
Cut or break the chocolate into small pieces and melt in a double boiler, or in a heatproof bowl over a pan of hot water.
What kind of chocolate?
Eating chocolate would be best — like Hershey’s. But you can buy baking chocolate at much cheaper prices.
Anything else?
Yes, add a few drops of vanilla extract to the chocolate before mixing it with the pinipig. 
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bring out the ice cream sandwhich and we’re set for life
LOL patience, patience, I’m learning to make the wafers. hehehe
hmmm, which reminds me… i can make vanilla ice cream balls using a melon scooper then dip them into quick-set melted chocolate then roll them on a bed of pinipig or crushed corn flakes. re-freeze then eat. yes, i will do it!!!
Is this the same as Nestle’s Crunch Ice Cream Bar?
great idea, purplegirl. and i happen to have quick-set choco in the fridge. LOL Time to buy ice cream. hehehe
I’m not sure, Kieran. I haven’t been a fan since the Nestle buyout.
a small correction if i may… “Equal amounts refers to mass, not weight. So, if you have 1 cup of melted chocolate, you mix that with 1 cup of pinipig.”
that would have to be volume, not mass. because weight is directly related to mass (with a factor of gravity).
btw, i love chocolates with pinipig… anything with pinipig!
misao, yes, you are right.
am lousy in science. hehehe and math too. 
man, i miss magnolia’s pinipig crunch!!! okey ‘tong idea na ‘to ah. kaya lang stuck ako dito with just rice krispies. ngek. i guess puede na rin…. (beggars can’t be choosers LOL)
this looks like a good idea! wish i can find pinipig here…i love snacking on them green, fresh and fragrant!
ces, i love the kalamay na pinipig too… oh, am dreaming LOL
uy stef, na flag down ka naman ng akismet. ano ba yan.
won’t the pinipig lose its crunch if you put it on the (hot) melted chocolate?
the chocolate isn’t hot, feifu, just melted.
guys, have anyone of you tried powdered chocolate (powdered instant choco drinks) for this one? Coz’ I want to make use of excess ones in my kitchen but have worries of it molding into balls because most of the time, I use powdered chocos for dips, sandwich/bread fillings, cakes… not yet for something that is expected to stand and be molded into a shape.
mmm sarap, masubukan nga. reminds me of another comfort food… champoradong pinipig.. *drools now*
pardon the ignorance… but how do you mold it after you have melted the chocolate?
brenda, with your hands.
This is yummy…but i’m after on how to make that chocolate mixture “crunchy” not so sure sa term but like sa known na fastfood natin…iyong plain ice cream tapos i-”dip” mo…then it’s quickly hardened…hmmm search na lng ako sa iba…hehehe i want to learn more …
Sweet_Faye, you buy that in bottles. Hershey’s.