what can I subsitute the coconut for in bon bons? Can / should I add more
powdered sugar and butter and how much, if not, what else?

My friend and colleague Pinkfreud suggested that I go ahead and answer your
question for you, sweettooth21-ga.

As the coconut is part of the "inside" of the bon bons, you can just omit
that ingredient if you desire, and you don't need to subsitute anything in
place of it.

If you do want to add a different "flair" to them instead of the coconut,
then you can use finely chopped pecans or walnuts or the like, as they do
in this recipe for "Texas Bon Bons" from the CDKitchen web site.
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/828/TexasBonBons67889.shtml

"...
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds powdered sugar
- 14 ounces can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 2 cups [finely] chopped pecans
- 3 1/2 ounces can flaked coconut, optional
..."

As you can see from the above list, the coconut is optional in that recipe
as well.  Otherwise, it is the same recipe that you are using.

I like rolling the bon bons in "sprinkles" after dipping them in chocolate
and if you like dark chocolate, that is a good variation as well.

You can use the search listed below for all sorts of recipe variations.

If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.


Search strategy:

Personal experience with making bon bons.

Google search on: Bon Bons recipe
://www.google.com/search?q=Bon+Bons+recipe

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Exactly what I needed, Thanks!

It would help to see the exact recipe you're using.

Bon Bons recipe
 2 lbs. powdered sugar
14 oz can of condensed milk
1/2 pound butter
7 oz. coconut flakes
chocolate for covering

In the original recipe, does the coconut go in the filling, or are the
bon bons rolled in the coconut after they are formed?

Great answer, Denco!

The only thing I can add is that I've substituted finely chopped
raisins for coconut in several recipes for cakes and cookies. I don't
know how well this would work with bon bons, but it might be
interesting.

Raisins would indeed be good!  I will have to try that, Pink.  Thanks!

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Thanks much for the kind comment, 5 star rating and thoughtful
tip, sweettooth21-ga!

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher