Basic Chocolate Truffles Plus 4 Variations Recipes

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES 4 WAYS

Steps:

• Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium until steaming, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine semisweet and bittersweet chocolate with butter in a medium bowl. Pour hot cream over chocolate and let stand for 1 minute. Stir until melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla and salt. Pour into a shallow dish, such as a pie plate, cover, and refrigerate until ganache is scoopable, about 30 minutes.
• Place strawberries in a mini food processor and pulse until finely chopped but not powdered, about eight 1-second pulses. Place in a small bowl.
• Place mints in a zip-top bag and whack with a mallet about 5 times until coarsely crushed. Transfer to a separate small bowl. Place cocoa powder and powdered peanut butter in small bowls.
• Scoop tablespoonfuls of ganache and roll into balls; your hands will warm up the ganache if it got too firm. Place on a parchment-lined plate.
• Roll 3 truffles in each coating, pressing to adhere. Chill until ready to serve.

BASIC CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES (PLUS 4 VARIATIONS)

Steps:

• In a heavy pan on a low heat, melt chocolates, whipping cream and butter together, stirring occasionally; when melted, pour into a small bowl and cool mixture; refrigerate for 2 hours or until mixture hardens.
• Using a melon baller or a teaspoon, quickly form mixture into approximately ¾-inch rounds; refrigerate until cold; roll in cocoa or dip in chocolate; refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
• Variations on a theme: ORANGE LIQUEUR TRUFFLES Add ¼ cup (50 mL) Grand Marnier, Cointreau or Triple Sec to truffle mixture after it has melted; stir in ¼ tsp (1 mL) grated orange rind to heighten orange flavour.
• KAHLUA TRUFFLES add 3 tbsp (45 mL) Kahlúa to truffle mixture after it has melted.
• RUM TRUFFLES add 3 tbsp (45 mL) rum to truffle mixture after it has melted.
• DARK CHOCOLATE COATED TRUFFLES Melt 8 oz (250 g) bittersweet chocolate in a heavy pot over low heat; remove from heat; place cold truffle on skewer or dipping fork, and swirl in chocolate to coat; place on wax or parchment paper to set.

QUICK & EASY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Bring the cream and sugar to a boil.
• Remove from heat and pour over the chocolate, which has been broken up into small chunks and placed in a clean bowl.
• Stir gently adding the room temperature butter.
• Continue to stir until all the chocolate has dissolved.
• As the mixture cools, it will begin to thicken.
• Next, add the cassis and continue to stir for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Cover with a kitchen towel and place in a cool area but do not refrigerate.
• It is best to leave it overnight for it to cool thoroughly and start to firm up.
• Take your chocolate truffle mix, which should be firm, yet, soft to the touch.
• Place it into a piping bag that has a quarter inch nozzle attached.
• If you don't have a piping bag, just drop teaspoonsful of the mixture.
• On a clean tray with parchment paper, pipe out long sausage length strips of the chocolate truffle.
• When all has been piped out, take a small kitchen knife with the tip dipped in hot water then cut the chocolate truffles into 1 1/4 inch lengths.
• Using a clean pastry brush, brush 5 or 6 chocolate truffles at a time with a little of the melted chocolate.
• One by one, roll them gently in the palms of your hand and then drop them into either the cocoa powder or the powdered sugar.
• Roll them around and remove any excess sugar or cocoa.
• Place in a storage container or serving dish.
• It is best to store these truffles in a cool part of the house but do not refrigerate.