Earl Grey Tea Chocolate Truffles Recipes

EARL-GREY TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, stir together cream and tea over medium heat. Bring just to a simmer, then let mixture continue to gently simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
• Pass cream mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan. Bring to a boil, then pour over chocolate and let stand 3 minutes. Stir until smooth, then stir in butter and vanilla. Refrigerate until set, at least 30 minutes or, covered with plastic wrap, up to 2 days.
• Place cocoa in a bowl. Scoop mixture with a level teaspoon, then dust hands with cocoa and roll truffles into balls. Coat your hands with a bit of melted chocolate and roll truffles in your hands to lightly coat to create a "shell".
• Drop truffles into bowl of cocoa; toss to coat. Refrigerate in an air-tight container until ready to serve, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 week. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

CHOCOLATE EARL GREY TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Bring cream and butter to a boil in a small heavy saucepan and stir in tea leaves. Remove from heat and let steep 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, finely grind chocolate in a food processor and transfer to a bowl. Pour cream through a fine-mesh sieve onto chocolate, pressing on and discarding tea leaves, then whisk until smooth. Chill ganache, covered, until firm, about 2 hours.
• Spoon level teaspoons of ganache onto a baking sheet. Put cocoa in a bowl, then dust your palms lightly with it. Roll each piece of ganache into a ball (wash your hands and redust as they become sticky). Drop several balls at a time into bowl of cocoa and turn to coat. Transfer as coated to an airtight container, separating layers with wax paper.

EARL GREY-SPIKED CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the creme fraiche and tea and bring to a boil over medium heat. As soon as it boils, turn off the heat.
• Meanwhile, put the chopped bittersweet chocolate in a medium bowl. Strain the hot creme fraiche mixture into the bowl. Whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Cover and let rest in a cool place overnight. The mixture will become firm but not hard.
• The next day, using a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip, pipe bite-size "kisses" (like Hershey's Kisses) of the mixture onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate briefly just until set, about 30 minutes. Use your palm to gently press down the point that sticks up on each truffle. Transfer to the freezer and freeze until hard, 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
• In the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, melt the semisweet chocolate. It should be liquid, but not so hot that you can't touch it; if it is too hot for you, wear disposable surgical gloves. Spread the cocoa powder out on a sheet pan with sides.
• Working in 2 batches if necessary to avoid crowding the pan of cocoa, dip the frozen truffle centers 1 at a time into the melted chocolate, shake off any excess, and set them down in the cocoa. When all the truffle centers are dipped and the chocolate has started to set, gently but thoroughly shake the sheet pan to roll the truffles around in the cocoa until coated. Carefully remove to another sheet pan and refrigerate, uncovered, 30 minutes. (You can sift the unused cocoa and use it for another purpose.)
• Transfer to an airtight container and keep chilled until almost ready to serve. Bring to room temperature before serving.

EARL GREY TEA TART

Steps:

• Place the butter, salt, sugar, egg and rice flour in a medium-size mixing bowl. The rice flour will make the cookie crisper and more crumbly because it does not contain any gluten. Use an electric mixer set on medium speed to beat the mixture just until combined.
• Add the cake flour and lemon zest and mix just until the dough is smooth and holds together, about 30 seconds. Remove the dough from the bowl and pat into a disk. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before using. This will give any gluten that may have developed a chance to relax. If you use the dough immediately after making it, it may be tough and elastic.
• The dough will keep, well wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 1 week or in the freezer for 1 month. Thaw the dough in the refrigerator until ready to use. If you want to store the dough already rolled into a tart pan, wrap it in plastic wrap.
• When you are ready to use the dough, remove it from the refrigerator and give it 4 or 5 quick raps with a rolling pin. This softens the cold butter. Cut the dough into cookies with a round 2-inch plain cutter. The size of the cutter is determined by the size of mini tart pan you are using. Place the pieces in the flexible mini tart pan. Dock the dough. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool tart shells and reserve.
• Place the cream and honey in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat. Place the tea leaves in the cream. Cover and let sit for 8 minutes. Use a fine mesh sieve to strain the tea from the cream. Bring the cream to a boil one more time. Pour the cream over the bittersweet chocolate. Use an immersion blender and mix thoroughly. Pour the tea ganache into the cooled tart shells. This task will be easier if you use the automatic funnel or a cup with a spout. Place in the refrigerator for an hour. When the ganache has cooled, remove from the refrigerator. Use a knife to transfer gold leaf onto the top of some tarts. Other tarts can be topped with fresh exotic fruits. Enjoy!