Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Truffles Recipes

MADAGASCAR BOURBON VANILLA, BOURBON EXTRACT

Steps:

• Combine ingredients in a jar with tight fitting lid.
• Cover jar and let stand 4 weeks.
• Mixture will turn amber colored in a day or two.
• Shake every couple days and store out of direct light and heat.
• When bottle is 1/4 full add three to four more beans and more alcohol. Let stand for another week before using. Seeds may float in the syrupy liquid but unless you are giving the finished product as a gift, don't remove them-they only add to the flavor. Use one-forth to one-third the amount called for in most recipes as this has a very strong vanilla flavor. The vanilla beans are good as long as they have a vanilla scent. When they have lost their scent, discard and replace with fresh beans. The beans can be removed from the alcohol and scraped or chopped and use them in recipes in place of the extract if you want a strong vanilla flavor.

PECAN PIE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together pecans, graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and salt until well combined. Add maple syrup, bourbon and vanilla, stirring thoroughly. Use your hands to make sure the mixture becomes fully incorporated.
• Form mixture into walnut-sized balls, then place on a cookie sheet and freeze for 2 hours.
• In the top of a double boiler or in a medium stainless steel bowl set over a pot of gently simmering water, melt chocolate (we recommend tempering the chocolate, but if you don't, they'll still be delicious, just a bit messy). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip the frozen balls into the melted chocolate, then place onto prepared baking sheet. Let sit for 15 minutes or until firm.

CHOCOLATE-BOURBON TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Set a stainless steel mixing bowl over a pan of boiling water to make a double boiler. Put chocolate, cream and salt in bowl and heat until chocolate is completely melted, about 15 minutes.
• Add vanilla and bourbon and whisk thoroughly, until mixture is smooth and shiny. Pour into a pie plate or baking dish, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Use a melon baller or soup spoon to make rough 1/2-ounce spheres. Roll between cocoa-dusted palms, then in crushed nuts. Refrigerate, but don't serve them ice cold; remove from the refrigerator 10 minutes before serving.