Spiced Pear Truffles Recipes

CHOCOLATE-TRUFFLE STUFFED PEAR WREATH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the wine, granulated sugar, cinnamon sticks, star anise, vanilla bean seeds and orange zest in a medium pan over medium-high heat and bring the poaching liquid to a boil. Nestle the pear halves curved-side down in the poaching liquid (it is okay if they aren't fully submerged). Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, flip the pears over so the opposite side is now submerged and allow the pears to cool to room temperature in the poaching liquid, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, roll out a sheet of the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch square; this will be the bottom of your wreath.
• Roll out the second sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 12-by-13-inch rectangle. Trim off a 1-by-12-inch strip, then cut twelve 1-inch leaf shapes out of the dough with a paring knife. Gently press the paring knife blade into each leaf to make the impression of veins on the leaves, and set the leaves aside for later.
• Working vertically, cut a column of 1 1/2-inch vertical slits in the remaining 12-inch square of dough, leaving 1/4-inch of space in between each slit. Space a second vertical column of slits 1/2-inch from the first with the first slit of the second column starting halfway down the first slit in the first column and finishing halfway down the second slit in the first column. Continue this pattern until the entire square of dough is marked. Stack the top and bottom tart doughs and the leaves on a baking sheet with parchment between each and cover with plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge until the dough is firmer and easier to work with, about 20 minutes.
• Place the bottom piece of puff pastry on a sheet of parchment paper and assemble the tart by placing a 3-inch bowl in the center. Stuff each pear center with a chocolate truffle and arrange the 6 pear halves cut-side down with the stem ends pointing out around the bowl, leaving a 3/4-inch space between the bottom of the bowl and the bottoms of the pears.
• Brush the dough surrounding the pears with the egg white. Place the dough with the slits over the top of the pears and gently stretch it to create diamond-shaped openings. Press the dough down all around each pear to seal it. Use a paring knife to cut around the perimeter of the bowl, and remove the bowl and the central piece of dough. Press to seal that edge as well. Use your paring knife to trim the extra dough from the edges, following the outline of the pears, leaving a 1/2-inch border of the dough.
• Brush the tops of the puff with the egg white. Attach 2 leaves to the stem end of each pear, and brush those with egg wash too. Sprinkle the tart with sanding sugar. Use the parchment to carefully transfer the tart to an 18-by-13-inch baking sheet.
• Bake the tart until the pastry is risen and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

SPICY MAYAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Remove 12 ounces of the chocolate and place it in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Set aside.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, scald the cream with the vanilla. Tiny bubbles will appear on the edges of the pan, and it should be very hot, but not boiling.
• Pour the hot cream over the 12-ounces of chocolate and let stand for 4 minutes. Use a spoon to stir to blend and set aside. This mixture is called ganache. Gently stir in the cayenne and cinnamon. Let it come to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until it becomes completely firm, at least 6 hours.
• Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper and, in a double boiler, melt the remaining 12-ounces of chocolate.
• Remove the firm ganache from the refrigerator and use a 1-inch cookie scoop to scoop out about 5 dozen truffles, placing them on one of the parchment-covered baking sheets. Now place the shaped truffles in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• Using a fork, carefully dip each truffle into the melted chocolate to coat it evenly and place them on the other parchment covered baking sheet. You can use a small knife to help you remove the covered truffle from the fork. The truffles will set at room temperature. If desired, sprinkle them with red sugar when they are about halfway set.
• Once set, you can put the truffles in paper truffle cups.

SPICED PEAR TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-high until it begins to simmer. Pour over chocolate; let stand 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Whisk in liqueur, five-spice powder, and salt until smooth. Pour mixture into a 9-inch pie dish; let cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.
• Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment. With a 1-inch ice cream scoop or melon baller, scoop out chocolate mixture and place on one prepared sheet. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.
• Place cocoa powder in a bowl. Dust hands with cocoa and roll truffles into balls, coating hands with more cocoa as needed; place on other prepared sheet. Refrigerate until set, 1 hour. Roll truffles in more cocoa powder or brush with pearl dust just before serving or packaging. Truffles can be stored, covered, in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

WHITE CHOCOLATE TIRAMISU TRIFLE WITH SPICED PEARS

Steps:

• For spiced pears:
• Combine first 6 ingredients in large saucepan. Stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Add pears and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer until pears are just tender when pierced with knife, about 35 minutes. Transfer liquid with pears to large bowl and refrigerate until cold, about 3 hours.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to plate. Boil poaching liquid in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat until slightly thickened and reduced to generous 1 1/2 cups, about 15 minutes. Strain into 2-cup measuring cup; discard spices in strainer. Cool. Cover and chill pears and pear syrup until cold.
• For mousse:
• Combine white chocolate, pear brandy, and 1/4 cup water in top of double boiler set over simmering water. Stir until smooth (mixture will be very liquidy). Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; discard bean. Transfer white chocolate mixture to large bowl; gradually add mascarpone, whisking until mixture is smooth. Cool mascarpone mixture until barely lukewarm.
• Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup cream in medium bowl until peaks form. Fold whipped cream into mascarpone mixture in 4 additions. Cover and chill white chocolate mousse until set, about 3 hours. DO AHEAD: Pears and mousse can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
• For trifle assembly:
• Cut pears lengthwise in half and remove cores and stems; cut halves lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• Arrange ladyfingers, rounded sides down, in single layer in bottom of 12-cup trifle dish (about 8 inches in diameter and 5 inches deep), covering bottom completely (using about 15 ladyfingers). Drizzle 5 tablespoons pear syrup evenly over ladyfingers. Using small offset spatula, spread 1/3 of white chocolate mousse over ladyfingers, making layer slightly thicker around outer edges of dish to allow mousse to be more visible (center of mousse layer will be thin). Starting at outer edges of dish, place pear slices in single layer with curved edges against sides of dish atop mousse, covering completely. Repeat layering of ladyfingers, syrup, mousse, and pears 2 more times. Cover with fourth layer of ladyfingers (some ladyfingers and pear slices may be left over). Drizzle ladyfingers evenly with 5 tablespoons syrup. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate trifle and remaining pear syrup separately.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups whipping cream in large bowl until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup pear syrup and beat until stiff peaks form. Working in batches, transfer cream to large pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe rosettes all over top of trifle, mounding slightly in center. Sprinkle with crystallized ginger. Garnish with chocolate curls. DO AHEAD: Can be made 6 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated.
• Sift powdered sugar over trifle just before serving.
• * Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese; sold at many supermarkets and at Italian markets.
• ** Available in the bakery or bread section of some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.