Toasted Coconut Truffles Recipes

THE CLASSIC TRUFFLE AND THE COCONUT TRUFFLE

Steps:

• For the classic truffle: Boil heavy cream and sugar. In a separate bowl add your finely chopped chocolate. Once cream has been brought up to a boil, pour it slowly over the chocolate while whisking, then add the butter. Once combined, set aside in a cool place, but not in the refrigerator.
• The coconut truffle: Same procedure as above, but add toasted coconut to the mixture.
• For dipping truffles, have some chocolate melting over a double boiler. The water should be simmering and not boiling or you will burn the chocolate. The truffles can be piped onto a sheet of parchment paper in small dollops and chilled slightly or it can be scooped out with a small teaspoon and rolled by hand, or finally use our "Me a Chocolatier kit" small hollow chocolate shells. You can dip in the melted chocolate and/or you can roll in the cocoa powder or toasted coconut.

COCONUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment.
• Sift the confectioners' sugar into a large bowl. Add the sweetened coconut, almonds and condensed milk. Stir to combine.
• Remove a heaping tablespoon of the coconut mixture and use the palms of your hands to roll it into a ball about 1 1/4 inches in diameter and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining coconut mixture. Refrigerate the truffles until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the white chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave on 50 percent power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in the shortening to combine.
• Add the unsweetened coconut to a small bowl. Dip a truffle into the melted chocolate to coat completely, then use 2 forks to lift it out, allowing the excess chocolate to drip off. Place the truffle in the unsweetened coconut and roll to coat, then return to the baking sheet and allow the chocolate to set, about 20 minutes. Repeat to coat the remaining truffles.
• Enjoy immediately or store the truffles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Melt 1 pound of chocolate, slowly stirring, in a double boiler. Warm the cream in a large saucepan but do not scorch. Remove the chocolate from the heat, cool slightly, then combine with the heavy cream. Stir the butter into the chocolate cream mixture and refrigerate until firm but still pliable, about 20 minutes. Transfer the chocolate to a pastry bag fitted with a large straight tip and pipe into teaspoonsize mounds onto a waxed paper covered cookie sheet, or use a spoon to dole out teaspoonsize mounds. Refrigerate the entire pan until the chocolate is hard to the touch.
• When the chocolate is sufficiently firm (this can be done a day or 2 ahead) remove the chocolate from the refrigerator and, working quickly to prevent melting, roll the chocolate mounds into balls, then chill the balls again until firm.
• In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, pulse the coconut briefly to make it a little finer so that it will adhere better to the truffles. When firm, roll each truffle in the coconut, pressing firmly to make sure the coconut sticks. At this point you can refrigerate the truffles for as much as a day, until you are ready to dip them.
• Melt the remaining chocolate in the double boiler. Remove the double boiler from the heat and using a wire dipping spoon, or a regular teaspoon and your hands in latex gloves, dip each coconut covered truffle briefly into the melted chocolate. Place on a cake rack set over a cookie sheet until dry, and refrigerate until firm. You may scrape up any chocolate that has dripped on the cookie sheet and return it to the dipping pot for more dipping. The truffles will keep for several weeks if refrigerated in a covered container.

TOASTED COCONUT AND CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Microwave caramels and milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring after 1 min. Pour over coconut in separate bowl; mix lightly. Cool 5 min.
• Cover baking sheet with parchment. Roll coconut mixture into 44 balls, using about 1 tsp. coconut mixture for each ball. Place in single layer on prepared baking sheet.
• Dip bottom half of each ball into melted chocolate; return, dipped side down, to baking sheet. Drizzle with remaining melted chocolate. Refrigerate 10 min. or until chocolate is firm.