(Photo by Dorel Rosu-Urdes. Click to enlarge.)
Luxurious truffles are expensive to buy, but very easy and fun to make--or so this recipe book says. Some people prefer their truffles to be rolled in cocoa powder or icing sugar, instead of being dipped in melted chocolate. I, of course, went the extra mile for the...extra chocolate. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
*350g/12oz plain (semisweet) chocolate
*75ml/5 table-spoons double (heavy) cream
*30ml/2 table-spoons coffee liqueur, such as Tia Maria, Kahlua, or Toussaint
*225g/8oz good quality white or milk dessert chocolate
(makes 24 truffles)
What the recipe says:
1. Melt 225g/8oz of the plain chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir in the cream and liqueur, then chill the mixture for 4 hours, until firm.
2. Divide the mixture into 24 equal pieces and quickly roll each into a ball. Chill for about 1 hour, or until the truffles are firm again.
3. Melt the remaining plain, white or milk chocolate in separate small bowls. Using two forks, carefully dip eight of the truffles, one at a time, into the melted plain chocolate.
4. Repeat to cover the remaining 16 truffles with the melted white or milk chocolate. Place the truffles on a board or tray, covered with wax paper or foil. Leave to set before placing in individual mini paper cases or transferring to a serving dish.
What I say:
I followed directions and the truffles turned out delicious, but the dipping in the melted chocolate didn't work quite as they described. Once you dip the mixture into the Hot chocolate, it starts to leave traces in there and the chocolate doesn't stick that easily. You have to keep piling it up on top of the little ball. Use a spoon. Be quick. Don't worry too much about the aspect. They WILL be delicious. Also, for some extra love :) I mixed some other ingredients in.
For example, the truffles dipped in dark chocolate, have crystallized ginger in the middle and coconut flakes on top. The truffles dipped in milk chocolate, have a hazelnut in the middle, and a small piece of hazelnut on top. The truffles dipped in white chocolate, have crystallized ginger in the middle as well, etc.
