November 21, 2009

Assorted Chocolate Truffles

Chocoholics beware! These little balls of decadence are dangerously addictive!

Featured today are two of my favorite chocolate truffles, coated with a variety of ingredients.

A rich white chocolate truffle with crumbled shortbread, dried cranberries and a hint of orange zest, finished with a light dusting of powdered sugar. And a smooth dark chocolate truffle with a touch of amaretto, alternately rolled in cocoa powder, hazelnuts or pistachios.

Each are delicious and can easily be adjusted to your liking. For example: You could always substitute the amaretto for some cream liqueur, rum or even espresso? Throw in some raisins or dried cherries? Or keep it simple by adding just a teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract.

This is the perfect time of year to make up an assorted batch of truffles as they make delightful holiday gifts or party favours.



They are also great for dinner parties. A selection of each chocolate served with freshly made coffee is the perfect end to any meal.

Truffles can be refrigerated for 3 days or frozen for up to one month.

Recipes adapted from Bbc Good Food.

Makes approximately 50-60 truffles.

For the Dark Chocolate Truffles:
14 oz/400g good quality chocolate (60% cacao), chopped
150 ml double cream (heavy cream)
2 tbls amaretto liqueur (optional)
1 tsp vanilla extract (if you aren't using amaretto)
50g pistachios, shelled and chopped
50g toasted hazelnuts, chopped
Cocoa powder as needed

Melt chocolate and cream together in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water.
Once the chocolate has almost melted, remove from the heat and stir in the amaretto or vanilla extract. Cool and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight. If you chill the mixture overnight, be sure to remove it from the fridge 40 minutes or so before molding. Using a teaspoon or melon baller, scoop out the chocolate and roll into balls.


Have three trays ready, each filled with the pistachios, hazelnuts and cocoa powder. Divide several truffles between each tray and shake to coat. Repeat with the remaining truffles. Chill until needed and bring to room temperature before serving.

For the White Chocolate Truffles:
14 oz good quality white chocolate, chopped
150 ml double cream (heavy cream)
2 tsp grated orange zest
3 walkers shortbread fingers, roughly crushed
1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
Powdered sugar as needed

Melt chocolate and cream together in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Once the chocolate has almost melted, remove from the heat and stir. Once cooled slightly, stir in the orange zest, shortbread and cranberries.
Once mixture has cooled, refrigerate until firm. Unlike the dark chocolate mixture, this one can be rolled into balls straight from the fridge after overnight refrigeration. Roll into balls using a teaspoon or melon baller and coat in powdered sugar. Chill until needed.


27 comments:

  1. Truffles are one of my favorite things to eat and make! Yours are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh wow they look divine great as a gift

    ReplyDelete
  3. Absolutely beautiful pictures. I knew they would be when I saw the post was titled "Assorted Chocolate Truffles". Nice work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Truffles are one my favorites!! This is the sweet gifts I like to receive and share often :)

    Cheers!

    Gera

    ReplyDelete
  5. dear Lord woman you so speak my language with this post!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, great recipe, great photos, great presentation. I want me some little chocolate balls.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Talk about the "BEST"! These truffles are simply divine! I am going to try it for the X'mas!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jennie these are so cute!! They would super adorable in the Christmas baskets I give out ever year. Hmmm.. Not a bad idea.

    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yum! Great gift idea. Can't wait to try this.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh yummy! Your pics are beautiful and I am sure the truffles taste amazing too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ooh these look wonderful! I can't wait to try.

    ... and I'm incredibly excited for the Road, as well. Counting the hours :)

    Thanks for stopping by my blog - love yours, too! Now following!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful truffles. I've never made, but have always wanted to. And you know, I have little boxes just waiting to be filled. There's really no reason not to make these for holiday gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Those are gorgeous! I would love to try them out for a Christmas gift this year. Can't beat homemade chocolate treats :O)

    ReplyDelete
  14. just found your blog, loving it!
    dallas
    http://dillydallas.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Truffles for some reason intimidate me but I'm not really sure why. They just seem like they should be so complicated.

    Yours look fabulous. I love all of the different flavor combinations you have. Those boxes are adorable! The perfect gift.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you!

    I have to tell you, I am a chocoholic and these truffles look absolutely to die for.

    p.s - nice to meet you, my photography-loving culinary friend! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. These are excellent truffles especially with the addition of pistachios. Beautiful photos as well.

    ReplyDelete
  18. awesome, when's the cookbook being released?

    ReplyDelete
  19. I LOVE how you presented these!
    and great addition the shortbread!

    ReplyDelete
  20. These look delicious! I am hunting for ideas for homemade Christmas presents, and these would be perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I make similar truffles, and I must say they are decadent and most extravagantly beautiful and delicious just like yours! I really like your touch with adding pistachios as a topping.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Troffels ore one of my favorites, and these would be perfect!!!!
    Brava Jennie

    ReplyDelete
  23. great pics! and i love truffles - u can make them with cream cheese and oreos too - that's how i do them! but i'm going to try your way next time i have a family or friends get-together!!! thx for the recipe!!! :)

    ReplyDelete