Acorn Chocolate Truffles Food

ACORN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended; shape into 48 (1-inch) acorn-shaped balls. Freeze 10 min.
• Meanwhile, break 24 pretzels in half; reserve for later use. Finely crush remaining pretzel pieces and whole pretzel sticks.
• Cover rimmed baking sheet with wax paper. Melt white chocolate and 1 pkg. bittersweet chocolate as directed on package; mix well. Dip cream cheese balls, one at a time, into melted chocolate, turning to completely coat bottom 3/4 of each ball with chocolate. Place on prepared baking sheet. Freeze 10 min. or until chocolate is firm.
• Melt remaining bittersweet chocolate. Dip uncoated (top) portion of each cream cheese ball, one at a time, into bittersweet chocolate, then into crushed pretzels; return to baking sheet. Insert 1 reserved pretzel-stick half into top of each ball for the acorn stem.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until chocolate is firm.

CHOCOLATE CHIP ACORN TRUFFLES

Steps:

• 1. PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Prepare cookies following package directions. However, bake for 12 to 13 minutes until crisp and golden brown but not burnt. (Crisp cookies will make it easier to grind the cookies later). Let cookies cool completely on wire racks.
• 2. LINE baking sheet with wax paper. Crumble cookies into food processor container and cover. Process until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add cream cheese; process until mixture begins to hold together. Mixture will be dark in color.
• 3. If smaller food processor is being used, half the cookies and half the cream cheese can be processed. Transfer mixture to medium bowl and then repeat with remaining cookies and cream cheese. Roll or scoop mixture into 1 1/4-inch balls.
• 4. Pinch to be slightly oval shaped. Place on prepared baking sheet. Microwave morsels and vegetable shortening in small, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 30 seconds; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their original shape.
• 5. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. DIP one end of truffle acorn 1/4-inch into melted chocolate. Then dip into pretzel pieces to form cap of acorn. Insert pretzel stem into truffle. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

ACORN COOKIE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Make cookies as directed on pouch. Cool completely, at least 20 minutes.
• In food processor, process half of the cookies to fine crumbs. Remove and set aside; process remaining cookies to fine crumbs. Mix all cookie crumbs in food processor. Add cream cheese and hazelnut spread. Process 1 to 2 minutes or until well combined and mixture forms a ball.
• Shape cookie mixture into 46 (1 1/4-inch) balls. Flatten each ball into palm of hand to about a 2-inch circle. Place 1 pretzel in center. Form cookie mixture around pretzel into an oblong acorn shape, leaving about 1 inch of pretzel showing for stem. Place on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining balls and pretzels. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• In medium microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and shortening uncovered on High 60 seconds. Stir; continue to microwave in 30-second increments until mixture can be stirred smooth. In small bowl, place chopped almonds.
• Remove one-third of cookie acorns at a time from refrigerator. Place on second waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Carefully holding chilled cookie acorn by pretzel stem, hold over bowl of melted chocolate. Using spoon, spoon melted chocolate over cookie acorn to cover. Gently shake off excess chocolate.
• Continue to hold cookie acorn; hold over almond bowl. Using another clean spoon, sprinkle almonds over top third of acorn. Place on lined cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining cookie acorns. If chocolate has cooled too much, reheat. Refrigerate truffles about 30 minutes or until coating is set. Store covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Place the 10 ounces of chocolate and butter in a medium size glass mixing bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir, and repeat this process 1 more time. Set aside.
• Heat the heavy cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove from the heat and pour the mixture over the melted chocolate mixture; let stand for 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, stir gently, starting in the middle of bowl and working in concentric circles until all chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth and creamy. Gently stir in the brandy. Pour the mixture into an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Using a melon baller, scoop chocolate onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Place the cocoa powder, nuts, and/or toasted coconut each in its own pie pan and set aside.
• In the meantime, place the 8 ounces of chocolate into a medium mixing bowl which is sitting on top of a heating pad lined bowl, with the heating pad set to medium. Depending on the heating pad, you may need to adjust the heat up or down. Stirring the chocolate occasionally, test the temperature of the chocolate and continue heating until it reaches 90 to 92 degrees F; do not allow the chocolate to go above 94 degrees F. If you do, the coating will not have a nice snap to it when you bite into the chocolate. Once you have reached the optimal temperature, adjust the heat to maintain it.
• Remove the truffles from the refrigerator and shape into balls by rolling between the palms of your hands. Use powder-free vinyl or latex gloves, if desired.
• Dip an ice cream scoop into the chocolate and turn upside down to remove excess chocolate. Place truffles 1 at time into the scoop and roll around until coated. Then place the truffle into the dish with either the cocoa powder, nuts or coconut. Move the truffle around to coat; leave truffle in the coating for 10 to 15 seconds before removing. In the meantime, continue placing the chocolate-coated truffles in the cocoa or other secondary coating. After 10 to 15 seconds, remove the truffle to a parchment lined sheet pan. Repeat until all truffles are coated. Allow to set in a cool dry place for at least 1 hour; or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Truffles are best when served at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Chop the chocolates finely with a sharp knife. Place them in a heat-proof mixing bowl.
• Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it just boils. Turn off the heat and allow the cream to sit for 20 seconds. Pour the cream through a fine-meshed sieve into the bowl with chocolate. With a wire whisk, slowly stir the cream and chocolates together until the chocolate is completely melted. Whisk in the Grand Marnier, if using, coffee, and vanilla. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
• With 2 teaspoons, spoon round balls of the chocolate mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, until firm. Roll each dollop of chocolate in your hands to roughly make a round ball. Roll in confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, or both. These will keep refrigerated for weeks, but serve at room temperature.

EASY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate and tip into a large bowl. Put the cream and butter into a saucepan and heat gently until the butter melts and the cream reaches simmering point. Remove from heat, then pour over the chocolate. Stir the chocolate and cream together until you have a smooth mixture. Add any flavourings to the truffle mix at this stage (divide the mixture between bowls and mix in liqueurs or other flavourings, a tsp at a time, to taste. Try bourbon, Grand Marnier, coconut rum or the zest and juice of an orange), or leave plain. Cool and chill for at least 4 hrs.
• To shape the truffles, dip a melon baller in hot water and scoop up balls of the mixture, then drop the truffles onto greaseproof paper. Or lightly coat your hands in flavourless oil (such as sunflower) and roll the truffles between your palms. You could also use a piping bag to pipe rounds onto baking parchment.
• Coat your truffles immediately after shaping. Tip toppings into a bowl and gently roll the truffles until evenly coated, then chill on baking parchment. Try: crushed, shelled pistachio nuts; lightly toasted desiccated coconut; or roll a truffle flavoured with orange zest and juice in cocoa powder. To coat in chocolate, line a baking tray with baking parchment. Melt 100g milk, dark or white chocolate for 10 truffles. Allow chocolate to cool slightly. With a fork, pick up one truffle at a time and hold over the bowl of melted chocolate. Spoon the chocolate over the truffle until well-coated. Place on the baking tray, then chill.
• To give as presents, place 8-10 truffles in individual foil or paper cases inside small, lined boxes tied with ribbon. Keep in the fridge until you're ready to give them. Will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for three days, or frozen for up to a month. Defrost in the fridge overnight.