Bittersweet Chocolate And Hazelnut Truffles Food

HAZELNUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Chop the hazelnuts and place them on a sheet pan. Roast them in the oven for 10 minutes. (If the hazelnuts have skin on them, roast them for 25 minutes.) Set aside to cool.
• Chop the chocolates finely and place in a bowl.
• Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it boils. Immediately pour the hot cream through a fine-meshed sieve into the bowl with the chocolates. With a wire whisk, slowly stir the cream and chocolates together until the chocolate is completely melted. (If the chocolate doesn't melt completely, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir for a few minutes just until it melts.) Whisk in the hazelnut liqueur, coffee, and vanilla. Cover and chill for 45 minutes to 1 hour until pliable but firm enough to scoop.
• With 2 teaspoons or a 1 1/4-inch ice cream scoop, make dollops of the chocolate mixture and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes, until firm enough to roll into rough spheres. Roll the chocolate in the chopped hazelnuts and chill again. Truffles are best when they're allowed to set overnight in the refrigerator.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Add coffee granules to cream in large microwaveable bowl; stir until coffee is completely dissolved. Add butter and sugar; mix well.
• Microwave on HIGH 3 min. or until mixture comes to full boil, stirring every 1-1/2 min. Add chocolate and vanilla; stir until chocolate is completely melted.
• Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm enough to handle. Shape into 24 balls, each about 1 inch in diameter. Roll in cocoa and/or coconut.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, sift together confectioners' sugar and cocoa; set aside. , In a small saucepan, melt candy bars and butter. Add cream and reserved cocoa mixture. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until mixture is thickened and smooth. Pour into an 8-in. square dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight. , Using a melon baller or spoon, shape candy into 1-in. balls; press a hazelnut into each. Reshape balls and roll in ground hazelnuts. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

SALTED DARK CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Heat hazelnut spread in metal bowl over saucepan of gently simmering water and stir until hazelnut spread is warm, smooth, and easily stirred, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from heat.
• Dissolve sugar in water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Brush sides of pan with a moistened pastry brush occasionally as sugar mixture cooks. Increase heat to medium-high and bring syrup to a boil and cook until syrup is a deep amber color, brushing down sides and swirling saucepan occasionally to prevent scorching, about 4 minutes.
• Pour cream into the syrup while stirring. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring continually, until you have a smooth caramel, 5 to 10 minutes; gently stir into the melted hazelnut spread with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt.
• Refrigerate caramel mixture until firm, at least 3 hours.
• Spread cocoa powder into the bottom of a wide, shallow bowl.
• Scoop caramel mixture with a melon baller into 1 tablespoon portions; roll in the cocoa powder to coat; arrange onto a baking sheet.
• Cover truffle balls with plastic wrap and chill overnight or 8 hours.
• Line a 13x9x2-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Heat chopped chocolate in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water, stirring frequently until chocolate is melted and smooth and the chocolate reaches a temperature of 115 degrees F (46 degrees c). Remove bowl from over water.
• Working quickly, submerge each truffle ball in the melted chocolate. Lift truffles from chocolate with a fork and tap fork against side of bowl to remove excess coating. Transfer truffle to foil-lined pan to cool. Repeat with remaining truffle balls.
• Sprinkle finished truffles lightly with 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt before the chocolate hardens. Let stand until coating sets completely, at least 1 hour.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE AND HAZELNUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Place chocolate in medium metal bowl. Bring cream to simmer in small saucepan. Pour over chocolate; let stand 2 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Mix in brandy and vanilla. Cool completely, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Using electric mixer, beat chocolate mixture until fluffy and lighter in color, about 4 minutes. Mix in 6 tablespoons ground hazelnuts. Cover and refrigerate truffle mixture until firm, about 2 hours.
• Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Place 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts in another medium bowl. Fill glass with hot water. Dip 1-inch-diameter melon baller into water, then into truffle mixture, forming round truffle. Drop truffle into nuts; roll to coat completely and press to adhere. Place on prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining truffle mixture and nuts. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. (Can be made 2 days ahead; keep chilled.)

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Finely chop the chocolate block or use pistoles. The size of the chocolate pieces is key. Make sure the chocolate is in small pieces so that the heat from the boiled cream can melt all of the chocolate.
• Place chopped chocolate in a large non-reactive bowl. In a medium saucepan, bring cream, salt, and vanilla bean to a boil. Once mixture has boiled and foamed up, immediately remove the pan from the heat and pour it over the chocolate. Let chocolate and cream mixture sit for 3 minutes. With a wooden spoon, begin stirring small circles in the middle of the bowl. As the smooth mixture begins to form in the middle, slowly expand the size of the circle until the cream and chocolate is fully incorporated. Remove vanilla bean and stir in butter. Cover mixture and let sit until firm.
• Fill a piping bag or zip top freezer bag with the truffle mixture and pipe into 1 tablespoon size dollops. Allow dollops to set up until they are firm. Roll dollops into round truffles. Truffles can be coated in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, ground nuts, coconut, etc.
• Optional: Add 1-ounce distilled liquor or liqueurs (i.e. brandy, Kirsch, etc.) to butter for additional flavor variations. Distilled liquors or liqueurs add flavor without adding extra sweetness.

CHOC HAZELNUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring the cream to the boil. Remove from the heat and pour over the chopped chocolate. Gently stir the mixture until smooth, then add the alcohol or vanilla extract and hazelnuts. Cover and put in the fridge for 30 mins or until the mixture is thick but not solid.
• Scoop out teaspoons of the mixture and roll into small balls with your hands. Put each of your sprinkles or glitters onto separate small plates or bowls. Roll each truffle into the sprinkles or glitter to coat, then chill again to firm up. Will keep chilled for 1 week, or freeze for up to 1 month without the decoration.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• For truffle base:
• Bring cream to simmer in heavy small saucepan. Remove from heat; cool to lukewarm, 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir 7 ounces chocolate in metal bowl over saucepan of simmering water until smooth. Remove from heat. Add 2 ounces chocolate; stir until smooth. Stir in cream. Chill truffle base until firm enough to roll, about 3 hours.
• Line rimmed baking sheet with waxed paper. Roll 2 teaspoons truffle base between fingertips into ball. Transfer to prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining truffle base. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• For chocolate coating:
• Line another rimmed baking sheet with waxed paper. Stir chocolate in metal bowl over saucepan of simmering water just until melted. Remove from heat. Cool slightly.
• Scoop some of warm (not hot) melted chocolate into palm of hand. Place 1 chilled truffle in hand and roll in palm to coat. Transfer to prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining melted chocolate and truffles, rewarming chocolate if necessary. Roll in cocoa powder if desired. For variations, see page 61 for instructions on rolling in toppings. Chill until firm, about 1 hour. Do ahead Can be made 1 week ahead. Store in airtight container and keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES ROYALE

Steps:

• Chop 6 oz. of the chocolate; set aside. Bring cream to boil in medium saucepan on medium heat; remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and butter; stir until chocolate is completely melted. Cover and freeze 1 to 2 hours or until firm enough to handle.
• Use teaspoon to scoop chocolate mixture into 24 balls, each about 1 inch in diameter; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. Freeze 20 min.
• Chop remaining 6 oz. chocolate; place in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is partially melted; stir until chocolate is completely melted. Carefully dip each ball in chocolate, then return to baking sheet. Drizzle with any remaining chocolate. Refrigerate 30 min. or until firm.

HAZELNUT-CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Bring cream to a boil in medium saucepan over med-high heat. Whisk in bittersweet chocolate, butter and liqueur until well combined. Chill at least 2 hours.
• Place hazelnuts on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until they are toasted. Place warm nuts in a dish towel and rub vigorously to remove skins.
• Process toasted nuts in a food processor until medium ground. Place in shallow dish.
• Shape chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls. Melt 1/2 cup semisweet chips in small saucepan over low heat. Roll each ball in chocolate letting excess drip back into saucepan and roll immediately in the nuts.
• Cover and chill.