Buttercream Bonbons Food

CHOCOLATE CREAM BONBONS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, pecans, milk and butter. Roll into 1-in. balls. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Cover and refrigerate overnight., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. (If balls are too soft to dip, freezer until firm, 3-5 minutes.)

BUTTERCREAM BONBONS

Steps:

• Combine butter and cream cheese in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed until smooth.
• Add vanilla; continue beating until well mixed.
• Reduce speed to low. While beating at low speed, gradually add powdered sugar until well mixed. (If mixture is too soft, cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to form balls.).
• Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Cover loosely; refrigerate until firm (2 hours, or overnight if preferred).
• Melt chocolate chips and shortening in a 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (3 to 4 minutes).
• Insert a toothpick into a buttercream bon bon. Holding the toohpick, dip the bon bon into the melted chocolate. Let excess chocolate drip back into saucepan.
• Place chocolate-covered bon bon on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet, and remove the toothpick. Repeat until all the bon bons are coated with melted chocolate.
• Place the sheet of bon bons in the refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until the chocolate is firm.
• Place bon bons in an air-tight container, with a sheet of waxed paper between the layers to keep the bon bons from sticking to one another. Store container in refrigerator (or in the freezer for up to 2 months) until ready to serve.

SWISS BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a heatproof stand mixer's bowl above the water.
• Add the sugar, lemon juice, salt and egg whites to the mixing bowl, and whisk together by hand. Set the bowl above the boiling water and whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar completely dissolves. Transfer to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat at medium-high speed until cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Toss in a couple of chunks of butter at a time, making sure the pieces are incorporated before adding more. After all the butter is added, continue whisking on medium-high speed. The mixture will deflate and appear curdled. Continue whisking until the buttercream comes back together to form a smooth and spreadable consistency. Slowly drizzle in the optional flavoring while beating until smooth and light. (If the frosting is very soft or begins to break, refrigerate until set but still spreadable and then beat until light before using.)
• Chocolate:
• Remove the buttercream from the stand mixer into a large bowl and, in three batches, fold in 6 ounces melted and cooled bittersweet chocolate.
• Citrus:
• Stir in the zest of half a lemon or orange.
• Boozy:
• Stir in 2 tablespoons coffee-flavored liqueur and 1 tablespoon vodka.