Chocolate Truffle Frosting And Filling Food

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the rum if desired.
• Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake. Start at the center of the cake and work outward. For a fluffy frosting or chocolate filling, allow it to cool until thick, then whip with a whisk until light and fluffy.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE FILLING

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a large bowl.
• In a small saucepan, heat the cream just until it starts to bubble.
• Pour the cream over the chocolate; make sure all the chocolate is covered by the cream (push some pieces down if you need to).
• Cover the bowl and let it sit there, undisturbed, for 10 minutes, until the chocolate has melted.
• Whisk the mixture until the chocolate is dark and shiny, then cool to room temperature, or stick it in the fridge until ready to use.
• If you refrigerate the filling before you put it on the cake, it will get very hard, and you'll need to pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to loosen it up.
• You can, of course, pour it over the top of cake while it's still warm for a beautiful, smooth, shiny ganache topping.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE FROSTING ( AND FILLING )

Steps:

• In a medium size saucepan cook together the cream, butter and sugar over medium -low heat, and just about bring to the boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in the chopped chocolate pieces, untill all is melted and creamy.
• Transfer the chocolate cream into a deep glass bowl and let cool.
• With electric beaters on high speed start beating the choc-cream before it gets too cool, beating five minutes.
• Gradually adding (only when choc-cream is very cool ) a tablespoonfull at a time of very cold water or whisky or rum.
• Beat till the choc-cream is getting foamy and light in color, then quickly use before it gets too firm.
• Sieve a little cocoa powder over the frosting to give a velvety finish.

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.

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.

WHITE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE AND CHOCOLATE FUDGE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For chocolate stars:
• Line baking sheet with foil. Stir chocolate and shortening in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Pour onto prepared baking sheet, tilting pan to spread chocolate mixture to irregular 14x9-inch rectangle. Refrigerate until just firm, about 12 minutes. Spray assorted star-shaped cookie cutters with nonstick spray. Cut out stars. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Using small offset spatula, carefully transfer stars 1 at a time to another foil-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to use. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottoms with parchment paper; butter parchment. Stir unsweetened chocolate in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Beat in lukewarm melted unsweetened chocolate and vanilla. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, blending well after each addition. Mix in cocoa powder mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk in 2 additions.
• Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run knife around edge of each pan to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely. Peel off parchment.
• For filling and frosting:
• Bring 1 cup cream and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until butter melts. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate and stir until smooth. Whisk in vanilla. Pour 1 1/2 cups white chocolate filling into small bowl; cover and freeze until cold, about 2 hours.
• Let remaining white chocolate mixture in saucepan stand at room temperature until lukewarm, about 20 minutes.
• Using electric mixer, beat remaining 2 cups cream and almond extract in large bowl until peaks form. Working in 3 batches, fold in lukewarm white chocolate mixture. Refrigerate whipped cream frosting just until medium peaks hold, folding occasionally, about 3 hours.
• Brush 2 tablespoons amaretto over top of each cake layer. Place 1 layer on platter. Spread chilled 1 1/2 cups white chocolate filling over. Top with second cake layer. Spread whipped cream frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill until cold and set, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Arrange chocolate stars decoratively atop cake and serve.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Line cookie sheet with foil. In 2-quart saucepan, melt baking chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly; stir in butter until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in whipping cream. Pour mixture into small bowl. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently, just until thick enough to hold a shape.
• Drop mixture by rounded measuring teaspoonfuls onto lined cookie sheet. Return to refrigerator 5 to 10 minutes or until firm enough to shape. Shape into balls. Freeze uncovered 30 minutes.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth; remove from heat. Using 2 forks, dip and roll chocolate balls, one at a time, into melted chocolate; tap off excess chocolate. Place on lined cookie sheet. Immediately sprinkle with nuts. If chocolate has cooled too much, reheat. Repeat with remaining chocolate balls.
• Refrigerate truffles about 10 minutes or until chocolate is set. Store in covered container in refrigerator. Remove from refrigerator about 10 minutes before serving.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE FROSTING

Steps:

• Whip the heavy cream until stiff.
• Melt the chocolate over a double boiler.
• When the chocolate has melted, add the butter and stir until the butter melts.
• Allow the mixture to cool a bit.
• Add the whipped cream, the powdered sugar and cognac or coffee (if using), stir to combine.
• If the frosting is very liquid-y at this point, let it sit in the fridge until it becomes thicker and spreadable.
• Frost your cake and transfer to the fridge, allow the frosting to set before serving.