Chocolate Truffle Squares Food

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Set aside.
• Heat the heavy cream until it is simmering. You can heat it on the stove or in the microwave.
• Add the butter, if using, to the chocolate and pour the heavy cream evenly on top. Let the warm cream and chocolate sit for 5 minutes minutes. Add the vanilla extract then stir until the chocolate has completely melted. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface (to avoid condensation) and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Tip: Pour into a flat shallow dish, such as a 8×8 inch baking pan, so the mixture evenly and quickly sets.
• Scoop the set truffle mixture into 2 teaspoon-sized mounds. This cookie scoop is the perfect size. For larger truffles, 1 Tablespoon size mounds. Roll each into balls. This gets a little sticky, so see my tips above.
• Roll each into toppings, if desired. Truffles taste best at room temperature!
• Cover tightly and store truffles at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE SQUARES

Steps:

• 9 X 9 inch cake pan.
• Baking pan or roasting at least 2 inches deep and large enough to hold the cake pan with at least 2 inches to spare on each side.
• Position the rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
• Line the bottom and sides of the pan with foil.
• Put a kettle of water on to boil for the bain marie when baking in the oven.
• Place chocolate in a large mixing bowl.
• Combine the 2 egg yolks with vanilla in a small bowl.
• Place the 3 egg whites in a medium bowl with cream of tartar.
• Set all 3 bowls aside.
• Combine the cocoa, flour and 2/3 cup sugar in a 1 1 1/2 quart heavy bottomed saucepan.
• Whisk in enough of the milk to form a smooth paste.
• Mix in the remaining milk.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, to prevent burning (especially around the bottom edges of the pot), until mixture begins to simmer.
• Simmer very gently, stirring constantly, for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until the mixture visibly thickens.
• Pour the hot mixture immediately over the chopped chocolate.
• Stir until chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
• Whisk in egg yolk mixture.
• Set aside.
• Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar at medium speed until soft peaks form.
• Gradually sprinkle in the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, beating at high speed until stiff but not dry.
• Fold a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it.
• Fold in remaining egg whites.
• Scrape mixture into the cake pan and spread evenly.
• Set cake pan in baking pan and place on oven rack.
• Pour enough boiling water into the baking pan to come a third to halfway up the sides of the cake pan.
• Bake for exactly 20 minutes.
• The cake will only be about 3/4 inches tall.
• The surface will spring back when gently pressed but cake will still be quite gooey inside.
• Remove cake pan and water pan from oven.
• Remove the cake pan from the water and cool completely on a rack.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight before serving.
• Refrigerate up to 2 days or freeze up to 2 months.
• After the truffle sheet is well chilled, lift the edges of the foil to remove the truffle sheet from the pan.
• Cut the sheet into 7 strips, each about 1 1/4 inches wide, using a long thin sharp knife dipping in hot water and wiped dry between each cut (the cake is very sticky) or cut with dental floss.
• Cut each strip into 7 squares.
• Transfer each square to a fluted paper candy cup and or arrange on a serving platter.
• If garnishing with raspberries, simmer the preserves for a minute or until thick and sticky.
• Touch the hot preserves with the bottom of each berry before placing it on the truffle square.
• Refrigerate until serving.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE SQUARES

Steps:

• Baking pan or roasting pan at least 2 inches deep and large enough to hold the cake pan with at least 2 inches to spare on each side.
• Position the rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with foil. Put a kettle of water on to boil for the bain marie when baking in the oven.
• Place chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Combine the 2 egg yolks with vanilla in a small bowl. Place the 3 egg whites in a medium bowl with cream of tartar. Set all 3 bowls aside.
• Combine the cocoa, flour and 2/3 cup sugar in a 1 1/2 quart heavy bottomed saucepan. Whisk in enough of the milk to form a smooth paste. Mix in the remaining milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, to prevent burning (especially around the bottom edges of the pot), until mixture begins to simmer. Simmer very gently, stirring constantly, for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until the mixture visibly thickens. Pour the hot mixture immediately over the chopped chocolate. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Whisk in egg yolk mixture. Set aside.
• Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar at medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually sprinkle in the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, beating at high speed until stiff but not dry. Fold a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining egg whites. Scrape mixture into the cake pan and spread evenly. Set cake pan in baking pan and place on oven rack. Pour enough boiling water into the baking pan to come a third to halfway up the sides of the cake pan.
• Bake for exactly 20 minutes. The cake will only be about 3/4 inches tall. The surface will spring back when gently pressed but cake will still be quite gooey inside. Remove cake pan and water pan from oven. Remove the cake pan from the water and cool completely on a rack. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight before serving. Refrigerate up to 2 days or freeze up to 2 months.
• After the truffle sheet is well chilled, lift the edges of the foil to remove the truffle sheet from the pan. Cut the sheet into 7 strips, each about 1 1/4 inches wide, using a long thin sharp knife dipping in hot water and wiped dry between each cut (the cake is very sticky) or cut with dental floss. Cut each strip into 7 squares. Transfer each square to a fluted paper candy cup and or arrange on a serving platter. If garnishing with raspberries, simmer the preserves for a minute or until thick and sticky. Touch the hot preserves with the bottom of each berry before placing it on the truffle square. Refrigerate until serving.

EASY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• 1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, with overhang on two sides. In a saucepan, bring heavy cream and salt to a simmer.
• Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl and pour hot cream mixture over top; let stand 5 minutes then stir until smooth. Pour mixture into baking pan and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours.
• When mixture is firm, cut into 1-inch squares and toss in cocoa powder. (See variation section below for instructions on rolling the truffles into balls). To store, box up truffles and refrigerate them at least 15 minutes and up to 2 weeks.