Chocolate Truffles With Cinder Toffee Food

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.

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.

SIMPLE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Chop chocolate finely using a serrated knife, and place in a large heatproof bowl.
• In a medium saucepan, bring cream to a boil over medium-high heat; pour directly over chopped chocolate. Allow to sit 10 minutes; use a rubber spatula to gently stir chocolate and cream until combined. Allow to sit at room temperature until just thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Pour ganache mixture into a shallow glass dish. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until mixture is very cold and set but still pliable, about 30 minutes.
• Using a small spoon, scoop out ganache into 1-inch nuggets; place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill for 10 minutes. Use fingertips to mold truffles into round shapes. Roll in cocoa powder to coat; chill in an airtight container until ready to serve.

CINDER TOFFEE

Steps:

• Line a big tray with baking parchment and lightly grease with oil. Place the sugar and honey in a large saucepan with 4 tbsp water. Put over a very low heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Once the sugar has dissolved, add a sugar thermometer and bring to the boil over a high heat. Bubble until it reaches 149C on the sugar thermometer.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the bicarbonate of soda quickly, it will froth up madly - don't worry! Immediately pour into the tray, and leave to cool and set completely.
• Break into shards to nibble, or crumble over ice cream or our Salted honey fudge & chocolate tart (see 'Goes well with' box, right). Will keep in an airtight container between layers of baking parchment for 1-2 weeks.