Chocolate Truffles With Liqueur Food

CHOCOLATE LIQUEUR TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Break chocolate up and place in a bowl with the brandy. Place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir gently to combine until the chocolate is smooth.
• Stir in the butter and egg yolk until well combined (the heat from the chocolate will help melt the butter).
• Refrigerate until firm enough to shape into balls - I made mine slightly larger than standard marbles, but it's up to you and your conscience! Roll each ball in the cocoa (or you could experiment with chocolate hail, crushed pistachio nuts, etc. I used drinking chocolate, as it's sweeter than plain cocoa).
• Return to the fridge (or freeze, as desired). Serve chilled.

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put 12 ounces of the chocolate in a bowl. Whisk together the cream and corn syrup in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Pour over the chocolate and whisk until thoroughly combined and smooth. Whisk in butter until smooth and glossy. Add the raspberry liqueur and mix well.
• Pour the chocolate into a deep pan and chill. When the chocolate is firm, scoop out small truffle balls, using a melon baller or other small scoop. (Dip scoop in very hot water before each scoop, patting each time onto a towel to avoid getting water into the chocolate mixture.) Chill truffles slightly, and then perfect the circular shape by rolling quickly in palms of your hands. Store the truffles in the refrigerator until ready to finish.
• To finish the truffles: Melt the remaining 8 ounces of chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Set the bowl aside and let cool slightly, stirring occasionally, until just cooler than body temperature.
• Put enough cocoa powder in a bowl to form a small pile. Wearing rubber gloves and working with 1 truffle at a time, rub some of the melted chocolate all over the truffles and roll quickly in your hands until smooth. Drop the truffles into the cocoa powder, roll to coat completely, and transfer to a platter. Store in a cool, dry place.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE-TINI

Steps:

• Combine the creme de cocoa, liqueur, vodka and chocolate milk in a pitcher. Pour into glasses. Score the bottom of each truffle about 1/4-inch deep with a hot knife. Place a truffle on the side of each glass to garnish and serve.

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 orange flavored liqueur, 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. Roll each ball of chocolate in your hands to roughly make it round. Roll in confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, or both. These will keep refrigerated for weeks, but serve them at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES WITH LIQUEUR

Steps:

• In microwave using medium-low power, melt chocolate in a medium-sized bowl-- the length of time this will take will depend on the strength of your microwave, but expect it to take at least 1 minute.
• Whisk in butter and egg yolk until blended; then whisk in liqueur and icing sugar until smooth.
• Cover and refrigerate until firm enough to shape, about 1 hour.
• Shape mixture into small balls, roll balls in cocoa, then place in tiny foil or paper cups.
• The above will be a messy job on your hands-- they will get quite chocolatey; if mixture gets too soft, return it to the fridge to stiffen up again.
• Keep truffles refrigerated in a covered container; remove from fridge about 30 minutes before serving to take the chill off them.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES WITH NUTS AND LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Preheat a broiler. Spread the nuts on a foil-lined baking sheet and place under the broiler for about a minute to toast them lightly and evenly, stirring them once during the browning. Do not allow them to burn. Set them aside.
• Break the chocolate into a heatproof mixing bowl and place the bowl over a pan of simmering water until the chocolate is nearly all melted. Remove the bowl from the pan of water and stir the chocolate until smooth. Stir in the nuts and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Stir in butter and liqueur. Refrigerate mixture until it is firm enough to handle, an hour or longer.
• When firm, remove the mixture from the refrigerator and allow it to soften for about 15 minutes. Place the cocoa in a shallow dish. Using a spoon, scoop up half-tablespoons of the chocolate mixture, and using your fingertips, form somewhat uneven balls about an inch in diameter and roll them quickly in the cocoa. Place them in a shallow dish and refrigerate until ready to serve. The balls can also be frozen without the cocoa for later use, and then dusted with cocoa just before serving.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a bowl. Bring cream, Grand Marnier, and salt to a simmer in a small saucepan. Pour over chocolate, and let stand for 2 minutes. Whisk until smooth.
• Pour chocolate mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish, and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.
• Scoop balls of chocolate mixture using a tablespoon or a 1-inch ice cream scoop. Roll balls in cocoa powder, tossing, until fully coated. Shake off excess.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CHAMBORD TRUFFLES FOR YOUR VALENTINE!

Steps:

• In a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream, butter, and raspberry jam to a simmer, stirring occasionally until butter and jam are melted.
• Remove from heat; stir in the chocolate until melted and smooth.
• Stir in the liqueur, mixing well.
• Transfer to a bowl and chill covered, for 4 hours or until firm.
• Working quickly roll chocolate mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls, placing them on a parchment paper lined cookie tray as you go.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour, or until firm.
• Roll chocolate balls in cocoa powder, place in mini paper cups.
• Store in an airtight container, with parchment between the layers.
• Keep chilled until ready to serve, for up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine butter and cream. Bring to a boil, and remove from heat. Stir in 4 ounces chopped chocolate, orange liqueur, and orange zest; continue stirring until smooth. Pour truffle mixture into a shallow bowl or a 9X5 in loaf pan. Chill until firm, about 2 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Shape chilled truffle mixture by rounded teaspoons into small balls (a melon baller also works well for this part). Place on prepared baking sheet. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• In the top of a double boiler over lightly simmering water, melt remaining 4 ounces chocolate with the oil, stirring until smooth. Cool to lukewarm.
• Drop truffles, one at a time, into melted chocolate mixture. Using 2 forks, lift truffles out of the chocolate, allowing any excess chocolate to drip back into the pan before transferring back onto baking sheet. Chill until set.