Crisp Chocolate Truffles Food

DARK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the cream just to a simmer over medium-low to low heat. Pour the cream over the chocolate in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand about 10 minutes to melt the chocolate.
• Add the vanilla and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool to room temperature, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Then beat the chocolate at medium speed, using an electric mixer, until it is thick and light colored. If the chocolate has cooled enough, it will be ready to form truffles right away. If the chocolate is still too soft to hold its shape when rolled in a ball, spread over the bottom of a baking dish and smooth the top. Refrigerate until firmed, but still scoopable, up to 2 hours.
• Pour the cocoa powder onto a deep plate or shallow bowl. Use a melon baller or small ice cream scoop to scoop out balls of chocolate and gently roll into a ball. Place them on the plate with the cocoa powder and roll between 2 forks to completely coat with the cocoa powder. Then use the forks to carefully transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment or waxed paper.
• If making the truffles a day or two ahead of time, let them stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving.

CRISPY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Add the heavy cream to a small saucepan. Use a paring knife to split the vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape the vanilla beans seeds from the pod and add to the cream along with the empty pod. Heat over low until just starting to simmer.
• Meanwhile, use a serrated knife to finely chop the chocolate and put in a heatproof bowl.
• Remove the vanilla pod, squeezing it to release any cream. Discard or reserve for another use.
• Pour 1/3 cup of the hot vanilla cream over the chocolate (measure, as some cream will have evaporated) and use a rubber spatula to stir in small, circular motions until combined. Add the butter and continue to make circular motions until the mixture is completely melted and combined with no bits or streaks of butter. Stir in 1 cup of the puffed cereal, the hazelnuts and orange zest. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the ganache for 1 hour to firm up.
• Put the remaining 1 cup cereal in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin or the back of a pot. Transfer to a shallow bowl.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment. Use a tablespoon to scoop the ganache and roll it into a ball with both hands. Dip the ball in the crushed cereal to coat. Transfer the truffle to the prepared pan. Repeat with the remaining ganache and cereal. Put the truffles in mini muffin liners, if you like.
• Store the truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or at room temperature for up to 4 days.

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over low heat, melt the unsweetened chocolate, 1 cup of the chocolate chips, vanilla, and butter together; stirring, until smooth.
• Remove pan from heat; cool for 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together for 2 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed.
• Beat in the vanilla and chocolate mixture.
• Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt; add to the chocolate mixture just until combined.
• Stir in the remaining chocolate chips.
• Cover dough and chill for at least 3 hours.
• Remove about 1 cup of the dough from the refrigerator; with lightly floured hands, roll into 1" balls.
• Place 2" apart on ungreased or parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
• Bake in a preheated 350*F.
• oven for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly puffed and set.
• Cool for 3-4 minutes on the cookie sheets before removing to a wire rack; cool completely.
• Dust with powdered sugar.

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Add chocolate chips to a heat-proof mixing bowl; add ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, salt, and cayenne. Heat cream over medium heat until it just starts to simmer. Immediately remove from heat and pour hot cream over chocolate. Shake bowl slightly to fully cover the chocolate; let sit for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk until well combined and a thick, glossy ganache forms.
• Cover ganache with plastic wrap and let cool to room temperature or until firm enough to scoop, about 15 minutes. Form about 2 teaspoons of the ganache into balls using a small sorbet scoop, or roll by hand. Place balls onto a baking sheet lined with silicone or parchment paper. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 15 minutes, then re-roll as needed to smoothen.
• Place a heat-proof bowl over a pot of hot water on the lowest heat settling. Add most of the chocolate chips, reserving about 1/3 cup, to the bowl and let melt, about 5 minutes. In the meantime, break gingersnap in half and place on a plate next to a microplane. Stir the reserved chocolate chips into the melted chocolate until they disappear. Remove from heat.
• Dip truffles into the melted chocolate by hand or by holding each truffle with a fork and spooning the chocolate on top. Place truffles on the baking sheet and swirl the tops with your finger. Grate the gingersnap on top. Let truffles rest on the baking sheet until the coating dries and hardens completely, trimming away excess chocolate from the bases using the back of a knife if desired.

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.

CRISPY MEXICAN TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, chocolate and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until easy to handle., In a small bowl, combine the cornflakes, cinnamon and cayenne. Shape chocolate mixture into 1-in. balls; roll in cornflake mixture. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.