Espresso Coffee Truffles Food

COCKTAIL TRUFFLE SELECTION

Steps:

• Start by placing half the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Once melted, take the bowl off the heat and add the rest of the white chocolate and the food colouring, if using (just use a tiny amount as the gel colours are quite strong). Stir occasionally to allow the chocolate to melt in the residual heat. Sprinkle a pinch of meringue into 10 of the holes of your chocolate mould. Once the chocolate has melted, use half to coat the insides of the holes where you have sprinkled meringue. Use the end of a teaspoon to spread the chocolate up the sides of the moulds so that the the inside is coated. Leave to set for 45 mins-1 hr.
• Meanwhile, melt the other chocolates in separate bowls using the same method, then use each to coat a further 10 holes of the mould. Keep back half of each chocolate mixture, as you will need this to seal the truffles.
• While the chocolate sets, make the fillings. For the Pisco sour filling, beat the softened butter together with the icing sugar until pale and smooth. Add the Pisco, Angostura Bitters and lime zest and stir well. Transfer to a piping bag and store in a cool place until needed.
• To make the espresso martini filling, melt the dark chocolate and butter in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water (or in the microwave). Remove from the heat and mix in the double cream, vodka and Kahlúa. Leave to cool for 5 mins. Transfer to a piping bag and store in a cool place until needed.
• For the Cosmopolitan filling, Put the dried cranberries in a bowl with the orange liqueur and leave to soak for 15 mins. Beat the butter with the icing sugar, then stir in the cranberries and liqueur, bit by bit. Mix in the lime zest and cranberry jelly. Transfer to a piping bag and store in a cool place until needed.
• Once all the chocolate has set in the moulds, pipe the Pisco sour filling into the green/white chocolate shells, the espresso martini filling into the espresso chocolate shells (saving a bit for sticking the beans on later) and the Cosmopolitan filling into the dark chocolate shells. Leave 2mm of space at the top of each one.
• Bring the pan(s) of water back to simmering, then set the reserved bowls of chocolate over to melt them again if they have set. Use this remaining chocolate to fill up the moulds and seal in the filling. Try to fill the moulds level or just under - if they go over, they won't sit flat when the chocolates are turned out.
• Leave your truffles somewhere cool to set completely for at least 2 hrs (ideally overnight). If you put them in the fridge they will set more quickly, but they will lose their shine.
• Once set completely, pop the chocolates out of the moulds carefully. Add a brush stroke of gold to the Cosmopolitan truffles using your brush pen. Stick a chocolate- coated coffee bean on each of the espresso martini truffles using a bit of the filling. Arrange in a box lined with baking parchment and tissue paper. Will keep in a cool place for up to 1 week.

ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES WITH TOFFEE

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate and put in a heatproof bowl. Bring the heavy cream, butter and salt to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat; pour over the chocolate and let sit until completely melted, about 10 minutes. Stir with a rubber spatula or whisk until smooth. (If necessary, microwave in 20-second intervals until the chocolate melts.)
• Whisk in the vanilla extract, then the espresso. Stir until the ganache is smooth and shiny. Pour into a shallow baking dish and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Roll tablespoonfuls of the ganache into 18 to 24 balls, then roll in crushed toffee bars. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight. (To make these in advance, roll into balls but do not coat; cover and freeze up to 2 weeks. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before uncovering, then roll in coating.)

ESPRESSO TRUFFLES

Steps:

• IN A SMALL saucepan, combine cream and espresso powder, whisking well. Bring to a simmer over low heat.
• IN A MEDIUM combine 8 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate and 2 ounces semi-sweet. Pour hot cream over chocolate, stirring until melted.Let chocolate cool.
• WHEN CHOCOLATE is cool but not set whip with wooden spoon until lighter in texture and color.
• ROLL tablespoonfuls of chocolate mixture between your palms to form balls Place on parchment paper and refrigerate to harden.
• IN A SMALL MICROWAVEABLE BOWL combine remaining 6 ounces of bittersweet and 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate. Melt in a microwave on medium for 30 second intervals until melted. Stir well.
• DIP hardened chocolate pieces in melted chocolate, covering well. Place on parchment paper. When chocolate coating begins to set dust with cocoa powder and sprinkle sugar on top.

ESPRESSO COFFEE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a saucepan slowly bring the cream to the boil. Turn off the heat and add the coffee and chocolate. Stir with a whisk until the mixture becomes smooth and the chocolate has melted. The liquid should have become slightly lighter and shinier at this stage. Pour into a jug and leave to cool for about 2 hours or until it has come down to room temperature. See Cook's note*.
• Beat the mixture with an electric whisk for about 1 minute or until it changes color.
• Line a square plastic container with baking paper and pour the chocolate mixture into it. Leave to set in the refrigerator for 2 hours. You can test this by pressing the top with your fingers. Run a spatula around the edges and lift the chocolate on the baking paper out of the dish and swiftly cut it lengthways into even strips of about 2/3-inch. Then cut these into cubes. Put cocoa powder into a flat dish and roll the cubes in it, making sure that they are well coated. The truffles can be kept for about 2 weeks.