Luxurious Caramel Truffles Food

CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square dish with plastic wrap; set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels, milk chocolate chips and cream. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave 1 minute longer, stirring every 15 seconds or until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth. Spread into prepared dish; refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm., Using plastic wrap, lift candy out of pan. Cut into 30 pieces; roll each piece into a 1-in. ball. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm., In a microwave-safe bowl, melt semi-sweet chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip caramels in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. If desired, use additional melted chocolate to drizzle over truffles. Refrigerate until firm.

CARAMEL-NUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Chop the nuts fairly finely and mix with the sugar, cayenne and lemon zest.
• Roll a caramel in your hand until round, then roll in the nut mixture, pressing to coat. Set aside and repeat with the remaining caramels.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring condensed milk, butter, and cream to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until butter melts. Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens slightly and turns pale golden, 4 to 6 minutes (do not let it get too dark, or mixture will separate). Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes. Add chocolate, cocoa powder, and vanilla, stirring until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth and combined. Transfer to a pie dish or a wide, shallow bowl and refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours.
• Scoop 1 tablespoon of chocolate mixture into your palm and roll into a ball. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet; repeat with remaining mixture. Place sprinkles in bowls (onefor each color). Roll truffles in sprinkles until thoroughly coated. Place in paper mini baking cups and serve, or store in refrigerator, covered, up to 1 month.

CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Line an 8 inch square dish with plastic wrap and set aside.
• In a microwave safe bowl, combine the caramels, milk chocolate chips and cream.
• Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir.
• Microwave 1 minute longer, stirring every 15 seconds or until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth.
• Spread into prepared dish; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
• Using plastic wrap, lift candy out of pan.
• Cut into 30 pieces, rolling each piece into a 1 inch ball.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
• In microwave safe bowl, melt semisweet chips and shortening; stir until smooth.
• Dip caramels in chocolate and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets.
• Refrigerate until firm.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a dry heavy saucepan (about 3 1/2 quarts) cook sugar over moderate heat, stirring with a fork until melted, and swirl pan until sugar is a golden caramel. Remove pan from heat and add cream carefully (mixture will bubble up). Return pan to heat and simmer, stirring, until caramel is dissolved.
• Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, salt, and vanilla. Let mixture stand 5 minutes and stir until chocolate is melted. Transfer mixture to a bowl and cool, uncovered. Chill mixture, covered, 2 hours, or until firm.
• Coat truffles:
• Scoop out truffle mixture with a spoon and form into 1-inch balls. Roll truffles in 1/2 cup cocoa powder or coat with 1 cup pecans, pressing nuts slightly to adhere. (Alternatively, roll half of truffles in 1/4 cup cocoa powder and coat remaining truffles with 1/2 cup pecans.) Chill truffles on a tray lined with wax paper until firm, about 1 hour. Truffles keep in an airtight container, chilled, 2 weeks.

TWO-INGREDIENT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Make the truffle base:
• Set a heat-safe medium bowl over a medium saucepan filled with an inch or two of water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water in the pot). Heat over medium heat until water is simmering, then add cream to bowl and heat until warm, about 3 minutes. Add chocolate and cook, stirring constantly, until melted, about 3 minutes (or up to 5 minutes if using chocolate chips).
• Carefully remove the bowl from the saucepan and pour chocolate mixture into a second heatproof bowl or pie pan (preferably made from metal, since it cools more quickly). Let cool at room temperature 15 minutes, then freeze until truffle base is firm, about 1 hour.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Once chocolate mixture has chilled, use a teaspoon, melon baller, or small scoop to drop truffle mixture by the heaping teaspoonful onto the prepared sheet. Form truffles into balls by rolling them quickly between the palms of your hands. This process is a little messy, so wash your hands in cold water halfway through rolling, if desired. Freeze truffles on prepared sheet for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare your choice of topping:
• Curry-Coconut In a medium bowl, mix together the curry powder and shredded coconut.
• Orange-Pistachio Finely chop the grated zest and pistachios by hand or using a food processor. Place in a medium bowl and roll the truffles in the mixture, pressing slightly to adhere the topping.
• Strawberry-Black Pepper Place strawberries in a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin or other heavy object, crush the strawberries until a mix of small pieces and powder is formed. Place in a medium bowl and mix in the pepper.
• Caramel-Corn Finely chop the peanuts by hand or using a food processor. Finely chop the popcorn by hand or add to the chopped peanuts in the food processor and pulse a few times until popcorn is in small pieces. Mix the peanuts and popcorn in a medium bowl.
• Finish the truffles:
• Once chilled, roll truffles in the topping of your choice (see above), pressing slightly to adhere the ingredients to the truffles. Store finished truffles in the refrigerator up to 5 days; remove to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.