Mocha Truffle Tartlets Food

MOCHA TARTLETS

Steps:

• Make custard:
• Beat together yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt in a bowl with an electric mixer until thick and pale, about 1 minute. Heat milk in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not boiling. Add one third of hot milk to yolk mixture in a slow stream, whisking constantly. Pour remainder of milk into yolk mixture, whisking, then transfer to saucepan. Simmer, whisking constantly, until very thick, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add chocolate, liqueur, butter, and espresso powder. Let stand until chocolate is melted, about 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. Force custard through a fine sieve into a bowl. Cover surface of custard with wax paper and chill until cold, at least 4 hours.
• Make tartlet shells while custard chills:
• Pulse together flour, sugar, salt, butter, egg, and vanilla in a food processor until dough is smooth and begins to form a ball (it will be soft, like cookie dough). Turn out dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap and gather into a ball. Flatten dough into a disk and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours (overnight).
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Break off 1-teaspoon pieces of dough and press evenly into molds with floured fingers to form shells about 1/16 inch thick, pinching off excess from rim and making bottoms slightly thinner than sides. Arrange molds 1 inch apart in a shallow baking pan and chill until dough is firm again, about 30 minutes.
• Bake in middle of oven, rotating pan halfway through baking, until pale golden, 12 to 15 minutes total. Transfer molds to a rack to cool, then carefully remove shells from molds. Make more tartlet shells in same manner if desired.
• Assemble tartlets:
• Fill pastry bag with custard and pipe decoratively into shells.

MOCHA TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Melt 24 ounces chocolate chips in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, 1 to 3 minutes. Mix cream cheese, coffee granules, and water into melted chocolate until smooth. Chill chocolate mixture until firm enough to shape, about 30 minutes.
• Shape chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Chill truffles until firm, at least 1 to 2 hours.
• Melt 6 ounces chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, for 1 to 3 minutes.
• Dip truffles in the melted chocolate mixture and return to the waxed paper. Set aside until firm, at least 30 minutes.

MOCHA TRUFFLE TREES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, sugar and butter; press onto the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350° for 5-7 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack., Place white baking chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream and butter just to a boil. Pour over white chocolate; whisk until smooth. Stir in Kahlua and almond extract; spoon into crust. Place in freezer while preparing chocolate layer., Place chocolate chips a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream and butter just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Stir in the Kahlua, coffee granules and almond extract; spoon over white chocolate layer. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set., To serve, carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; remove sides. Cut tart into 12 wedges; place on individual plates. Insert a halved Pirouette into the wide end of each slice. Decorate with white chocolate to resemble Christmas trees.

MOCHA TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat the cream over medium-low heat just until it comes to a boil in a small saucepan. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir once to mix the chocolate and cream together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes. Uncover and whisk until smooth and shiny. Microwave for 10 second increments if there are any un-melted pieces of chocolate. Stir in the coffee liqueur.
• Press a piece of plastic wrap directly against the surface of the chocolate and set aside in a cool place until the chocolate is thick and firm enough to hold its shape when rolled, about 2 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Use 2 spoons to drop small mounds of chocolate onto the baking sheet. Then, with cold hands, roll each truffle between your open palms to make smooth round balls. You may need to run your hands under cool water frequently as you work.
• Put the cocoa on a plate and roll each truffle until well coated. Refrigerate until very cold.

MOCHA TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put 12 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring 1 cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon butter and a pinch of salt to a simmer in a saucepan; pour over the chocolate. Let sit until melted, then stir until smooth. Add 1/4 cup espresso and 1 teaspoon vanilla stir until smooth and shiny. Pour into a shallow baking dish and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours. Roll tablespoonfuls of the chocolate into about 20 balls, then roll in shredded coconut, cocoa powder or crushed peppermint candies. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.

MOCHA GANACHE TRUFFLE CUPS

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a 2-quart mixing bowl. In a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from the heat, take 1 tablespoon of hot cream and dissolve the espresso powder in it, then blend it back into the rest of the cream. Pour the hot cream into the bowl with the chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 1 minute, then stir together with a rubber spatula, whisk, or immersion blender until thoroughly blended. Cover the mixture, let cool to room temperature, and chill in the refrigerator until thick but not stiff (2 to 3 hours).
• Fit a 12-inch pastry bag with a large, plain round pastry tip with a 1/2-inch opening and fill partway with the ganache mixture. Pipe the mixture into 1-inch foil candy cups up to the top edge. Place a mocha bean on top of each cup. Chill the truffle cups in the refrigerator until they are set (1 hour).
• In a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the truffle cups will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. The truffle cups are best served at room temperature.
• Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups: Omit the espresso powder. After stirring together the chocolate and whipping cream, stir in 2/3 cup toasted, skinned, finely ground hazelnuts. Rather than placing a mocha bean on top of each truffle cup, place a toasted, skinned, whole hazelnut, pointed end up on top.
• White Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups: Follow the instructions for Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups above, and additionally substitute 10 ounces white chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate.
• Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups: Follow the instructions for Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups above, and additionally substitute 9 ounces milk chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate.

MOCHA TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Beat in cream cheese. Dissolve coffee in water; add to cream cheese and beat until smooth. , Chill until firm enough to shape. Shape into 1-in. balls and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill until firm, 1-2 hours. , In a microwave, melt chocolate coating; stir until smooth. Dip balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. If desired, melt white coating and drizzle over truffles.

MOCHA TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Heat and stir cream, butter, and coffee in a saucepan on medium until granules have dissolved.
• Add semi-sweet chocolate and heat on lowest heat, stirring often, until almost melted.
• Remove from heat and stir until smooth.
• Transfer to bowl; cover and chill for 2 hours until firm enough to roll into balls.
• Roll into 1/2" balls and place on waxed paper lined baking sheet; chill for 1 hour until firm.
• Heat white chocolate and dip balls until completely coated.
• Place balls back on waxed paper lined baking sheet.
• Dust with cocoa before chocolate sets, if desired.
• Chill for 1 hour.
• Enjoy!