Chocolate Raisin Truffles Recipes

Steps:

• In a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water, heat the cream until hot to the touch but not boiling and turn off the heat. Add the butter and 12 ounces of the chocolate to the hot cream. Stir until the chocolate melts. Meanwhile, mince the raisins and combine them with the rum in a small bowl. Stir the raisins and rum mixture into the melted chocolate mixture, cover with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 6 hours or overnight.
• The next day, using a very small (1 1/4-inch) ice cream scoop (you can also use 2 spoons), scoop balls of the mixture onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• When the chocolate is cold, place 10 ounces of the remaining chocolate in a small glass bowl and heat it in a microwave on high for 20 seconds exactly. Stir the chocolate and continue to heat it in the microwave for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until the chocolate is smooth and shiny. This will take 5 or 6 times, depending on your microwave. Add the remaining 4 ounces of chocolate and stir until smooth. The chocolate should be 85 degrees F to 90 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. If it¿s too cool, heat it briefly in the microwave. You¿ll want it to be pourable.
• Using 2 spoons, pick up a chilled ball in one spoon and warm chocolate in the other and roll them around together until the chilled ball is completely coated in warm chocolate (don¿t drop the ball into the chocolate or the warm chocolate will cool off!). Place the coated truffle back on the parchment paper. Continue coating the balls until they¿re all covered with milk chocolate. Allow to sit at room temperature until the chocolate hardens. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chips. Stir in the corn syrup, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in raisins until evenly coated. , Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Roll truffles in nonpareils, sprinkles or nuts.

Steps:

• In a heatproof bowl set over simmering water, heat the cream until hot to the touch and turn off the heat. Meanwhile, chop 350 grams of the milk chocolate into small pieces. Add the chocolate and butter to the hot cream, and stir until the chocolate melts.
• Place the raisins and rum in the bowl of a mini food processor or blender and process until the raisins are finely minced. Stir the raisin mixture into the chocolate mixture and set aside at room temperature for at least 6 hours or overnight to cool.
• Using a 1 1/4-inch ice cream scoop, scoop balls of the rum raisin mixture and place them on sheet pans lined with parchment paper.
• To make the tempered chocolate, chop the remaining 400 grams of milk chocolate and place 3/4 of it in a small glass bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds exactly. Stir the chocolate and continue to microwave for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until the chocolate is smooth and shiny. Add the remaining 1/4 of the chocolate and stir until smooth. The chocolate should register 85 to 89 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
• With 2 small spoons, pick up each ball and cover it with tempered chocolate. (You can also use your hands to coat them.) They can look a little messy and "truffle" like. Place the truffle back on the parchment paper. Continue to coat each of the balls until they're all coated with milk chocolate. Allow to sit for a few minutes until the chocolate hardens. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a double boiler or metal bowl over simmering water, heat chocolate and butter until melted, stirring frequently. Whisk a small amount of mixture into egg yolks. Return all to the pan, whisking constantly. Cook and stir until mixture is thickened and coats the back of a spoon., Remove from the heat; divide mixture among three small bowls. Into one bowl, stir rum and coffee granules until smooth. Stir raisins and Cognac into another; stir orange liqueur and zest into the third bowl., Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Shape into 1-in. balls., Roll the coffee-flavored truffles in cocoa; roll the raisin-flavored truffles in grated chocolate., In a microwave, melt bittersweet chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip orange-flavored truffles in melted chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets., Refrigerate truffles for 2 hours or until firm. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• For ganache, break chocolate into small pieces in a large aluminum bowl.
• Bring cream slowly to a light boil in a small saucepan over low heat.
• Pour boiling cream over chocolate and keep stirring until all the chocolate has melted and the batter is homogeneous. It is very important that there are no pieces of chocolate left here and that the batter is very smooth.
• Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until ganache is just thick enough to easily form truffle balls.
• Form even round balls and place on waxed paper, slightly flattening bottom.
• For coating, melt the chocolate in a double-boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, heat 2 inches of water in a small saucepan. Break chocolate into small pieces in a small aluminum bowl. Turn off heat and place bowl on top of saucepan with hot water. Let chocolate melt and stir until smooth. Place bowl of melted chocolate on a dry towel.
• Sift together cocoa powder and icing sugar.
• Dip each ball in the melted chocolate (slightly cooled, but not hardened); place back on waxed paper to let chocolate harden slightly.
• When chocolate is hardened enough so that it doesn't rub off on your finger, roll in cocoa mixture. Store truffles in covered container at room temperature in a slightly cool place away from heat.
• Here are a few variations. If coating in cocoa powder, sift first with a little icing sugar or it will be too bitter.
• White Chocolate Truffles: Using high quality white chocolate, follow the same recipe as above.
• Coconut Truffles: Make a white chocolate ganache, sprinkle in shredded coconut when ganache is still warm, and roll in shredded coconut instead of cocoa powder.
• Rum Raisin: Make a dark chocolate ganache, soak raisins in rum and drain, add raisins to warm ganache.
• Orange Grand Marnier: Make a dark chocolate ganache, soak small cubes of orange rind in Grand Marnier and drain, stir in orange cubes when ganache is still warm.
• Hazelnut: Make a milk chocolate ganache, stir in tiny pieces of hazelnut, and roll in chopped hazelnuts and/or cocoa powder.
• Pistachio: Make a dark chocolate ganache, crush unsalted pistachio's and stir into warm ganache, roll in crushed pistachios and/or cocoa powder.
• Coffee Truffles: Roll in coffee powder instead of cocoa.

Steps:

• In microwave, melt chocolate; stir in corn syrup, sugar and vanilla.
• Add raisins, stir to coat.
• Drop by teaspoons on buttered wax paper.
• When set; roll in nuts.