Fruittruffles Recipes

Steps:

• Chop bananas into a large bowl and using a potato masher, mash until they are smooth.
• Mix in orange juice and rind. Stir in almonds, mixing well to blend evenly.
• Place the mixture in the fridge and chill 30 minutes.
• Using a sharp knife, finely chop the blanched almonds into small pieces.
• Mix the chopped almonds into the cocoa powder and place on a flat plate.
• Remove banana mixture from fridge and divide into 10 portions.
• Roll each portion into a small ball, using lightly floured hands.
• Roll each ball into the cocoa mixture, rolling each on evenly to give a good coating.
• Press gently before placing into small muffin papers and chilling 30 mins once again.

Steps:

• Line tartlet tins with the pastry (use boat-shaped tins if you have them). Bake blind in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. When cold, brush the inside of the tartlet cases with the melted chocolate and leave to harden.
• Mix together the cream cheese and double cream until very smooth, then add the sugar and vanilla essence. Fill the tartlet cases with the cream mixture and arrange the fruit on top. Brush with the apricot or red currant glaze, depending on the fruit used, and leave to set.
• Sift the flour and salt together and rub in the butter and lard until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Add the cheese, if using, and bind with a little cold water. Chill for 30 minutes and then roll out and use as above.

Steps:

• Fill a small pan with water and bring to the boil. Break chocolate up into pieces and place in a heat-proof bowl. Place this bowl on top of the pan of water, leaving a small space for heat to escape.
• Allow the chocolate to melt, gradually adding cream and gently stirring the mixture to prevent it sticking or congealing.
• Once chocolate and cream are combined, stir in your liquor of choice and, if adding extras such as lemon peel, add this as well.
• Wash and trim the soft fruits, drop them a few at a time into the chocolate and coat by turning gently with a fork. Lift fruits out of the mixture and place on greaseproof paper, until all are coated and chill for one hour. If you have chocolate left over, it may be worth giving the fruit a second coating.
• If using cocoa powder to decorate, place the powder in a small plastic bag. Drop truffles in a few at a time, seal and shake to coat. If you prefer a coating of hard chocolate, melt the chocolate as previously. Pick truffles up by piercing with a fork and dip quickly into the chocolate to coat. This mixture will congeal rapidly, so take care.
• Once set and chilled to your satisfaction, dust lightly with edible glitter. Perhaps, decorate as well using small leaves and stems appropriate to the fruit.

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a 9-in. round baking pan. Cool; cut into 1-in. cubes. In a large bowl, combine the pineapple, bananas, peaches and 1/2 cup strawberries. , In another bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes; let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. , In a small bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. , In a 3-qt. trifle bowl, layer half of the cake cubes, fruit mixture, pudding and whipped cream. Repeat layers. Top with blueberries, kiwi and remaining strawberries. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Steps:

• In food processor, process walnuts with on-and-off pulses until coarsely chopped. Pour into large bowl.
• In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, mix apricots, dates, cherries, water and orange juice. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• With slotted spoon, place cooked fruit in food processor; reserve cooking liquid. Process with on-and-off pulses until a paste forms, adding some of the cooking liquid if necessary. Add honey, cinnamon, orange peel and if desired, 1 to 2 tablespoons cocoa; process until combined.
• Stir fruit mixture into walnuts until combined. Shape into balls using about 1 rounded teaspoon mixture for each; roll in coconut or cocoa. Store in airtight container.

Steps:

• Line a 13-by-9 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheet with plastic wrap; set aside.
• In a heatproof bowl, set over (but not touching) simmering water, melt 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate and milk chocolate together until it reaches 120 degrees.
• Place cream and vanilla seeds in a small saucepan over medium heat; heat until cream just comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Let cream mixture cool until reaches 120 degrees. Stir in fruit preserves.
• Remove chocolate mixture from heat and add to cream mixture. Using a heatproof spatula, mix together, starting from the center of the saucepan and working your way to the outer edges until mixture is emulsified. Add butter and mix with an immersion blender until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared baking sheet, evenly spreading mixture with an offset spatula; cover with plastic wrap, pressing down gently on chocolate mixture to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate at least 2 hours, and up to overnight.
• Line the back of another 13-by-9 1/2-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Uncover chocolate and invert onto parchment paper; remove second piece of plastic wrap. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, and a steel ruler as a guide, cut chocolate into 1-inch squares.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Roll each square of chocolate between your hands to form a smooth ball. Transfer chocolate balls to baking sheet; refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Melt remaining 16 ounces bittersweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl, set over (but not touching) simmering water. Place cocoa powder in a shallow dish. Place some of the melted chocolate in the palm of your hand and roll a chocolate ball in the melted chocolate to coat, then roll in cocoa powder. Repeat process with remaining chocolate balls. Transfer truffles to an airtight container, stacking truffles no more than 2 to 3 inches high, and refrigerate up to 2 weeks. Bring truffles to room temperature just before serving.