Perfect Chocolate Truffles Recipes

Steps:

• Place the 10 ounces of chocolate and butter in a medium size glass mixing bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir, and repeat this process 1 more time. Set aside.
• Heat the heavy cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove from the heat and pour the mixture over the melted chocolate mixture; let stand for 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, stir gently, starting in the middle of bowl and working in concentric circles until all chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth and creamy. Gently stir in the brandy. Pour the mixture into an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Using a melon baller, scoop chocolate onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Place the cocoa powder, nuts, and/or toasted coconut each in its own pie pan and set aside.
• In the meantime, place the 8 ounces of chocolate into a medium mixing bowl which is sitting on top of a heating pad lined bowl, with the heating pad set to medium. Depending on the heating pad, you may need to adjust the heat up or down. Stirring the chocolate occasionally, test the temperature of the chocolate and continue heating until it reaches 90 to 92 degrees F; do not allow the chocolate to go above 94 degrees F. If you do, the coating will not have a nice snap to it when you bite into the chocolate. Once you have reached the optimal temperature, adjust the heat to maintain it.
• Remove the truffles from the refrigerator and shape into balls by rolling between the palms of your hands. Use powder-free vinyl or latex gloves, if desired.
• Dip an ice cream scoop into the chocolate and turn upside down to remove excess chocolate. Place truffles 1 at time into the scoop and roll around until coated. Then place the truffle into the dish with either the cocoa powder, nuts or coconut. Move the truffle around to coat; leave truffle in the coating for 10 to 15 seconds before removing. In the meantime, continue placing the chocolate-coated truffles in the cocoa or other secondary coating. After 10 to 15 seconds, remove the truffle to a parchment lined sheet pan. Repeat until all truffles are coated. Allow to set in a cool dry place for at least 1 hour; or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Truffles are best when served at room temperature.

Steps:

• Dry Roast the spices in a saute pan over medium-high heat until you can smell the perfume from the spices. Once the spices have been roasted for a bit, then add the heavy cream. Remove from heat and steep 1 hour. Strain out the spices.
• Reheat the strained cream and pour the warm cream over the chocolate. Stir with a spatula to mix the chocolate completely until melted and combined. Once the chocolate is uniform in texture, add the butter and stir until well combined.
• Pour into another bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. Place in a pastry bag and form little blobs onto a tray. Refrigerate until firm to the touch. Remove and roll to desired form.

Steps:

• Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium until steaming, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine semisweet and bittersweet chocolate with butter in a medium bowl. Pour hot cream over chocolate and let stand for 1 minute. Stir until melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla and salt. Pour into a shallow dish, such as a pie plate, cover, and refrigerate until ganache is scoopable, about 30 minutes.
• Place strawberries in a mini food processor and pulse until finely chopped but not powdered, about eight 1-second pulses. Place in a small bowl.
• Place mints in a zip-top bag and whack with a mallet about 5 times until coarsely crushed. Transfer to a separate small bowl. Place cocoa powder and powdered peanut butter in small bowls.
• Scoop tablespoonfuls of ganache and roll into balls; your hands will warm up the ganache if it got too firm. Place on a parchment-lined plate.
• Roll 3 truffles in each coating, pressing to adhere. Chill until ready to serve.

Steps:

• In a medium-sized pan, combine semisweet chocolate chips and heavy cream over low heat, mix until you achieve a smooth consistency.
• Pour mixture into a bread pan.
• Allow to sit in refrigerator for 1 hour or until mixture is solid.
• With an ice cream scoop, form balls from the mixture (refreeze if truffle begins to melt).
• Roll in cocoa powder for topping.
• Enjoy!

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, vanilla bean, and 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; remove vanilla bean and discard.
• 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.

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:

• Melt and stir together chocolate chips and milk in a double boiler over low heat (or use your microwave); add butter and stir briefly until it is melted; remove from heat; cover and refrigerate four hours or overnight.
• Form chocolate mixture into small balls using a teaspoon and your fingers; the mixture will seem stiff at first but the heat from your fingers will soften it.
• Roll truffles in your choice of cocoa powder, chopped nuts (hazelnuts would be a good choice as they are popular in Switzerland), powdered sugar, finely shredded coconut, chocolate sprinkles, or in melted and slightly cooled milk chocolate or white chocolate.
• Store truffles in the refrigerator for up to one week.