Truffle Cups Recipes

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat cream and butter over medium heat until bubbles form around sides of saucepan (mixture should reach a temperature of 180°). Remove from the heat; whisk in coffee granules., Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt milk chocolate chips. Stir cream mixture into melted chocolate chips until blended. Cover and refrigerate truffle filling until firm, about 2 hours., In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy disks. On a baking sheet, place 30 miniature paper or foil muffin liners. With a pastry brush, brush inside of each liner with melted candy coating. Refrigerate to harden. Apply a second layer of candy coating., Carefully peel liner away from chocolate; discard liner. Remove filling from refrigerator; stir. If mixture is too thick, microwave at 5-10 second intervals until soft enough to pipe. Spoon filling into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe stars or rosettes into truffle cups. Cover and refrigerate. Garnish with sprinkles just before serving.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly spray 24 mini muffin cups with cooking spray.
• In medium microwavable bowl, microwave semisweet baking chocolate and shortening on High until smooth and melted. Pour onto ungreased cookie sheet. Using spatula, smooth chocolate into a thin layer; set aside to harden.
• In large bowl, mix Cookie Cup ingredients until a crumbly dough forms. Shape dough into small balls; place each into muffin cup.
• Bake 10 to 11 minutes or until set and very light golden brown (dough will puff slightly). Using end of rolling pin handle or spoon, press indentation in center of each cookie to form cup. Cool completely in pan, about 15 minutes. Remove cookie cups from muffin cups to cooling rack.
• Meanwhile, to make curly chocolate shavings, use metal spatula to scrape a thin layer of chocolate from metal cookie sheet by sliding spatula edge quickly just under layer of hardened chocolate.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave dark chocolate chips and whipping cream on High until chocolate is melted; stir until smooth.
• Spoon filling evenly into each cookie cup. Press chocolate curls gently into center of each cookie cup. Let filling cool completely before serving.

Steps:

• Melt candy coating in heavy 2-quart saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Spread 1 teaspoon coating evenly on bottoms and up sides of paper cups. Let stand about 1 hour or until hardened.
• Melt chocolate in heavy 2-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients. Refrigerate about 35 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is thick and mounds when dropped from a spoon.
• Spoon chocolate mixture into decorating bag with star tip. Pipe mixture into candy-coated cups. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until chocolate mixture is firm. Peel paper from cups before serving if desired.

Steps:

• Melt candy coating as directed on package. Spread 1 teaspoon coating evenly in bottom and up side of each of 24 miniature paper candy cups. Let stand until hardened.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients except raspberries. Refrigerate about 35 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is thickened and mounds when dropped from a spoon.
• Place raspberry in each candy-coated cup. Spoon chocolate mixture into decorating bag with star tip. Pipe mixture into candy-coated cups over raspberry. Place cups on cookie sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate mixture is firm, about 30 minutes. If desired, peel paper from truffle cups before serving. Store tightly covered in refrigerator.

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.

Steps:

• Place candy cups in mini muffin pans. In medium microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips and oil uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
• Spoon 1 teaspoon melted mixture in each candy cup. (There will be mixture left over; set aside for later use.) With back of small spoon, spread mixture in bottoms and most of the way up sides of cups. (If mixture is too liquid, cool for a few minutes so it will coat the cups.) Let stand until completely set.
• Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, mix cream and espresso powder. Microwave uncovered on High 20 seconds or until cream is very hot; stir to combine. Stir in chocolate chips until melted. If necessary, microwave 15 seconds longer until mixture can be stirred smooth. Refrigerate 10 minutes to cool slightly.
• When candy cups are set and espresso mixture is cooled, microwave remaining white mixture 30 seconds or just until melted but not warm. Spoon espresso mixture into small resealable food-storage plastic bag; cut 1/4 inch from one bottom corner of bag. Pipe about 1 teaspoon mixture into each candy cup. Spoon enough melted white mixture over to cover. Top each with chocolate-covered coffee bean. Sprinkle with cocoa. Let stand until set, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Place foil cups on baking sheet. Stir bittersweet chocolate in medium metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) until chocolate melts and candy thermometer registers 115°F. Remove from over water. Using 1-inch-wide pastry brush, coat insides of foil cups with enough chocolate to coat thickly to top edge of cups (rewarm chocolate over simmering water as necessary to maintain temperature). Reserve remaining bittersweet chocolate. Place cups on baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Bring cream to simmer in heavy small saucepan. Reduce heat to low; add white chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Whisk in extract, then sour cream. Cool to barely lukewarm, about 10 minutes. Mix in 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies.
• Spoon enough white chocolate mixture into center of each chocolate cup to fill to within 1/8 inch of top (about 1 level teaspoonful per cup). Refrigerate until filling sets, about 30 minutes.
• Rewarm remaining melted bittersweet chocolate to 115°F in bowl set over barely simmering water. Spoon enough chocolate (about 1 teaspoon) over filling in each cup to cover completely. Tap on counter to level. Top each with candied violet, green candy decor, or crushed peppermint candies. Chill cups until firm, about 1 hour. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead; refrigerate in single layer in airtight container. Let stand at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour before serving.)
• Available at cake and candy supply stores and specialty foods stores.

Steps:

• In medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and butter; beat until light and fluffy. Add egg; blend well. Add flour and cocoa; mix well. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 to 2 hours for easier handling.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Divide dough into 24 equal pieces. Place 1 piece in each of 24 ungreased miniature muffin cups; press in bottom and up sides of each cup, level with tops of cups.
• Bake at 325°F. for 13 to 16 minutes or until set. Cool in pans on wire racks for 20 minutes. Remove from pans.
• Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, combine all filling ingredients. Heat over low heat until chocolate is melted and smooth, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Cool 20 minutes or until filling thickens slightly.
• Spoon about 2 teaspoons filling into each baked chocolate cup. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until filling is set. Sprinkle chopped mints on top of each cookie; press in lightly. Store in refrigerator. Remove from refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving.