Christmas, Desserts, Holidays 6 comments

Chocolate Truffles – Learn the basic ones

dark chocolate collage

Chocolate Truffles 101 : Three different shades of Truffles : Dark chocolate covered ganache, which is flavored with oranze zest, vanilla or cardamom seeds – with a hint of booze – pure love in every bite.

chocolate truffles 4

chocolate truffles 5

Last year, around my anniversary, I was thinking of making these truffles. I looked at many recipes but ditched the plan at the last minute as my dear husband asked me – “who is going to eat all of those?” Fair point.

I have a Donna Hay subscription and in her Christmas edition, she explained truffles very easily. So, this time, I thought about giving it a try. It was my longtime dream to work with chocolate.

chocolate truffle in giftbox

Chocolate truffles are much simpler than it looks and sounds and homemade truffles are much better than store bought ones. So, if you’re thinking of edible gifts, try these truffles.

chocolate truffle in giftbox 2

Let me tell you step by step!

First, chop of chocolates. I have used milk chocolate for the ganache, as I have not used any sugar. You can use dark chocolate too, if you prefer.

chopped chocolate

Secondly, choose your favorite flavors. I have used orange zest, vanilla and cardamom (not all of them together, separately). I have used booze, but you can skip that if you’re making it for kids.

truffle ingredients

Then, heat up the heavy cream and these flavors. Let it rest for an hour or more. Trust me, it will infuse more flavors.

After an hour or so, re-heat the cream and pour it on the chocolate. Add booze and stir. Your chocolate ganache should look something like this – before you chill them.

ganache

Now, many prefer to strain the flavorings – but I have decided to keep them, as I love orange peels. However, I have discarded the vanilla beans and cardamom skins.

Ganache normally takes about 1to 2 hours to chill. After that, take them out and with greasy hands, roll them into a ball shape. It should look more like this.

rolling ganache

Now, here comes a bit hard part, which you can skip totally. Many roll the ganache in sweetened coconut, cocoa powder or chopped nuts. However, I decided to dip them in melted dark chocolate. It’s a bit of a messy process, but worth every second. Maybe the first few won’t be super good (shape wise), but you’ll master the art pretty soon.

melted dark chocolate

chocolate truffles 2

I did not buy any special tools to dip them and take it out. I have used a dinner fork and toothpicks (a special tip from Pioneer Woman). Yes, homemade chocolate truffles might be a bit oddly shaped – but the taste is –“wait for it” (you need to make and try)!

chocolate truffles

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Recipe for Chocolate Truffles

You can use vanilla essence if you don’t have beans.

Yield : 45-50
  1. Have a hand on two baking sheets lined with waxed paper.
  2. In a small saucepan, over a medium heat, heat heavy cream. Take it aside and divide it equally into 3 bowls.
  3. Add orange zest, vanilla beans and cardamom seeds (NOT TOGETHER) in each bowl. Let it sit for an hour or more.
  4. After an hour, reheat the mixture and discard the vanilla beans and cardamom skins.
  5. In 3 mixing bowls, divide the chocolate equally. Add this heated infused cream and stir in order to mix it well. Add alcohol. I have used Marnier for orange zest, Kahlua for vanilla beans and Amaretto for cardamom seeds. You can skip alcohol if you’re making it for kids.
  6. After they’re mixed – chill this ganache in a refrigerator for about 1 to 2 hours. After that, bring it out and with an ice-cream scoop, take a small portion out. With greased hands, roll them into ball shapes and line them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
  7. In a double boiler, melt the dark chocolate. Dip the balls in them and slowly put (with a toothpick)on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Chill them for an hour or so and enjoy!

 

6 Comments

  1. Chocolate Truffles looks so gorgeous, beautiful clicks!

  2. Beautiful pics Dol. Loved the props you have used. – Sreelatha

  3. Your truffles look so tempting Dolphia. It’ every chocoholics dream.

  4. Dolphia Nandi Arnstein

    Thank you so much everyone!