Simple Chocolate Truffles

Published 3:51 pm Friday, December 21, 2012

This one is for chocoholics. brNot people who just kinda, sorta like chocolate…no.  This is for people like me who lovebrchocolate.  The truffles are rich,brsmooth, bitter, sweet, dark, and oh so chocolate.

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Truffles are simplicity defined

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During my office secret Santa week I received an issue tobrFood Network Magazine, the December issue. brIt’s a very thick issue with all sorts of interesting articles, but whilebrskimming through the contents I spot page 209. brWhat’s so special about page 209 you ask? That’s the page where thebrtruffle recipes are. 

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I have never made chocolate truffles, mostly because I didn’t want to go through all of the ill perceived hassle I thought it wouldbrentail.  Much to my surprise, andbrdelight, I discovered that chocolate truffles are dead easy.  Because they are so easy they lend themselvesbrto much customization.   

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Truffle anatomy

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Let’s face it, truffles are a bit intimidating.  Big chocolate companies present us with thesebrperfectly formed spheres of chocolate delight all beautifully wrapped in shiny,brcolorful papers and foils.  Adding to thebrwow factor is the elite chocolatiers on television presenting theirbrpainstakingly crafted truffles rich with exotic flavors. 

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But wait a second, that’s a bunch of food snobbery.  Yes truffles, like any other food, can bebrelevated to any level sophistication, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t makebra rightfully decadent and delicious truffle for yourself, in your own kitchen.

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Here is the big truffle recipe.  Are you ready?  Truffles are made of chocolate, cream, butter,brand a pinch of salt.  I’ll stop a bit andbrlet you take that all in.  Surely therebrmust be more to it than that right? Nope. brThat’s it.  Now of course thebrquality of the ingredients used has a direct impact on the result of thebrtruffles, but you can get very good quality chocolate locally.  I used Ghirardelli semi and bitter sweetbrchocolate chips.  So use whatever chocolatebryou like, but there is no need to hike to the Swiss Alps or trek on over tobrFrance.  Your local grocery store willbrhave a very good selection to satisfy your inner choco-beast.

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Truffle possibilities

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This recipe is a simple, straight forward, intense chocolatebrtruffle dusted with Hersey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder.  I used the Hershey’s because it is half Dutchbrprocessed which means it has some alkali added to counter act the naturalbracidity.  This gives a nice bitterness inbrthe mouth, while reducing the pucker factor that usually accompanies straightbrcocoa powder.  Again, do whatever youbrlike.

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Once you realize how simple these truffles are to make, youbrcan easily add all sorts of flavoring such as, chopped nuts, orange, raspberry,brcoffee, pomegranate, lemon, vanilla, any sort of alcohol, etc.  Truffles really are a blank slate.

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Truffle notes

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It is very important to let the truffle mixture coolbrcompletely before forming them.  Tryingbrto form them too quickly will result in a chocolate mess.  A minimum of three hours and up to overnight inbrthe fridge is called for.

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Some truffle recipes call for shortening instead ofbrbutter.  I use butter.  Yes it has a lower melting point, and it getsbra little messy while forming them because of that, but it tastes so muchbrbetter.

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Use whatever strength of chocolate you like from milk to 80%brcacao .

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Ingredients:

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• 12ozs.   Chocolate ofyour choice
• 1C           Heavywhipping cream
• 1tbsp     Unsalted butter
• 1pinch   Kosher salt

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Method:

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Place the chocolate in a heat resistant bowl.

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Heavy the cream and butter in a heavy sauce pan until thebrcream is simmering.

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Add the salt to the cream and butter mixture, and then pourbrover the chocolate.

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Stir with a whisk until the chocolate is completely meltedbrand the mixture is silky smooth.

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Place in a shallow dish and chill for at least three hoursbror overnight.

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Form into half inch balls and dust with Hershey’s SpecialbrDark Cocoa Power if desired.

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So there it is.  Theybrmysterious truffle demystified.  Be surebrto have these elegant little balls of intense chocolate goodness at your nextbrgathering.  Your guests, or host, will bebrvery grateful.

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Stay hungry.