Cooking Classics
The Technique
The Handcrafted Chocolate Truffles Collection
Assorted Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles offer variety. Toasted chopped almonds & pecans make lovey additions to a batch coated in cinnamon scented cocoa. One recipe will yield a collection of flavors however you so please. Consider pistachios, coconut, hazelnuts & cashews as they would be equally delicious as well. Look to Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles for more details regarding the specifics of maintaining the snap of tempered chocolate when coating them. You’ll also find specific target temperature ranges that will help ensure the truffles have a professional quality to them. Learn how to make a fine assortment of truffles ideal for sharing with family & friends.
Assorted Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles
makes 32 truffles
Two tablespoons of very finely chopped nuts will coat approximately 8 truffles whereas two tablespoons of cocoa powder will coat 16 truffles for an assortment of flavors. Adjust the topping amounts to yield specific flavor combinations as desired.
1 {10-oz} package bittersweet chocolate morsels, divided
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 Tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
2 Tbsp coffee liqueur
2 Tbsp lightly salted & roasted almonds, very finely chopped
2 Tbsp toasted pecans, very finely chopped
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
Place 6-ounces of the chocolate in a medium glass bowl. Heat the cream & the butter in a small saucepan just until bubbles form around the pan sides. Remove from the heat. Pour the cream mixture over the chocolate. Let stand 1 minute & begin whisking the mixture until smooth. Just before completely blended, whisk in the liqueur. Stop stirring the mixture when it becomes thickened, glossy & smooth. Chill 3 hours or until firm.
Portion the chocolate mixture by level teaspoons & roll them into balls. Place them onto a parchment paper-lined pan. Do not chill. Melt 3-ounces of chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave on High power at 15 second intervals, stirring gently, between each burst of heat until the chocolate reaches a temperature of 88 to 90 degrees & no higher than 94 degrees. It will take about 5 or 6 times. Add the remaining 1-ounce of chocolate a little bit at a time during this process to cool the chocolate so it will remain tempered & produce a snap when eaten. Check the temperature after each cooking phase using a digital thermometer.
Combine the cocoa powder & the cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip the truffles in the melted chocolate. Dip them again in the desired flavor & move them around. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Let stand at room temperature until firm, about 20 minutes. Store the truffles in the refrigerator. Allow them to come up to room temperature before serving for the best flavor & texture.
FROM THE KITCHEN OF BUTTERMILK LIPSTICK
{testing notes}
How To Make Assorted Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles
Although making truffles is easy, they do take a little additional time to handcraft an assortment of quality as patience is key when using good chocolate. Before melting & maintaining a tempered batch, make certain the bowl & utensils are completely dry as a droplet of water can seize the chocolate making it unusable.
The Technique
A few key pieces of equipment will be needed in order to complete the task. Read through the recipe instructions before beginning. Here’s what you should know.
No. 1
Place 6-ounces of the chocolate in a medium glass bowl. Heat the cream & the butter in a small saucepan just until steamy, bubbles form around the pan sides & the butter begins to melt. Remove from the heat. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate. Let stand 1 minute.
1a
Begin whisking the mixture until smooth. Just before completely blended, whisk in the liqueur.
1b
Once the liqueur has been added, the mixture will become thin then it will become increasingly thicker. As chocolate brands & percentages may melt differently if you find that the morsels are still holding their shape, place the mixture in the microwave & heat it for several seconds on High power. Be certain the bowl is safe to use in the microwave.
1c
Stop stirring the mixture when it becomes thickened, glossy & smooth. Chill 3 hours or until firm.
No. 2
Portion the chocolate mixture by level teaspoons & roll them into balls. Use clean hands or disposable gloves to complete the task. Place them onto a parchment paper-lined pan. Do not chill. The truffles will crack once the chocolate becomes firm if the rolled balls of ganache are chilled before dipping them into the tempered chocolate for coating.
No. 3
Once melted, the chocolate will have a thick texture & it may even feel cool as tempered chocolate should register below body temperature– between 88 & 90 degrees for bittersweet. If you have access to food grade cocoa butter, a little may be added to melted chocolate to thin it. Cocoa butter is solid at room temperature so the texture would not be compromised. Melt 3-ounces of chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave on High power at 15 second intervals, stirring gently, between each burst of heat until the chocolate reaches a temperature of between 88 to 90 degrees & no higher than 94 degrees. It will take about 5 or 6 times. Add the remaining 1-ounce of chocolate a little bit at a time during this process to cool the chocolate so it will remain tempered & produce a snap when eaten. Check the temperature after each cooking phase using a digital thermometer.
3a
Before melting the chocolate for coating the truffles, be certain the items you wish to use are prepped & close to the area in which you’ll be working. Combine the cocoa powder & the cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip the truffles in the melted chocolate. Dip them again in the desired flavor & move them around. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Let stand at room temperature until firm, about 20 minutes.
No. 4
Store the truffles in the refrigerator. Allow them to come up to room temperature before serving for the best flavor & texture. Truffles make a beautiful hostess gift. Organize them in a small box lined with parchment paper & wrap it with a satin ribbon. Keep the box chilled until you’re ready to pass it along. The Video Tutorial Courtesy of ABC Talk Of Alabama: Assorted Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles
The Tune
“My Funny Valentine” Frank Sinatra
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