Chocolate Truffles!
Prep Time:45 mins plus cooling time, Cook Time: 0, Total Time: 45 mins plus cooling time
December 15, 2013
Well christmas isn’t really christmas without a few naughties and the odd choccie truffle or ten is it? I have many a happy memory of making truffles, fudge, peppermint creams and various other homemade sweet goodies every christmas with my Dad when I was little and thought it was about time I started with my own little brood. And what fun we had. Admittedly messy fun, and I’m still finding chocolate fingerprints all over the house. But it was so worth it. Most were duly given away to F&J’s teachers. The rest taste-tested by us. Oh the chore. We’re planning on making at least one more batch before christmas, just as long as my walls can stand it!
Choccie truffles not only make a special homemade treat to scoff down yourselves, but are an ideal edible christmas pressie sure to delight any recipient. Made using plain chocolate these are actually quite grown up in flavour. But both my choccie fiends happily gobbled them down. They’re simply a matter of stirring together good quality plain chocolate with cream, sugar and butter (thankfully it’s Christmas!). Cooling for a little while before roughly shaping into balls, dipping in melted chocolate then rolling around in coatings of your choice. I went for white chocolate shavings, cocoa, dark chocolate pieces and flaked almonds. The coatings are very forgiving so don’t worry about achieving a good shape.
I’m entering a few bloggie challenges with this post. Firstly Family Foodies that I co-host with Vanesther of Bangers & Mash. I’m hosting December and we’ve chosen the rather apt theme of Kids Christmas. Next to Four Seasons Food that I co-host with Anneli over at Delicieux, she’s hosting for the festive period and it’s all about Party Food. Tea Time Treats, co-hosted by Karen over at Lavender and Lovage and for the very last time by Kate of What Kate Baked, is all about Edible Gifts. And finally to No Croutons Required hosted by Jac over at Tinned Tomatoes, which isn’t about recipes at all his month but seasonal photos, of which I have a few!.
Plain Chocolate. Unless you want to count the cream and butter being good stuff too!. Definitely better for you than anything commercially produced.
Great For:
Pre-Schoolers, Big Kids, Grown Ups, Making with Kids, Edible Gifts, Teacher Presents, Christmas
Notes:
Makes about 35 truffles. Store in the fridge.
Special Equipment:
None really, other than some sweet cases to hold the truffles in but not essential
Chocolate Truffles!
Ingredients Prep Time:45 mins plus cooling time, Cook Time: 0, Total Time: 45 mins plus cooling time
For the Truffles:
75g unsalted butter
100g soft light brown sugar
225ml double cream
275g good quality plain chocolate (min 70% cocoa content)
For Coating:
100g good quality plain chocolate (min 70% cocoa content)
various coatings of your choice: cocoa powder, chopped or flakes nuts, hundreds and thousands, grated white/milk or plain chocolate
sweet cases
1) Place all the truffle ingredients but not the chocolate in a saucepan and gently warm on the hob until the butter has melted, sugar dissolved and the mix is just coming to the boil
2) Break up the chocolate in a heat proof bowl
3) Pour the butter/cream/sugar mix over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate’s melted and the mix is glossy and smooth (I bet you don’t resist a sample at this stage!)
4) Leave to cool then chill in the fridge until firm
5) MESSY ALERT: Once firm take a teaspoon at a time and roll around in your hands until a rough ball shape is achieved. Roll out all the mixture and set aside the balls on a sheet of greaseproof paper
6) Melt the coating chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water OR cautiously in a microwave, set aside to cool a little
7) Meanwhile prep the coatings in separate bowls
8) 2nd MESSY ALERT: Dip each truffle in the chocolate before rolling around in a coating. Place in a sweet case if using and leave for a few minutes to harden up (as if!)
Store in a fridge
I love making homemade gifts at Christmas for friends and neighbours. Your truffles look fantastic! Really like the idea of coating with white chocolate shavings.
They were a bit decadent. Choc inside, outside and sprinkled on. Well it is Christmas!
I do hope you have boxed some up and posted them to me???? 🙂 They look wonderful Lou…bet you had fun making them with the kids too. Perfect for Christmas….to be enjoyed at this guilt free time of year with relish! Another great entry into Four Seasons Food xx
Of course I have, have you not received them yet?! Fun with the kids BUT extremely messy fun! Not sure my house can take another batch just yet….