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Thursday, December 10, 2009

ruffled with truffles


The first time I made chocolate truffles I looked like a parody of someone making chocolate truffles, I had more on me and everything else than I actually had on a plate. I wish I was young and cute because the chocolate on my cheek would have really scored points with the cute police. Now granted this was over ten years ago and I havent been young and cute in at least 15 years so I looked like a chocolate, grubby mess. A lot has changed since that time. I no longer get chocolate everywhere and in fact I make these while I am doing other things since I know the whole timing process now. Did I fail to mention that they are easy to do and they make fantastic gifts? Well, they are easy - the second time - that's for sure. This was three years ago so there is a bit of a track record - bad photos - it was before I cared about the photo quality. Let me reiterate - there is a cooling process throughout - the chocolate ganache warms and is unstable. What is the Ganache, some of you are asking - the Ganache is the cream and chocolate and butter that you make in the next steps. Did I forget to say that once you mix chocolate butter and cream you have a ganache? I am so bad at including french words when necessary - New Years resolution - 'incorporate more french cooking terms' - there - done!



The recipe for the ganache is so simple - ready here goes: take 14 ounces of dark chocolate crumbled into pieces and I like to add one and a half cups of the best powdered dark chocolate you can find to add a more rich chocolatey chocolate and save a half a cup to be used later for coating the truffles (I used Scharffen Berger) one cup of heavy cream and 3 tablespoons of butter. Warm the cream to near boiling and pour over crumbled chocolate pieces, powder and butter stirring until it melts and its glossy - cool in the fridge.



When its cool and stiff form into balls, I used a melon baller, and dip into melted chocolate (I forgot to mention that you need to melt 8 ounces of chocolate in a double boiler) after dipping roll around in additional dark chocolate powder or nuts or coconut or some flavored salts. Keep cool and enjoy at your leisure. I coated a few with some dried chile pieces, and I used ground up candy cap mushrooms and some with mint and sugar, some with szechuan buttons and salty sugar some with orange zest and others with black garlic nibs, some were left plain and even others with mukhwas because I am just that way!



Here is the whole graduating class picture.



Here are some of the standouts starting from the front and working clockwise: Plain chocolate powder, minty sugar, candy cap mushrooms, black garlic, red chile, szechuan buttons with salty sugar and in the center is orange zest.



The best of show had to be the one with mukhwas. Crunch and exotica in every nibble, look at all the delights surrounding this mini globe of chocolate fun. Experiment with flavors, find what you like and go for it!

32 comments:

tavolini said...

My new year's resolution is to incorporate more Ganache with my belly.

Those little truffles look awesome! I used to work at a chocolate factory in high school, dipping the truffles was the hardest part!

buffalodick said...

My favorite kind of truffle...Other people's!

teresa said...

those are some crazy awesome truffles!

Anonymous said...

I love all of your unique truffles here! I will have to make that one with the buttons :)

Marjie said...

I was gonna yell "Dog! You can't put green stuff in candy!" then I got to the part where it's mint. But I'm with Buff...my favorite kind of truffle is other people's!

vanillasugarblog said...

I love using scharfen! What an intensity! And I'm so glad you made kicked up truffles--the way it should be.

theUngourmet said...

What a lovely graduating class! I can tell they are ready for success or at least they are ready to be my dessert! :D

Allison said...

these look incredibly delicious! wow!

Jennie said...

I just made truffles recently! I love them. Yours look delicious!
Oh and scharfen is the BEST!

lisa is cooking said...

That best in show with the mukhwas is a stunner! Love the colors. A bag of those would be a great gift.

♥peachkins♥ said...

those are great looking truffles!

Jill said...

I think you should send me a dozen truffles for Xmas!

...and I think your very cute!

Nutmeg Nanny said...

Oh man now I know what I'm making for my Christmas tray! These sound delicious. Although I have to admit I'm a bit jealous. I have searched high and low but can't find Scharffen Berger powdered cocoa. Did you find yours in the city or did you order it online?

The Blonde Duck said...

Did they get a graduation party?

Reeni said...

These are one of my favorite things to make! Yours look so yummy and so pretty!

Diana H said...

I have some sharffen bergers. Their chocolate bars are fantastic. I need to try out some truffles.

Jenn said...

Fantastic truffles!!! I need to make me for Christmas.

sophia said...

Those are great truffles!
Haha, I was laughing out loud at your gripe about being "young and cute" with chocolate on you. I've got the perfect solution: just don a cute and pretty apron, preferably with ruffles, and you'll look young and cute no matter how old you are.

Anette said...

O my! I wish I could come over RIGHT NOW and have some truffles! I LOVE them and, now I must go to town and buy the ingredients so i can make my own!

Erica said...

Those truffles look beautiful!

pigpigscorner said...

They are so colourful! Pretty!

Lauren said...

yes, yes, yes on the dried chili truffles! my mouth is watering. WANT!

Joanne said...

wow these are super adorable. I love all of the exotic toppings you put on them. So inventive. These are better than a box of chocolate as a gift any day!

I can just imagine you sitting there with chocolate all over you...great image :D. I would be the exact same way. I still end up coated in flour every time I bake and I'm not quite sure why...haha.

Angie's Recipes said...

The final picture of these truffles are so seductive!

Anonymous said...

I would be all over the one with chili flakes! :D

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Your truffles are gorgeous. I made them once, a long time ago, and followed a Julia Child recipe. Very labor intensive and in comparison to your beauties, mine looked quite plain and lonely. You have a very unique and beautiful selection of truffles. Bravo.
Sam

Padhu Sankar said...

Lovely pictures and truffles looks great!
http://padhuskitchen.blogspot.com/

Lea Ann said...

Great post. I love the truffles I buy at Whole Foods and it never dawned on me to look for a recipe. I love that last picture.

The Diva on a Diet said...

Now these are my kind of truffles ... exotic, spicy flavors and looks of dark chocolatey goodness. Wow, they look spectacular, dogg!

Chef Fresco said...

Amazing array of truffles! All look delicious!

Unknown said...

You said the magic words "chocolate" and "truffles" and here I am.

Adding dark chocolate cocoa powder is a neat trick...I must try.

NOTHING quite like a chocolate truffle. I think it's one of the more sensual experiences food has to offer.

Unknown said...

The pepper covered one looks beyond scrumptious!

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