Chocolate Treats, for Chocolate Lovers!

1.) CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES½ Cup unsalted butter
2 1/3 C confectioner’s sugar
½ C cocoa

1/4 cup heavy or whipping cream 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Centers: pecan, walnuts, whole almonds or after-dinner mints

Coatings: coconut, crushed nuts,confectioners sugar

Makes about 3 dozen truffles
Cream butter in large mixer bowl. Combine 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar and the cocoa; add alternately with cream and vanilla to butter. Blend well. Chill until firm. Shape small amount of mixture around desired center; roll into 1 inch balls. Drop into desired coating and turn until well covered. Chill until firm.


Mocha Truffles

2 packages (12 oz each) Semisweet chocolate chips
8 oz. cream cheese, softened 3 T instant coffee granules 2 tsp. water 1 lb. good dark chocolate cocoa confectionery coating white confectionery coating, optional

Makes about 5 1/2 dozen In a microwave-safe bowl or double boiler, melt chocolate chips. Add cream cheese, coffee and water; mix well. chill until firm enough to shape. shape into 1" balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Chill for 1-2 hours or until firm. Melt chocolate coating in microwave-safe bowl or double boiler. Dip balls and place on waxed paper to harden. If desired, melt white coating and drizzle over truffles


Peanut Butter and Chocolate Truffles


1 C peanut butter chips 3/4 C butter 1/2 cup cocoa 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk 1 tablespoon vanilla
Coatings: crushed graham cracker crumbs, confectioners sugar or crushed nuts

Makes about 3 dozen truffles
In a heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chips with butter. Stir in cocoa until smooth. Add condensed milk and vanilla. Cook and stir until thickened and well blended, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Chill until firm enough to handle. Shape into 1 inch balls. Roll in desired coating. Chill until firm. Store, covered in refrigerator


White Chocolate Truffles

1/4 C butter 1/2 C confectioner's sugar 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 egg yolk 8 oz. white chocolate, broken into small pieces 1 C chopped blanched almonds, lightly toasted

Makes about 2 dozen truffles
Melt chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add sugar, egg yolk and almond extract; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Transfer to a shallow glass casserole dish. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
Shape mixture into 1 inch balls. Roll in almonds. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours. Place in miniature foil cups at room temperature to serve. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.


Hazelnut Or Almond Truffles


2/3 cup finely ground toasted almonds or hazelnuts 7 T melted butter 3 oz. bittersweet chocolate 3 oz. milk chocolate 1 T Amaretto (for almond) or 1 T Frangelico (for hazelnut) 4 egg yolks 2/3 cup confectioner's sugar 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract

Makes about 30 truffles
Note: Pregant or nursing women, young chilren or any with an immune deficieny should not eat foods made with raw eggs.
Chop toasted nuts in a blender or food processor until finely chopped. Slowly drizzle in 3 tablespoons of melted butter and process till well mixed. Set aside.
Heat remaining 4 T of butter in a small saucepan until very hot and bubbly (be careful not to let it burn). Remove from heat and add the chocolate. Stir constantly until smooth and melted. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat egg yolks until foamy. Beat in the sugar gradually, add extracts and liquer and continue to beat until thick (see p[hoto). With mixer on slow to medium speed, gradually beat in the nut mixture, then gradually beat in the melted chocolate mixture. Beat until smooth and well mixed. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least thirty minutes or until firm

Place your choice of coating in a bowl. If you're going to have more than one, use separate bowls. Some possibel coating choices are: toasted coconut, chopped nuts, unsweetened cocoa, powdered chocolate, crushed Oreo® Cookies.
Scoop out a teaspoon full of the truffle mixture and, using your fingers, roll it into a ball. Work quickly as the heat of your hand will quickly start melting the chocolate. Drop ball in the coating bowl. Repeat the process until there are 4 or 5 balls in the coating bowl. Gently roll the truffles in the coating mixture and a sheet of waxed paper.

Wrap truffles in an air tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to ten days or in the freezer for up to a month.