All Purpose Truffles Recipes

ALL-PURPOSE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Bring cream to a boil. Remove from heat and add chocolate; allow to stand several minutes, add butter, corn syrup, liquor and whisk smooth. Cool about 2 to 3 hours at room temperature to about 80 degrees F. Beat with paddle on medium speed in electric mixer until light. Pipe out small truffles on paper with a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tube. Refrigerate to set for at least 1 hour.
• Melt and cool or temper the chocolate. Sift the cocoa into a deep pan. Coat truffles, using your hand to cover truffles with tempered chocolate. Deposit the truffles in the cocoa as they are enrobed and shake the pan to cover them. Remove the truffles to another pan as they are coated. After the covering sets, shake the truffles in a strainer to remove the excess cocoa.

GALE'S FAMOUS TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the creme fraiche and espresso and bring to a boil over medium heat. As soon as it boils, turn off the heat. Meanwhile, put the chopped bittersweet chocolate in a medium bowl. Strain the hot creme fraiche mixture into the bowl. Whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Cover and let rest in a cool place overnight. The mixture will become firm but not too hard to pipe easily.
• The next day, using a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip, pipe bite-size "kisses" of the mixture onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate briefly just until set, about 30 minutes. Use your palm to gently press down the point that sticks up on each truffle. Transfer to the freezer and freeze until hard, 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
• In the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, melt the semisweet chocolate. It should be liquid, but not so hot that you can't touch it; if it is too hot for you, wear disposable surgical gloves. Spread the cocoa powder out on a sheet pan with sides. Working in 2 batches if necessary to avoid crowding the pan of cocoa, dip the frozen truffle centers 1 at a time into the melted chocolate, shake off any excess, and set them down in the cocoa. When all the truffle centers are dipped and the chocolate has started to set, gently but thoroughly shake the sheet pan to roll the truffles around in the cocoa until coated. Carefully remove to another sheet pan and refrigerate, uncovered, 30 minutes. You can sift the unused cocoa and use it for another purpose. Transfer to an airtight container and keep chilled until almost ready to serve. Bring to room temperature before serving.