Crescent Macadamia Truffle Cups Recipes

MACADAMIA NUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine chocolate and cream and stir over low heat until combined.
• Remove from heat and stir in butter and brandy.
• Put in the fridge and let the chocolate mixture set until it's mouldable with your hands without being runny.
• Set aside 36 nut halves and roughly chop the remaining nuts.
• Mould about 2 teaspoons of chocolate around each nut half and then roll the ball in chopped nuts.
• Repeat until they are all done and chill.

MACADAMIA NUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Place 1 pound of the chocolate in a 2-quart mixing bowl. In a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream to a boil. Pour the cream into the bowl with the chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 1 minute, then stir together with a rubber spatula, whisk, or immersion blender until thoroughly blended. Add the cognac and chopped macadamia nuts and stir to blend well. Cover the truffle cream, let cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until thick but not stiff (3 to 4 hours). Or let the truffle cream sit at room temperature for several hours or overnight until completely set and thick.
• Place the truffle cream in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat at medium speed until the mixture thickens and forms light peaks (about 1 minute). Do not beat too long or the mixture will curdle and become grainy.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Fit a 12-inch pastry bag with a large, plain round pastry tip with a 3/4-inch opening and fill partway with the truffle cream. Holding the pastry bag 1 inch above the paper, pipe out mounds 1 inch in diameter. Or use a small ice cream scoop to form the mounds. Cover the mounds with plastic wrap and chill in the freezer for 2 hours or in the refrigerator for 6 hours.
• Dust your hands with confectioners' sugar and roll the mounds into balls. These will be the truffle centers. Cover and chill the centers for another 2 hours in the freezer.
• Remove the truffle centers from the freezer and bring to cool-room temperature so the outer coating won't crack when they are dipped. Line 2 more baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Melt and temper the remaining 1 1/2 pounds chocolate (see pages 25-30). Place a truffle center into the tempered chocolate, coating it completely. With a dipper or fork, remove the center from the chocolate, carefully shake off the excess chocolate, and turn the truffle out onto the paper. After dipping 4 truffles, sprinkle a pinch of the ground macadamia nuts on top of each truffle before the chocolate sets up.
• Let the truffles set up at room temperature, or chill them in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. When the truffles are set, place them in paper candy cups. In a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the truffles will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. The truffles are best served at room temperature.
• Instead of dipping the truffle centers in chocolate, roll them in a small bowl of confectioners' sugar or finely ground macadamia nuts as soon as they are formed.
• Pistachio Truffles: Substitute toasted, unsalted pistachio nuts for the macadamia nuts.
• Brazil Nut Truffles: Substitute toasted, unsalted Brazil nuts for the macadamia nuts.

COCONUT-MACADAMIA CRESCENTS

Steps:

• Using electric mixer, beat butter in medium bowl until light. Gradually beat in 3/4 cup powdered sugar. Beat in extracts. Stir in flour and salt, then macadamia nuts. Refrigerate dough 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Pinch off 1 tablespoon dough; shape into 2-inch-long, 1/2-inch-thick crescent. Repeat with remaining dough. Brush crescents with egg white, then dip tops into coconut. Place crescents, coconut side up, on parchment-lined sheets, spacing cookies 1 inch apart. Bake until just barely golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool cookies on sheets on rack. Sift additional powdered sugar over cookies. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Transfer cookies to airtight container and freeze. Bring to room temperature before serving.)