Fruittruffles Recipes

KIDS CAN MAKE: FRUIT-AND-NUT CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Special equipment: food-safe gloves
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pecans out on a baking sheet, and bake until brown and toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely, then very finely chop.
• Put the chocolate, vanilla, orange zest and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Heat the cream and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until very hot and steaming; pour over the chocolate, then let sit for 10 minutes. Stir until all the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. (If all the chocolate has not melted, microwave the mixture in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until smooth.) Add the pecans, apricots and prunes, and stir to combine.
• Transfer the chocolate-fruit mixture to a large baking dish, and let cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until the mixture has hardened but is still soft enough to scoop, about 3 hours. (The mixture can be made up to 2 days in advance; let soften at room temperature until scoopable, about 30 minutes.)
• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Scoop heaping teaspoonfuls of truffle mixture, and place them on the prepared sheet. Once all the mixture has been divided up, roll the mounds into smooth, round balls. (Using food-safe gloves for this helps keep it from getting too messy.) Roll each ball into sanding sugar right before serving or wrapping. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

FIG AND GINGER TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Remove the stems from the figs and discard. Put the figs, ginger, cinnamon and honey in a food processor and process for about 45 seconds, until the ingredients are finely chopped and begin to stick together.
• Roll the fig mixture with your hands into heaping teaspoon-sized balls and set them on a baking sheet or plate lined with waxed paper.
• Place a small bowl over a saucepan, containing barely simmering water, over low heat Make sure the water is at least 2 inches from the bottom of the bowl. Place half the chocolate in the bowl and stir until it is melted. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the remaining chocolate. Stir until all the chocolate is melted. Remove the bowl containing the chocolate from the pan.
• Roll the fig balls into the melted chocolate 1 or 2 at a time, until they are all covered. Place them back on the waxed paper and chill in the refrigerator until set, about 15 minutes. Serve at room temperature.
• Excellent source of: Fiber
• Good source of: Manganese

WHITE CHOCOLATE PASSION FRUIT 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 passion fruit purée and stir to blend well. Cover the truffle cream, let cool to room temperature, and chill in the refrigerator 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.
• 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 the truffles, place 2 tablespoons of the tempered white chocolate in a paper pastry cone and snip off a tiny opening at the pointed end. Pipe the letter P on top of each truffle.
• 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.
• VARIATION
• Instead of dipping the truffle centers in chocolate, roll them in a small bowl of confectioners' sugars as soon as they are formed.

SIX-FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a 9-in. round baking pan. Cool; cut into 1-in. cubes. In a large bowl, combine the pineapple, bananas, peaches and 1/2 cup strawberries. , In another bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes; let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. , In a small bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. , In a 3-qt. trifle bowl, layer half of the cake cubes, fruit mixture, pudding and whipped cream. Repeat layers. Top with blueberries, kiwi and remaining strawberries. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

ANGEL FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Pour the blueberries into a strainer, rinse with water, and shake off excess water. Spread the berries out onto paper towels to dry slightly.
• In a deep, clear glass bowl or trifle bowl, spread a layer of angel food cake chunks. Scatter the cake with chopped strawberries in a thin layer. Sprinkle the strawberries with a layer of blueberries, followed by a layer of chopped peach slices. Sprinkle a few fresh raspberries over the peaches. Dollop a layer of whipped topping, then repeat layers until all cake and fruit has been used. Finish trifle with a layer of whipped topping. Cover the trifle, and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

FRUIT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Chop bananas into a large bowl and using a potato masher, mash until they are smooth.
• Mix in orange juice and rind. Stir in almonds, mixing well to blend evenly.
• Place the mixture in the fridge and chill 30 minutes.
• Using a sharp knife, finely chop the blanched almonds into small pieces.
• Mix the chopped almonds into the cocoa powder and place on a flat plate.
• Remove banana mixture from fridge and divide into 10 portions.
• Roll each portion into a small ball, using lightly floured hands.
• Roll each ball into the cocoa mixture, rolling each on evenly to give a good coating.
• Press gently before placing into small muffin papers and chilling 30 mins once again.

FRUIT PRESERVE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Line a 13-by-9 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheet with plastic wrap; set aside.
• In a heatproof bowl, set over (but not touching) simmering water, melt 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate and milk chocolate together until it reaches 120 degrees.
• Place cream and vanilla seeds in a small saucepan over medium heat; heat until cream just comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Let cream mixture cool until reaches 120 degrees. Stir in fruit preserves.
• Remove chocolate mixture from heat and add to cream mixture. Using a heatproof spatula, mix together, starting from the center of the saucepan and working your way to the outer edges until mixture is emulsified. Add butter and mix with an immersion blender until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared baking sheet, evenly spreading mixture with an offset spatula; cover with plastic wrap, pressing down gently on chocolate mixture to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate at least 2 hours, and up to overnight.
• Line the back of another 13-by-9 1/2-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Uncover chocolate and invert onto parchment paper; remove second piece of plastic wrap. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, and a steel ruler as a guide, cut chocolate into 1-inch squares.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Roll each square of chocolate between your hands to form a smooth ball. Transfer chocolate balls to baking sheet; refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Melt remaining 16 ounces bittersweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl, set over (but not touching) simmering water. Place cocoa powder in a shallow dish. Place some of the melted chocolate in the palm of your hand and roll a chocolate ball in the melted chocolate to coat, then roll in cocoa powder. Repeat process with remaining chocolate balls. Transfer truffles to an airtight container, stacking truffles no more than 2 to 3 inches high, and refrigerate up to 2 weeks. Bring truffles to room temperature just before serving.

DRIED FRUIT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In food processor, process walnuts with on-and-off pulses until coarsely chopped. Pour into large bowl.
• In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, mix apricots, dates, cherries, water and orange juice. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• With slotted spoon, place cooked fruit in food processor; reserve cooking liquid. Process with on-and-off pulses until a paste forms, adding some of the cooking liquid if necessary. Add honey, cinnamon, orange peel and if desired, 1 to 2 tablespoons cocoa; process until combined.
• Stir fruit mixture into walnuts until combined. Shape into balls using about 1 rounded teaspoon mixture for each; roll in coconut or cocoa. Store in airtight container.

SOFT FRUIT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Fill a small pan with water and bring to the boil. Break chocolate up into pieces and place in a heat-proof bowl. Place this bowl on top of the pan of water, leaving a small space for heat to escape.
• Allow the chocolate to melt, gradually adding cream and gently stirring the mixture to prevent it sticking or congealing.
• Once chocolate and cream are combined, stir in your liquor of choice and, if adding extras such as lemon peel, add this as well.
• Wash and trim the soft fruits, drop them a few at a time into the chocolate and coat by turning gently with a fork. Lift fruits out of the mixture and place on greaseproof paper, until all are coated and chill for one hour. If you have chocolate left over, it may be worth giving the fruit a second coating.
• If using cocoa powder to decorate, place the powder in a small plastic bag. Drop truffles in a few at a time, seal and shake to coat. If you prefer a coating of hard chocolate, melt the chocolate as previously. Pick truffles up by piercing with a fork and dip quickly into the chocolate to coat. This mixture will congeal rapidly, so take care.
• Once set and chilled to your satisfaction, dust lightly with edible glitter. Perhaps, decorate as well using small leaves and stems appropriate to the fruit.