Soft Fruit Truffles Recipes

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.

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.

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.