‘National Truffle Day’

NATIONAL FOOD DAYS

May 2^nd – ‘National Truffle Day’

Since Wednesday, May 2^nd is ‘National Truffle Day’ I decided to make the centers for some Truffles which I will serve to my Mah Jong Group on Wednesday.  For the Truffles, I had a small piece of Milk Chocolate and a pound piece of White Chocolate.  For the Centers of the truffles, I used a couple of Ganache Recipes that I had that were intended for cakes.

White Chocolate Ganache – this recipe was originally intended for a cake, so the resulting mixture was just a little too soft in that it was supposed to be spread on the cake.  I used half the original recipe as follows:

150 grams White Chocolate, chopped – (I actually shredded it with my shredding blade;  chopping would have been simpler)

Shredded White Chocolate

90 grams of Heavy Cream

2 tsps. Vanilla Extract

45 grams unsalted Butter, softened

The above ingredients were combined in my food processor and run until everything was well-combined. The mixture was then chilled.  Of course, it became too cold and I had to microwave it for about 30 seconds and then whipped it up with a hand whisk.

Melted White Chocolate - Whisked until smooth

 The ideal way would have been to:

1.    Heat the Cream with the chopped Chocolate and Butter.

2.    Pour into a shallow dish and chill thoroughly and then whip it up in the food processor along with the Vanilla Extract.

Because the resulting mixture was too soft to scoop and roll into balls I ended up adding about 3/8 cup of unsweetened Cocoa and mixing it in.  The result was a mixture that I could scoop, roll and dip into melted chocolate.

I placed the scooped portions of the Ganache onto a baking sheet that was covered in powdered sugar.  When I finished scooping, I placed the balls of chocolate Ganache in the freezer until the next day when I dipped them in melted chocolate.  The lighter colored truffles are the Milk Chocolate ones while the darker ones are the White Chocolate fortified with Cocoa.

Shaped Truffles on Baking Sheet coated with Powdered Sugar

I melted Wilton Melt ‘n Molds to coat the Truffles with.  Using this kind of chocolate saves a lot of time and trouble, because if you use the same chocolate that was used for the centers, you have to take the time to temper it.  Unless you are experienced with tempering, it can be a bit of a problem.  While I was dipping the Truffles, the melting chocolate seemed to be getting a little too thick so I added just a bit of heavy cream to the melted chocolate.  I figured there was enough butterfat in the cream to keep the chocolate from siezing up.  Wrong!  Don’t do it!  If you want to thin out your chocolate use a little bit of vegetable or shortening chips designed especially for this purpose.  (These can be purchased at a cake decorating store)

Seized Up Chocolate

There is actually plastic wrap in the bowl so that I would be able to get the chocolate out.  I had to remove the siezed up chocolate from my warmer.  Once it completely solidified, I just put the whole thing in a plastic bag and put it aside for a later use.

For variety and also for those people who want a little less candy or chocolate, I dipped some into shredded unsweetened Coconut that was finely cut.  I also rolled some of the chocolate dipped truffles in the Coconut as well.

Dipped Truffles on Rack

Dipped Truffles on Waxed Paper

The first batch that I dipped I placed on a rack;  they were difficult to get off once the chocolate hardnened, so I switched to waxed paper.  The coated truffles released easily from the waxed paper.

Truffles in Box

Since I wasn’t going to use the Truffles for a couple of days, I placed them in a plastic box with a doily on the bottom and refrigerated them.  To serve I will place on a pretty plate with gold doilies.

Having sampled a couple of these Truffles, I know that they are truly delicioius and if you are a chocolate lover, they are a dream.

Of course you can get your truffles without nearly as much fuss by going down to your local Godiva or Sees Candy Store and purchasing some.  But think of the fun you are missing!