Homemade Chocolate Truffles

Homemade Chocolate Truffles

I decided this year to make candy truffles for the first time.  I think they turned out beautiful but, yes - they take a bit more time then just making a cookie dough and plopping onto a baking sheet for the oven.  This is 'candy making' - no oven involved.  Actually quite the opposite, you want a cold kitchen, cold filling and to refrigerate these when done.  These get the 'base' filling mixed together with your favorite liqueur.  You pick your filling too - do you want dark, milk or white chocolate?  I went with Ghirardelli white chocolate chips, melted and added to the filling mix.  I then used white chocolate and milk chocolate 'melting chocolate/bark" for the coating. As for the liqueurs - that is completely up to you!  I went with Bailey's, Frangelico & Kahlua - we like the Bailey's the best but, they each have their own flavor profiles,  I do have some orange infused brandy for making dark chocolate truffles as well...if you don't want to spend a lot of money on large bottles of liqueurs to use, do what I do and buy the 'sample sizes' from the liquor store...if you want to make them non-alcohol, just substitute in some flavorings that you like - like peppermint, orange, almond or cinnamon... same for the "toppings" that you roll the truffles in,  I used: sprinkles, chocolate drizzle, crushed nuts and the 'traditional' cocoa powder.  Traditional being that truffles are to resemble 'dirt clods' and not be 'perfectly round'...they are usually make with dark chocolate and brandy and rolled in cocoa powder to resemble 'dirt'... I must admit, I will gladly "eat dirt" with these around!!  ~Enjoy! Diane   


Homemade Chocolate Truffles 

Ingredients:
 3 cups sifted powdered sugar, sift first then measure
 8 oz. softened cream cheese, room temp
 1 (11 oz.) bag Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chips
 3 Tbl. liqueur/s, *see note below

Topping Choices:
finely chopped nuts 
candy sprinkles
cocoa powder
toasted coconut
finely crushed toffee
espresso powder
crushed hard candies

Coating Choices: 
melting chocolate, (dark, milk or white)

Directions:
Melt your white chocolate chips for filling, in a microwave safe bowl according to package instructions (usually 30 second intervals until all melted). Once melted, set aside to cool slightly.
Place cream cheese into mixing bowl, slowly add the sifted powdered sugar to the cream cheese, while on low to medium speed, until well mixed.
Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl, as needed.
Add in melted but, slightly cooled chocolate chips. Mixing well.
Place all of your filling into a shallow baking dish and stir in 3 Tbs of a liqueur. OR divide the filling into half or thirds:
*Note: Divide mixture into baking dishes:
  Using One Liqueur: don't divide filling and add 3 tbs liqueur to filling mix
  Using Two Liqueurs: divide filling into half and add 1.5 Tbs liqueur to each filling mix
  Using Three Liqueurs: divide filling into thirds and add 1 Tbs liqueur to each filling mix 
Mix in well. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour. It will chill faster if spread evenly and thin in baking dish or bowl when placed in fridge. 
When very cold, using a melon-baller or small spoon, shape mixture into 1″ balls. Dip into melting chocolate and place into topping of choice, use fingers to sprinkle nuts or powder over top of truffle too (if coating in nuts or powder after dipping into chocolate, let the truffle set in the nuts until hardened/set before moving to a parchment lined container.  
Keep refrigerated until serving in an airtight container.
Makes approx 4-5 dozen. 

Recipe Adapted from: Alton Brown and Bakerella
Photos by: Diane Baker for Canning and Cooking at Home 

Homemade Chocolate Truffles