BRANDY TRUFFLES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, combine 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, the dark chocolate, cream and cheese. Cook and stir over low heat until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl; cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm enough to shape. Shape into 1-in. balls and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill for 1-2 hours or until firm., In a microwave, melt remaining semisweet chocolate; stir until smooth. Dip balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Roll in pistachios. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• 1. Pour the cream in a pan, place over a medium heat and let it heat up – you don’t want it boiling, just hot.
  2. As soon as tiny bubbles start to appear, add the butter and finely grate in the clementine zest, and stir to melt the butter.
  3. Snap the chocolate into small pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Pour the creamy mixture over the chocolate, whisking as you go, so the chocolate slowly melts. If the mixture splits slightly, don’t worry, you can bring it right by adding a splash of boiling water.
  4. Add a pinch of sea salt. then stir in the brandy. Once completely smooth, pour the mixture into a nice serving dish or bowl.
  5. Place in the fridge for 2 hours to set. About 30 minutes before you’re ready to make your truffles, pull the bowl out of the fridge and let the chocolate warm up to room temperature.
  6. Put the mixed nuts into a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to bash them up quite finely. Get some little saucers or bowls and put the nuts in one and the cocoa powder in the other.
  7. Put a teacup filled with boiled water on the tray and pop a few teaspoons in there for scooping the chocolate. Get everyone around the table to spoon their own truffles out of the serving dish and roll them in cocoa powder, crushed nuts or anything else you fancy. Or, you can let them spread their truffles over a biscotti (a bit like posh Nutella!). Serve with a few glasses of chilled Vin Santo.