CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES COCOA POWDER RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Break the chocolate into little chunks and place in a small bowl. In a saucepan, bring the cream to the boil, add the butter and take off the heat. Pour the cream over the chocolate chunks and leave to stand for a few minutes, giving the chocolate a chance to melt.
  2. Stir the mixture and leave for another few minutes. Stir it again to make sure it’s mixed thoroughly, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until set.
  3. Toast the hazelnuts, bash them up into fine bits and place them in a shallow bowl. Place the cocoa in another shallow bowl. With a teaspoon, scoop out little balls of the set truffle mixture. Roll in the palm of your hand, then in either the cocoa or bashed up hazelnuts to coat.
  4. When you’ve used up most of the mixture, stir in the dried chilli. Make the last few (surprise) truffles, then place them in the fridge to firm up for about half an hour before serving them with a cup of coffee or wrapping them as a gift.

Steps:

• Place the 10 ounces of chocolate and butter in a medium size glass mixing bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir, and repeat this process 1 more time. Set aside.
• Heat the heavy cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove from the heat and pour the mixture over the melted chocolate mixture; let stand for 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, stir gently, starting in the middle of bowl and working in concentric circles until all chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth and creamy. Gently stir in the brandy. Pour the mixture into an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Using a melon baller, scoop chocolate onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Place the cocoa powder, nuts, and/or toasted coconut each in its own pie pan and set aside.
• In the meantime, place the 8 ounces of chocolate into a medium mixing bowl which is sitting on top of a heating pad lined bowl, with the heating pad set to medium. Depending on the heating pad, you may need to adjust the heat up or down. Stirring the chocolate occasionally, test the temperature of the chocolate and continue heating until it reaches 90 to 92 degrees F; do not allow the chocolate to go above 94 degrees F. If you do, the coating will not have a nice snap to it when you bite into the chocolate. Once you have reached the optimal temperature, adjust the heat to maintain it.
• Remove the truffles from the refrigerator and shape into balls by rolling between the palms of your hands. Use powder-free vinyl or latex gloves, if desired.
• Dip an ice cream scoop into the chocolate and turn upside down to remove excess chocolate. Place truffles 1 at time into the scoop and roll around until coated. Then place the truffle into the dish with either the cocoa powder, nuts or coconut. Move the truffle around to coat; leave truffle in the coating for 10 to 15 seconds before removing. In the meantime, continue placing the chocolate-coated truffles in the cocoa or other secondary coating. After 10 to 15 seconds, remove the truffle to a parchment lined sheet pan. Repeat until all truffles are coated. Allow to set in a cool dry place for at least 1 hour; or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Truffles are best when served at room temperature.