Dark Chocolate Truffles

Whenever we have guests coming over, the best part is planning the dessert.  Last week, we had some guests. We wanted to prepare some dessert in advance. One recipe that fitted the bill was Chocolate Truffles. We had some homemade red wine that was added and the truffles came out great. Our guests enjoyed the truffles and we loved them too.

Chocolate Truffles are rich, decadent, bite-sized sweets made from chocolate, cream and butter to which nuts, dry fruits, spices or liqueur can be added to enhance the flavour and taste. Truffles are rolled into small rounds and tossed in cocoa powder. This way, truffles are made to resemble the real Truffle fungus that grows in France and Italy. Choosing a good quality dark chocolate ensures smooth truffles. Choose a dark, semi-sweet or bitter chocolate for velvety truffles. One can add a variety of nuts, coffee powder, spices, pureed fruits, dry fruits and liqueurs to the basic truffle recipe.

Dark Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

• ½ cup low-fat cream
• ¼ teaspoon coffee powder
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
• 225 grams dark chocolate (take good quality dark chocolate or bitter chocolate)
• 4 tablespoons red wine (optional)
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder for coating the truffles

Instructions

1. Break chocolate into small pieces.
2. Put them in a heatproof bowl.
3. Take cream in a thick bottom saucepan.
4. Cook on medium heat till the cream begins to boil. Add coffee and sugar and stir well.
5. Pour cream mixture into the bowl with chocolate pieces. Add wine.
6. Stir until the chocolate melts and becomes smooth. If the chocolate has not melted, place the bowl over another pan with simmering water. Stir till the chocolate melts and mixture becomes smooth.
7. Cover the bowl with a cling film and put in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
8. With help of a spoon, scoop out some chocolate and shape into uneven walnut size balls.
9. Roll truffles in cocoa powder.
10. Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator.