Chocolate Orange Easter Egg Truffles Recipes

Steps:

• Bring about 1 inch of water to a very slow simmer in a medium saucepan. Put the chocolate in a medium heat-safe bowl that can sit on top of the pan without touching the water. Put the bowl over the water and let the chocolate melt, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, bring the heavy cream, honey and half of the orange zest to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the honey. Strain the cream mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl and then gradually whisk into the chocolate until smooth and shiny. Whisk in the butter until melted. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a cool spot until slightly firm, about 1 hour.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Rub together the sugar and remaining orange zest in a small bowl until combined. Transfer the truffle mixture to a piping bag or resealable bag fitted with a plain 1/4-inch tip. Holding the bag about 1/4-inch over the baking sheet, pipe 3/4-inch truffles. Sprinkle with the orange sugar. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Chop the chocolates finely with a sharp knife. Place them in a heat-proof mixing bowl.
• Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it just boils. Turn off the heat and allow the cream to sit for 20 seconds. Pour the cream through a fine-meshed sieve into the bowl with chocolate. With a wire whisk, slowly stir the cream and chocolates together until the chocolate is completely melted. Whisk in the Grand Marnier, if using, coffee, and vanilla. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
• With 2 teaspoons, spoon round balls of the chocolate mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, until firm. Roll each dollop of chocolate in your hands to roughly make a round ball. Roll in confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, or both. These will keep refrigerated for weeks, but serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chocolate and stir just until melted and smooth. Add butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in Grand Marnier and orange peel. Pour mixture into 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Refrigerate until mixture is firm enough to shape, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Line baking sheet with foil. Using scant 2 tablespoonfuls for each truffle, spoon 16 mounds of chocolate mixture onto prepared sheet. Using 2 serving teaspoons to form eggs and holding 1 teaspoon in 1 hand and second teaspoon in other hand, scoop 1 mound of chocolate from the first spoon to the second. Scoop chocolate from 1 spoon to the other several times, running spoon over surface of mounded chocolate to smooth oval as much as possible. Using palms of hands, roll chocolate mound into egg shape, smoothing surface as much as possible (surface will not be completely smooth). Place on plate. Repeat with remaining chocolate mounds. Refrigerate chocolate eggs until firm, about 45 minutes. Working in batches and using table knife or fingers, smooth surface of chocolate eggs again, if necessary. Chill until firm, about 15 minutes. Sift cocoa powder over chocolate eggs, covering completely. Cover and refrigerate. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)