Chocolate Prune Truffles Recipes

Steps:

• Stuff a whole almond into the space where each prune pit was. Fold and press the prunes around the almonds (it's fine if the almonds peek through a bit). Put the prunes on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Put the raspberries into a resealable plastic bag and crush into a fine powder. Place the powder in a small shallow bowl.
• Put the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 70 percent power for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave; the chocolate will still look solid but will be softened. Stir until smooth.
• Dip one end of a prune in chocolate, let any excess drip back in the bowl, and then dip the chocolate end into the crushed raspberries to coat. Put the prune back on the baking sheet, almond-side down, and repeat with the remaining prunes. Let the prunes stand until the chocolate hardens enough to come away cleanly from the paper, 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:

• Place prunes in a bowl and cover with cherry juice.
• Soak for 1-2 hours.
• If your prunes are hard, not juicy, you may need to heat them just a bit in the cherry juice until soft.
• Place prunes and juice in food processor and pulse until smooth, about 30 seconds.
• Pulse in vanilla, then melted chocolate.
• Scrape mixture into a bowl and place in freezer for 30-45 minutes, until almost smooth.
• Remove from freezer, and roll into 1″ balls in palm of hand.
• Roll in coconut to coat.
• Serve.

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate and tip into a large bowl. Put the cream and butter into a saucepan and heat gently until the butter melts and the cream reaches simmering point. Remove from heat, then pour over the chocolate. Stir the chocolate and cream together until you have a smooth mixture. Add any flavourings to the truffle mix at this stage (divide the mixture between bowls and mix in liqueurs or other flavourings, a tsp at a time, to taste. Try bourbon, Grand Marnier, coconut rum or the zest and juice of an orange), or leave plain. Cool and chill for at least 4 hrs.
• To shape the truffles, dip a melon baller in hot water and scoop up balls of the mixture, then drop the truffles onto greaseproof paper. Or lightly coat your hands in flavourless oil (such as sunflower) and roll the truffles between your palms. You could also use a piping bag to pipe rounds onto baking parchment.
• Coat your truffles immediately after shaping. Tip toppings into a bowl and gently roll the truffles until evenly coated, then chill on baking parchment. Try: crushed, shelled pistachio nuts; lightly toasted desiccated coconut; or roll a truffle flavoured with orange zest and juice in cocoa powder. To coat in chocolate, line a baking tray with baking parchment. Melt 100g milk, dark or white chocolate for 10 truffles. Allow chocolate to cool slightly. With a fork, pick up one truffle at a time and hold over the bowl of melted chocolate. Spoon the chocolate over the truffle until well-coated. Place on the baking tray, then chill.
• To give as presents, place 8-10 truffles in individual foil or paper cases inside small, lined boxes tied with ribbon. Keep in the fridge until you're ready to give them. Will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for three days, or frozen for up to a month. Defrost in the fridge overnight.

Steps:

• Heat cream in a pot until it steams. Put chocolate in a bowl, pour hot cream on top, and stir until chocolate is melted and incorporated into cream.
• Chill until solid all the way through, 1 to 2 hours. Using a chilled melon baller or latex gloves to prevent the ganache from melting or sticking to your hands, scoop out about a tablespoonful and quickly roll it into a ball. Repeat, lining truffles on a plate or a baking sheet.
• If truffles become too soft to handle, place them in refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes. Roll them in cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar or a mixture of sugar and ground cinnamon. Serve immediately or store, wrapped in plastic, in refrigerator for up to four days.