Coconut Macadamia Truffles Recipes

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square baking dish with foil and grease the foil with 1 teaspoon butter; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar and remaining butter; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until a candy thermometer reads 244° (firm-ball stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into prepared dish. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours., Using foil, lift candy out of dish. Gently peel off foil; cut caramel into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends. Store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment.
• Sift the confectioners' sugar into a large bowl. Add the sweetened coconut, almonds and condensed milk. Stir to combine.
• Remove a heaping tablespoon of the coconut mixture and use the palms of your hands to roll it into a ball about 1 1/4 inches in diameter and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining coconut mixture. Refrigerate the truffles until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the white chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave on 50 percent power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in the shortening to combine.
• Add the unsweetened coconut to a small bowl. Dip a truffle into the melted chocolate to coat completely, then use 2 forks to lift it out, allowing the excess chocolate to drip off. Place the truffle in the unsweetened coconut and roll to coat, then return to the baking sheet and allow the chocolate to set, about 20 minutes. Repeat to coat the remaining truffles.
• Enjoy immediately or store the truffles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Steps:

• Place 1 pound of the chocolate in a 2-quart mixing bowl. In a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream to a boil. Pour the cream into the bowl with the chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 1 minute, then stir together with a rubber spatula, whisk, or immersion blender until thoroughly blended. Add the cognac and chopped macadamia nuts and stir to blend well. Cover the truffle cream, let cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until thick but not stiff (3 to 4 hours). Or let the truffle cream sit at room temperature for several hours or overnight until completely set and thick.
• Place the truffle cream in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat at medium speed until the mixture thickens and forms light peaks (about 1 minute). Do not beat too long or the mixture will curdle and become grainy.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Fit a 12-inch pastry bag with a large, plain round pastry tip with a 3/4-inch opening and fill partway with the truffle cream. Holding the pastry bag 1 inch above the paper, pipe out mounds 1 inch in diameter. Or use a small ice cream scoop to form the mounds. Cover the mounds with plastic wrap and chill in the freezer for 2 hours or in the refrigerator for 6 hours.
• Dust your hands with confectioners' sugar and roll the mounds into balls. These will be the truffle centers. Cover and chill the centers for another 2 hours in the freezer.
• Remove the truffle centers from the freezer and bring to cool-room temperature so the outer coating won't crack when they are dipped. Line 2 more baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Melt and temper the remaining 1 1/2 pounds chocolate (see pages 25-30). Place a truffle center into the tempered chocolate, coating it completely. With a dipper or fork, remove the center from the chocolate, carefully shake off the excess chocolate, and turn the truffle out onto the paper. After dipping 4 truffles, sprinkle a pinch of the ground macadamia nuts on top of each truffle before the chocolate sets up.
• Let the truffles set up at room temperature, or chill them in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. When the truffles are set, place them in paper candy cups. In a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the truffles will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. The truffles are best served at room temperature.
• Instead of dipping the truffle centers in chocolate, roll them in a small bowl of confectioners' sugar or finely ground macadamia nuts as soon as they are formed.
• Pistachio Truffles: Substitute toasted, unsalted pistachio nuts for the macadamia nuts.
• Brazil Nut Truffles: Substitute toasted, unsalted Brazil nuts for the macadamia nuts.

Steps:

• Place the butter in an 8-in. square microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high until melted, about 30 seconds. Stir in cracker crumbs and sugar; press firmly onto the bottom of the dish. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute. Cool for 5 minutes., In a small bowl, combine 1 cup coconut, milk and nuts; spoon over the crust. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1-1/2 minutes or until heated through., In a microwave, melt chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Quickly pour over coconut mixture; spread evenly. , Toast remaining coconut if desired; sprinkle over the top. Cool on a wire rack; cut into bars.

Steps:

• Finely grind white chocolate in a food processor and transfer to a bowl. Pulse nuts in food processor until finely ground (be careful not to grind to a paste).
• Bring cream to a simmer in a medium skillet. Remove from heat and stir in rum. Whisk in white chocolate until melted and ganache is smooth. Stir in nuts. Pour ganache into a plastic-wrap-lined 8-inch square baking pan and chill, uncovered, until firm, about 4 hours.
• Invert ganache onto a work surface and remove plastic wrap. Cut ganache into 64 squares and roll each piece between your palms to form a ball. When all balls are formed, roll in coconut to cover completely, then chill truffles, covered, until ready to serve.