Mocha Ganache Truffle Cups Recipes

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat cream and butter over medium heat until bubbles form around sides of saucepan (mixture should reach a temperature of 180°). Remove from the heat; whisk in coffee granules., Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt milk chocolate chips. Stir cream mixture into melted chocolate chips until blended. Cover and refrigerate truffle filling until firm, about 2 hours., In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy disks. On a baking sheet, place 30 miniature paper or foil muffin liners. With a pastry brush, brush inside of each liner with melted candy coating. Refrigerate to harden. Apply a second layer of candy coating., Carefully peel liner away from chocolate; discard liner. Remove filling from refrigerator; stir. If mixture is too thick, microwave at 5-10 second intervals until soft enough to pipe. Spoon filling into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe stars or rosettes into truffle cups. Cover and refrigerate. Garnish with sprinkles just before serving.

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Beat in cream cheese. Dissolve coffee in water; add to cream cheese and beat until smooth. , Chill until firm enough to shape. Shape into 1-in. balls and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill until firm, 1-2 hours. , In a microwave, melt chocolate coating; stir until smooth. Dip balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. If desired, melt white coating and drizzle over truffles.

Steps:

• For the chocolate cake: Prepare and bake the cake according to the package directions for a 9-by-13-inch pan. When completely cool, invert the cake onto a large cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the cake into 1-inch cubes. Set aside for assembling.
• For the chocolate bark: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped white chocolate and milk chocolate in separate small microwave-safe bowls. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each, until both are completely smooth, about 1 minute. Dollop both chocolates in the center of the prepared baking sheet, then swirl together with a skewer or small offset spatula (the bark should be about 1/4 inch thick). Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies. Transfer to the refrigerator to harden, about 15 minutes. Break the bark into large pieces or cut into tree shapes with a cookie cutter. Store in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
• For the whipped white chocolate-mocha ganache: Heat the heavy cream and instant espresso powder in a small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering, about 2 minutes. Put the chopped white chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl, then pour the hot cream over. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then stir with a rubber spatula until melted and smooth. Transfer to the refrigerator until cool to the touch but not set, 15 to 20 minutes (it will thicken but not become completely solid). Once cool, whip with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until lightened in texture and color (it will hold soft peaks), about 2 minutes. (Do not overmix. The ganache will become grainy or break if too much air is incorporated.) Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
• For the milk chocolate-peppermint ganache: Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering, about 2 minutes. Put the chopped milk chocolate and peppermint extract in a medium bowl, then pour the hot cream over. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then stir with a rubber spatula until smooth. Set aside at room temperature until thickened and pipeable, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a large piping bag and snip off the end.
• To assemble the trifle, layer about 1/4 of the cake cubes in the bottom of a trifle dish. Pipe a thin layer of peppermint ganache around the perimeter of the dish, and another squiggle in the center. Pipe small dollops of the white chocolate ganache around the perimeter, then sprinkle all over with about 1/4 of the crushed cookies and 1/4 of the crushed peppermint candies. Repeat until there are 4 layers total, topping the trifle with rosettes of the remaining white chocolate ganache. Sprinkle the remaining cookies and peppermint candy on top, then insert the chocolate bark.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Use a long-handled serving spoon to scoop.

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a 2-quart mixing bowl. In a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from the heat, take 1 tablespoon of hot cream and dissolve the espresso powder in it, then blend it back into the rest of the cream. Pour the hot 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. Cover the mixture, let cool to room temperature, and chill in the refrigerator until thick but not stiff (2 to 3 hours).
• Fit a 12-inch pastry bag with a large, plain round pastry tip with a 1/2-inch opening and fill partway with the ganache mixture. Pipe the mixture into 1-inch foil candy cups up to the top edge. Place a mocha bean on top of each cup. Chill the truffle cups in the refrigerator until they are set (1 hour).
• In a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the truffle cups will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. The truffle cups are best served at room temperature.
• Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups: Omit the espresso powder. After stirring together the chocolate and whipping cream, stir in 2/3 cup toasted, skinned, finely ground hazelnuts. Rather than placing a mocha bean on top of each truffle cup, place a toasted, skinned, whole hazelnut, pointed end up on top.
• White Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups: Follow the instructions for Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups above, and additionally substitute 10 ounces white chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate.
• Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups: Follow the instructions for Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups above, and additionally substitute 9 ounces milk chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate.

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat the cream over medium-low heat just until it comes to a boil in a small saucepan. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir once to mix the chocolate and cream together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes. Uncover and whisk until smooth and shiny. Microwave for 10 second increments if there are any un-melted pieces of chocolate. Stir in the coffee liqueur.
• Press a piece of plastic wrap directly against the surface of the chocolate and set aside in a cool place until the chocolate is thick and firm enough to hold its shape when rolled, about 2 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Use 2 spoons to drop small mounds of chocolate onto the baking sheet. Then, with cold hands, roll each truffle between your open palms to make smooth round balls. You may need to run your hands under cool water frequently as you work.
• Put the cocoa on a plate and roll each truffle until well coated. Refrigerate until very cold.

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips, skim milk, and instant espresso powder in a medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.

Steps:

• Microwave whipping cream in a glass bowl at HIGH 1 minute and 30 seconds or until hot, stirring once. Add chocolate morsels and coffee granules; stir until smooth. Chill 30 minutes or until spreading consistency.