Choco-Ginger Truffles

The chocolates pictured here are survivors of a kitchen disaster.

Truffles are easy and fun to make, and I find the process comforting.  To make these ones, I peeled a chunk of ginger with a spoon (like this), grated it with a microplane, and dropped it into a saucepan with almond milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.  Once the mixture had come to a robust simmer, I poured it over a bowl of chocolate chips.  I whisked the mixture into shiny perfection: truffle batter.

So far, so good.  I let the batter chill in the freezer, compartment of choice for impatient truffle-makers. When it was firm, I formed the truffles with a melon baller, a method I learned from watching Ina Garten.  If you don't have a melon baller, you can approximate one with a teaspoon measure; just make sure you dip the utensil in hot water in between truffles, and don't be afraid to scoop forcefully.

After a quick roll in some cocoa powder, the truffles were almost ready.  I ate one, consumed the equivalent of another by scraping the bowl with a spoon so that no gingery chocolate would go to waste, and stashed the tray with the twenty remaining truffles in the fridge to chill.

Chocolate-Covered Almonds

Chocolate-covered almonds are my new favorite snack.  With a little sea salt added to the mix, they are just phenomenal.  Lately I've been seeing and buying them everywhere: Starbucks, Tedeschi, and Whole Foods each carry their own versions, all of which are irresistible to hungry grad students.  I decided it was time to make my own.

These almonds are roasted, dipped in salted dark chocolate, and tossed with a bit of Dutch-processed cocoa powder.  I can't stop eating them.  Although the chocolate coating is not as thick as the almonds I get at the store, which must be triple-dipped, this version still does a great job of satisfying my chocolate cravings.  I actually prefer the chocolate-to-almond ratio of this recipe, which allows the nutty flavor of the roasted almonds to come through.  If you don't like your almonds roasted, you can also make this with raw almonds.

While I loved the way these almonds tasted, I wasn't thrilled with how they looked.  It turns out it's really hard (at least for me) to get nice, smooth chocolate on something that has to be covered on all sides.  Since I like everything I post here to be easy on the eyes as well as delicious, I was contemplating not posting this recipe at all; however, when I asked some of my friends on Facebook what they thought, everyone said I should go for it.  So, here it is: a four-ingredient recipe for the most addictive snack on earth.  I hope you like it!

Cranberry Chocolate Truffles (Paleo, Vegan, Gluten-free)

I promise that after today's post we will take a *short* break from all the cranberries.

Did you make a batch of cranberry maple syrup and cran-maple compote yet?  You're going to need it for these amazing cranberry chocolate truffles! 

The inside of these candies is a beautiful dark pink color thanks to the cranberry maple syrup, and has just a hint of cocoa powder.  The truffles are dipped in dark chocolate to make their snappy outer shell, and then sprinkled with shredded coconut or chopped pecans just before the coating has time to set.  They may be the most festive thing I've ever made, other than this tart.  They are great for gifting.  I love the way the tart cranberry filling tastes with the rich dark chocolate, and I bet you and your lucky giftees will, too.

I think I just made up a word.  It's probably time to for me to stop and just get on with the recipe.

One more thing: these are adorable packaged in an egg carton.  Wrap that all up and see how befuddled people are when they open it and think you're giving them a carton of eggs for Christmas.

Salted Pepita Chocolate Bark (Great Gift Idea!)

Here's another post with an easy idea for a great gift: salted pepita chocolate bark.  I brought little baggies of this to work last week, and everybody loved them.  My coworkers were convinced that I bought the bark somewhere fancy.  No one needs to know that this gourmet treat takes only minutes to make!  I wrapped mine up in little cellophane treat bags, but you could also pack a bunch up in a nice holiday tin for a more sizeable gift.

If you missed my first post in the great gift ideas series, check it out.  When you're done making vanilla salt, come back here to read about the bark.  See you in five minutes!

Done?  If not, you can substitute any coarse or flaky sea salt here, but the vanilla salt really takes this over the top.  The pepitas provide a nice crunch and a pop of color, and the combination of vanilla bean, salt, and dark chocolate is absolutely amazing.

I like to make this right before bed, then leave it out to harden while I sleep.  When I wake up in the morning, it's ready to break into pieces.  Because of this routine, Ben calls this "breakfast chocolate".  I can assure you, however, that it's delicious any time of day.  I'm planning on making some more so I can put out a big bowl of it on Thanksgiving, for those of us who like to nibble on something sweet while waiting for the turkey.  Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Cake Pops (Gluten-free)

These pops were a huge hit at the Halloween party we went to last night--they were all gone about ten minutes after we arrived.  One of my classmates said the pop was so good that she had to sit down!  So, these might knock you right off your feet.

Cake pops take a little while to make, but they're worth it!  And, since there are no eggs involved, you can taste away all throughout the process.  Wrapped in little bags, these pops would make great birthday party or wedding favors.  There are endless possibilities for decorating them--you can dye sugar any color appropriate to the occasion, or extend the peanut butter theme by using crushed Reese's Pieces or peanut butter cups.

Brownie Batter Truffles (Gluten free, Paleo)

Yesterday I wanted brownies, but the thought of waiting for them to bake and then cool was disagreeable.  I thought about making brownie batter truffles instead.  Since there's no egg in this recipe, you can taste as you're making it and adjust the sweetness as desired.  If you're in a really big hurry, you can skip melting the chocolate and roll these in cocoa powder or shredded coconut.  You can get your brownie fix on pretty fast.

Lemon Cheesecake Truffles

***Note: The recipe below is NOT paleo--it was published before I discovered the paleo diet!  However, you can see an index of all my paleo recipes here.  Thank you for stopping by!*** 

Truffles are the perfect summer dessert, especially when there's lemon involved.  You can make these without even using your stove, and since they're kept in the fridge, they're refreshing on a hot day.  These truffles have a rich and creamy cheesecake interior with lemony undertones, a snappy chocolate shell, and crunchy, zesty lemon sugar on top.  They are so rich that I feel satisfied with just one or two for dessert.

You should make these because they are much easier, cuter, and smaller than cheesecake.  You can impress your friends by presenting all the delicious flavors of cheesecake in a small, round, chocolate-dipped form.  And in case you're wondering, lemon and chocolate DO go together well.  It's like orange and chocolate, but punchier and more summery.  Try it.  Try it today!

Ingredients (makes about 15 truffles):

For the cheesecake filling:

1 lemon
8 ounces cream cheese
Pinch of salt
1 cup powdered sugar
A few drops of vanilla

For the topping:

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

For the chocolate coating:

7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
A few drops of vanilla

Zest the lemon.  Set aside half the zest and toss it to coat with the granulated sugar to make the topping.  Spread the lemon sugar out on a plate in a thin layer so it can dry out a little.  You definitely don't want to skip this part, because the crunchy, zesty sugar is going to take these truffles from delicious to ridiculous.

Place the other half of the zest in a medium bowl with the cream cheese, salt, sugar, and vanilla.  Juice the lemon to obtain three tablespoons of juice, and add them to the bowl, making sure to strain out any seeds.  Use a fork to cream this mixture until well combined.  Cover the mixture and place it in the freezer for half an hour or so to firm up.

Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.  Use a spoon and your fingers to form rounded teaspoon-sized balls of cheesecake mixture and place them on the parchment-lined cookie sheet.  Don't worry if the balls aren't perfect, because you will have a chance to smooth them out later.  Freeze the balls for at least two hours so they're totally firm.

When your truffles are almost frozen, it's time to melt the chocolate.  Place the chopped chocolate, oil, and vanilla in a microwaveable bowl.  The oil is just there to help make the chocolate coating a little bit shiny.  Microwave the bowl in thirty-second intervals, stirring in between, until almost melted.  Stir until the chocolate is completely smooth.  Set the chocolate aside to cool for a few minutes before you dip your truffles.

Line another baking sheet with parchment or wax paper so you'll have a spot for your dipped truffles.  Take the truffles out of the freezer.  Working with one ball at a time, roll it quickly between your palms to round it out, then drop it in the chocolate, turning it a little to fully coat it.  Use a fork to carefully fish the truffle out of the chocolate.  Let the excess chocolate drip off, then carefully transfer the truffle to the parchment paper.  Sprinkle the top of the truffle with a little lemon sugar right away.  You don't want to wait until you've dipped all the truffles because once the chocolate is hardened the lemon sugar won't stick.

Once you've dipped all the truffles, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about half an hour so the chocolate can set.  When the truffles are set, they are ready to eat.  If you won't be enjoying them right away, store the truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Make Your Own Chocolate Truffles (plus Vegan Coconut Almond Truffles)

Chocolate truffles are so easy to make, it’s amazing that places like Godiva get away with charging so much for them.  If you want yours to be even more like the ones at the chocolate shop, you can melt your favorite milk or dark chocolate and dip the chilled truffles in it instead of rolling them in cocoa powder and confectioner’s sugar.  Use a fork to remove the truffle once it’s covered in melted chocolate.  Let the extra drip off, and place the truffle on wax or parchment paper or in a candy cup.   This is a deliciously rich, fancy, no-bake dessert that will impress anyone.  Chocolate truffles also make a great gift wrapped up in a cellophane bag or placed in a decorative box or tin.  This recipe makes about 20 truffles.

Ingredients (adapted from Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten): 

       ½ cup heavy cream

       3.5 ounces bittersweet chocolate

       3.5 ounces semisweet chocolate

       1 tablespoon brewed coffee

       ½ teaspoon vanilla or other flavoring

       Pinch of salt

       1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or other liqueur of your choosing

       5 ounces melted chocolate for dipping (optional)

       Cocoa and powdered sugar for rolling (optional)

Break the chocolates into small pieces and place in a bowl (don’t use chocolate chips instead of bars, because they have additives you don’t want in this recipe).  Bring the cream to a boil, then quickly pour it through a sieve into the bowl with the chocolate.  Use a whisk to stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.  If your chocolate isn’t quite melted, put the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until smooth.

Add the coffee, vanilla or other extract, salt, and liqueur and whisk until smooth.  Chill the mixture for at least 45 minutes, until firm enough to scoop.

When the mixture is firm, use a melon baller or small ice cream scoop to form balls, and place them on a sheet of parchment paper.  Don’t worry if the balls aren’t totally round and smooth; you will have a chance to perfect them later.

Chill the balls for about 15 minutes, then roll them in cocoa and mold them into spheres.  Chill overnight is possible, then roll in powdered sugar before serving.  Or, roll yours in a mix of cocoa and powdered sugar like I did.  Alternately, place in the freezer for about 15 minutes, then dip into a melted chocolate of your choice.

Vegan Coconut Almond Truffles

Ingredients:

       3.5 ounces bittersweet chocolate (check the label to make sure the brand you’re buying doesn’t have any milk products)

       3.5 ounces semisweet chocolate

       ½ cup coconut milk

       ½ teaspoon vanilla

       ½ teaspoon almond extract

       1 tablespoon brewed coffee

       Pinch of salt

       4 tablespoons shredded coconut

       4 tablespoons sliced almonds

Melt the chocolate as described in the recipe above, using coconut milk instead of cream.  Add the extracts, coffee, and salt and whisk to combine.

Grind the coconut and almonds in the food processor until fine.  Stir half of the nut mixture into the chocolate and save the rest for rolling.

Proceed as in the above recipe, chilling the chocolate mixture before forming it into balls.  Instead of cocoa, roll the chocolates in the coconut and almond mixture.