EASY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Chocolate truffles are a type of chocolate confectionery made with a chocolate ganache center coated in cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar, or finely chopped nuts. Ganache is a French concoction made with cream and good quality chocolate. The sky is the limit to what you can flavor your ganache with. They are quite expensive to buy and you can easily make them at home for a fraction of the cost. You can get your chocolate fix with just one truffle!

Chocolate Ganache

1 ¼ cups heavy cream

8 oz bittersweet (70% cocoa, if possible) dark chocolate, chopped

12 oz semi-sweet (70% cocoa, if possible) dark chocolate, chopped

2 t pure vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

2 T Grand Manier, Cognac, or Frangelico if desired 
1 T instant espresso, disolved in 1 t water, if desired

In a saucepan, bring the cream to a very low simmer.
Turn off heat and add the chopped chocolate with the vanilla and salt.

Whisk the chocolate ganache until smooth and shiny.
Let sit for about 5 minutes and then stir with a spoon or rubber spatula.
Stir in the vanilla extract and one of the extra flavorings, if using.

Spoon into a square pan and refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Using a 1 tablespoon ice cream scoop, drop level tablespoons of the ganache onto a baking sheet or large platter. 

Coatings (make all coatings or just one)

½ cup medium ground or chopped almonds

½ cup medium ground or chopped pistachios

½ cup cocoa powder or confectioners' sugar

Keep hands cold by rinsing them in cold water and drying with a paper towel.

Roll the ganache balls in the coatings.

Store in 2 tightly covered containers and refrigerate until ready to serve.

They will keep for one week - if they last that long!

To serve, place in small paper truffle holders, if desired.

Makes 36 to 48 truffles, depending upon size.