How to Make Gourmet Chocolate Truffles for Gifts

Don't settle for the standard-issue truffles—go for the gusto by making your own—and then wrapping your delectable creations in food-safe tissue paper, placing them in and an elegant box, and tying the box with a festive ribbon. This recipe makes about five dozen 1" truffles.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 pound bar of artisanal bittersweet baking chocolate
• 1/2 pound white baking chocolate
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 of a stick)
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) fine liquor, such as Chambord, Limoncello or Grand Marnier
• Shredded unsweetened coconut or chopped, unsalted nuts to roll truffles in
• Water
• Pot and bowl that is larger than the pot or double-boiler
• Food-safe tissue paper, waxed paper or cooking use parchment paper
• Small gift boxes or Chinese take-out boxes
• Ribbons, raffia or wrapping paper

1. Boil a few cups of water in a pot. Place a bowl (or another pot) over the boiling water (thus creating a double-boiler, if you don't have one).
2. Melt the chocolates in the upper bowl, stirring regularly to mix the dark and light chocolates.
3. When the chocolates are melted and mixed, add in the butter, water, liquor (or vanilla) and mix thoroughly.
4. Add a dollop of heavy cream, stirring it in well before adding another dollop. When the cream is well–mixed, remove the chocolate from the heat, cover the bowl and refrigerate it for several hours or until the mixture is firm enough to hold its shape (you may need to refrigerate overnight).
5. Spread out a sheet of parchment paper on the counter (or plastic wrap). Scoop up about a rounded tablespoon of the chocolate and roll it into a 1" ball.
6. Roll the truffle ball in a bowl with the coconut or chopped nuts to coat the outside evenly. Place the coated truffle on the parchment paper. Continue in this way until all the chocolate is gone (be sure to sneak a few for taste-testing and quality assurance).

Turning Your Gourmet Truffles into a Gift

7. Line your gift box with food-safe tissue paper, wax paper or parchment paper. Cut to fit, if needed.
8. Load a generous quantity of truffles into the box, leaving enough space to breathe so that the truffles are not pressing on each other.
9. Close the paper gently over the truffles and then close the box.
10. Decorate the box as desired, with ribbons, wrapping paper and the like.

Tips & Warnings

• The bittersweet chocolate flavor is softened and rounded by the addition of white chocolate (my four-year-old calls this “making zebra chocolate”). If you can't find bulk white chocolate, you can use bulk milk chocolate for a similar effect.
• Substitute vanilla for the liquor if you like, but rest assured, even with liquor, your truffles will not taste like alcohol—the liquor blends in perfectly and acts just like vanilla, only with a flavor twist. And your truffles will be safe for children to consume.
• Try unsalted pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts or macadamia nuts to roll the truffles in. Our family favorite is unsweetened coconut, which you can find at Indian stores or in gourmet or health food stores such as Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. If do you use nuts, though, make sure to get unsalted.
• Do not use chocolate chips (never trust truffle recipes that call for chocolate chips). Truffles will taste authentic only if you use artisinal gourmet bulk baking chocolate, like Guittard, Callebout, Scharffen Berger, Ghirardelli, Valrhona or the like. If you live near a Trader Joe’s, definitely use their 72% cacao Belgian Pound Plus bar. Trader Joe's gourmet bulk chocolate is only $4 per pound and teasts fabulous.
• Do not use powdered cocoa to roll truffles in. This causes some people to have a gag reaction (I've seen it happen on two occasions). Cocoa powder is also too dry and bitter, as well as detracting from the gourmet appeal.
• Truffles can be frozen, as long as they are tightly sealed and well-stored. Thaw completely before serving.
• Truffles should be consumed within a week or so and are best kept refrigerated. If you do give these as gifts, you may want to include a short note explaining this.