9.) Chocolate Truffles
2 pounds of Belgian chocolate (or any brand of good quality chocolate) one quart of heavy cream 1/4 lb. unsalted butter 1/3 C liqueur of choice
cocoa powder
Serves 4 (just kidding.... this makes over 2lbs. of truffles, but they are incredibly addictive)
Melt chocolate and cream over a double boiler. Whisk in butter and liqueur. Continue to whisk as the mixture cools and thickens. Pour into quart containers and refrigerate. To serve, scoop out with melon baller, roll in powdered cocoa.
Foolproof Dark Chocolate Fudge
3 C semisweet chocolate chips 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk dash salt 1 C chopped walnuts 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
In heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chips with sweetened condensed milk and salt. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts and vanilla. Spread evenly into aluminum foil lined 8 or 9 inch square pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board; peel off foil and cut into squares. Store loosely covered at room temperature.
Triple Chocolate Fudge
3 1/3 C sugar 1 C butter 1 C packed dark brown sugar 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk 32 large marshmallows, halved 2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips 2 milk chocolate candy bars (7 oz each), broken 2 squares (1 oz each) semisweet baking chocolate, chopped 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 C chopped pecans
Makes about 5 1/2 pounds
In a large saucepan, combine first four ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a rapid boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in marshmallows until melted. Stir in chocolate chips until melted. Add chocolate bars and baking chocolate and stir until melted. Fold in vanilla and pecans. Pour into a greased 15" x 10" x 1" baking pan. Chill until firm. Cut into squares.
Perfect Peppermint Patties
1 lb. confectioners' sugar 3 T butter or margarine, softened 2 to 3 tsp. peppermint extract 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 C evaporated milk 2 C (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips 2 T shortening
Makes about 5 dozen In a bowl, combine first four ingredients. Add milk and mix well. Roll into 1-in balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Chill for 20 minutes. Flatten with a glass to 1/4". Chill for 30 minutes. In a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and shortening. Dip patties and place on waxed paper to harden.
Marshmallow Puffs
36 large marshmallows 1-1/2 C semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 C chunky peanut butter 2 T butter or margarine
Makes 3 dozen
Line a 9-in. square pan with foil and butter the foil. Arrange marshmallows in pan. In a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Pour over the marshmallows. Chill completely. Cut between marshmallows
Honey Balls for Passover
1/2 C honey 1/3 C sugar 1 1/4 C chopped walnuts
1/4 C matzo farfel 2 tsp. grated orange or lemon zest
Makes 18-24
In a medium sized saucepan over low heat, heat the honey and sugar to boiling. Stir constantly. Add the nuts and the farfel and stir until the mixture is thick. Add the grated zest. Remove from heat and drop by teaspoonful onto a wet cookie sheet or wax paper, forming small balls. Cool.
Variation: Roll the balls in finely grated nuts or coconut.
Quick & Easy Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge
12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips 12 oz. peanut butter 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
Makes approximately 42 pieces
In a 1-1/2 quart microwave-proof bowl, melt chocolate and peanut butter on high power for 3 minutes. Stir well. Add milk and stir until well blended. Pour mixture into 8x8 dish lined with waxed paper. Refrigerate to chill.
Rum Balls
1 3/4 cups vanilla wafer cookie crumbs 1 cup ground pecans 1 cup confectioners sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 3 tablespoons light
corn syrup 1/4 cup light rum 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar (for dipping)
Makes About 2 1/2 Dozen
Mix all ingredients, except for 1/3 cup confectioners sugar. Roll into one inch balls. Roll balls in remaining confectioners sugar to coat.
White Chocolate Apricot-Hazelnut Truffles
(makes 28 truffles)
Ingredients:
1 1/4 C hazelnuts (aka filberts)
1/4 C finely chopped dried apricots
24 ounces imported white chocolate
6 Tbl heavy cream
Instructions:
On a baking sheet, spread out 1 1/4 C hazelnuts. Bake at 350 F for 10
minutes, or until nuts are light brown and the dark skins are cracked.
Remove as much of the skins as possible by rubbing nuts in a terry-cloth towel. Finely chop nuts in a food processor.
In a 1-quart glass container, combine 12 ounces imported white chocolate, cut up and 6 Tbl heavy cream.
[Note: I used the Nestle white chocolate chips that are available in
my local supermarket. It worked well, but I am sure it would be better
if you use a good import instead.]
Microwave mixture on MEDIUM (70% power), 3 to 4 minutes, stirring twice, until chocolate is melted and smooth. [You can do this step in a
double-boiler if you don't have a microwave.]
Stir into melted chocolate 3/4 C of the chopped nuts and 1/4 C finely
chopped dried apricots.
Cover the mixture and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours, or until mixture is firm
enough to hold its shape. (If mixture gets too hard, let stand at room
temperature for 30 minutes or so, until firm but soft enough to shape.)
Form 28 smooth 1 1/4-inch diameter balls, either by using a 1 1/4-inch automatic-release ice cream scoop, or by rolling 1 Tbl of the mixture between your (clean!) hands.
Place on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm, 1
hour or longer.
2 pounds of Belgian chocolate (or any brand of good quality chocolate) one quart of heavy cream 1/4 lb. unsalted butter 1/3 C liqueur of choice
cocoa powder
Serves 4 (just kidding.... this makes over 2lbs. of truffles, but they are incredibly addictive)
Melt chocolate and cream over a double boiler. Whisk in butter and liqueur. Continue to whisk as the mixture cools and thickens. Pour into quart containers and refrigerate. To serve, scoop out with melon baller, roll in powdered cocoa.
Foolproof Dark Chocolate Fudge
3 C semisweet chocolate chips 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk dash salt 1 C chopped walnuts 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
In heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chips with sweetened condensed milk and salt. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts and vanilla. Spread evenly into aluminum foil lined 8 or 9 inch square pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board; peel off foil and cut into squares. Store loosely covered at room temperature.
Triple Chocolate Fudge
3 1/3 C sugar 1 C butter 1 C packed dark brown sugar 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk 32 large marshmallows, halved 2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips 2 milk chocolate candy bars (7 oz each), broken 2 squares (1 oz each) semisweet baking chocolate, chopped 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 C chopped pecans
Makes about 5 1/2 pounds
In a large saucepan, combine first four ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a rapid boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in marshmallows until melted. Stir in chocolate chips until melted. Add chocolate bars and baking chocolate and stir until melted. Fold in vanilla and pecans. Pour into a greased 15" x 10" x 1" baking pan. Chill until firm. Cut into squares.
Perfect Peppermint Patties
1 lb. confectioners' sugar 3 T butter or margarine, softened 2 to 3 tsp. peppermint extract 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 C evaporated milk 2 C (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips 2 T shortening
Makes about 5 dozen In a bowl, combine first four ingredients. Add milk and mix well. Roll into 1-in balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Chill for 20 minutes. Flatten with a glass to 1/4". Chill for 30 minutes. In a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and shortening. Dip patties and place on waxed paper to harden.
Marshmallow Puffs
36 large marshmallows 1-1/2 C semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 C chunky peanut butter 2 T butter or margarine
Makes 3 dozen
Line a 9-in. square pan with foil and butter the foil. Arrange marshmallows in pan. In a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Pour over the marshmallows. Chill completely. Cut between marshmallows
Honey Balls for Passover
1/2 C honey 1/3 C sugar 1 1/4 C chopped walnuts
1/4 C matzo farfel 2 tsp. grated orange or lemon zest
Makes 18-24
In a medium sized saucepan over low heat, heat the honey and sugar to boiling. Stir constantly. Add the nuts and the farfel and stir until the mixture is thick. Add the grated zest. Remove from heat and drop by teaspoonful onto a wet cookie sheet or wax paper, forming small balls. Cool.
Variation: Roll the balls in finely grated nuts or coconut.
Quick & Easy Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge
12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips 12 oz. peanut butter 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
Makes approximately 42 pieces
In a 1-1/2 quart microwave-proof bowl, melt chocolate and peanut butter on high power for 3 minutes. Stir well. Add milk and stir until well blended. Pour mixture into 8x8 dish lined with waxed paper. Refrigerate to chill.
Rum Balls
1 3/4 cups vanilla wafer cookie crumbs 1 cup ground pecans 1 cup confectioners sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 3 tablespoons light
corn syrup 1/4 cup light rum 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar (for dipping)
Makes About 2 1/2 Dozen
Mix all ingredients, except for 1/3 cup confectioners sugar. Roll into one inch balls. Roll balls in remaining confectioners sugar to coat.
White Chocolate Apricot-Hazelnut Truffles
(makes 28 truffles)
Ingredients:
1 1/4 C hazelnuts (aka filberts)
1/4 C finely chopped dried apricots
24 ounces imported white chocolate
6 Tbl heavy cream
Instructions:
On a baking sheet, spread out 1 1/4 C hazelnuts. Bake at 350 F for 10
minutes, or until nuts are light brown and the dark skins are cracked.
Remove as much of the skins as possible by rubbing nuts in a terry-cloth towel. Finely chop nuts in a food processor.
In a 1-quart glass container, combine 12 ounces imported white chocolate, cut up and 6 Tbl heavy cream.
[Note: I used the Nestle white chocolate chips that are available in
my local supermarket. It worked well, but I am sure it would be better
if you use a good import instead.]
Microwave mixture on MEDIUM (70% power), 3 to 4 minutes, stirring twice, until chocolate is melted and smooth. [You can do this step in a
double-boiler if you don't have a microwave.]
Stir into melted chocolate 3/4 C of the chopped nuts and 1/4 C finely
chopped dried apricots.
Cover the mixture and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours, or until mixture is firm
enough to hold its shape. (If mixture gets too hard, let stand at room
temperature for 30 minutes or so, until firm but soft enough to shape.)
Form 28 smooth 1 1/4-inch diameter balls, either by using a 1 1/4-inch automatic-release ice cream scoop, or by rolling 1 Tbl of the mixture between your (clean!) hands.
Place on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm, 1
hour or longer.