Easy chocolate orange truffles

This is one of my favorite truffle recipes (and I’ve tried a lot of them!). It is easy to make and it’s super-rich, for the chocolate-lover alone. If you dabble in the chocolate, this one’s probably too much for you.

It’s based on a recipe by Chris from A Little Ol’factory, but I’ve altered it and created a few fun variations.

So if you like rich, smooth, dark chocolate that melts in your mouth, you’re going to want to try making these truffles.

Chocolate Orange Truffles
(makes about 30)

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces dark chocolate broken into pieces (I usually use Trader Joe’s over 1 lb. extra dark –79%)
• ¼ cup organic plain whole milk yogurt, brought to room temperature
• 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
• orange cocoa powder* (Recipe follows)

Place broken chocolate and Grand Marnier in a double boiler, and melt slowly until blended and creamy. Add yogurt and whisk to blend. Mixture will thicken quickly. Chill mixture for 2 hours. You’ve not got a ganache.

Use a melon ball to scoop out small balls of the ganache. Using hands well dusted with cocoa powder, roll balls in orange cocoa powder to coat. Don’t handle truffles for too long as the Ganache will get soft quickly from the heat of your hands, and you want pretty, round truffles. Place truffles on a clean orange cocoa powder coated cookie sheet. Chill until firm.

*Orange Cocoa Powder: To every 1 cup of cocoa powder, add 1-2 drops (your taste preference) Orange Essential Oil and blend well.

Not into the chocolate and orange combination? Try these fun variations. You can even make them all for a fun selection for your guests.

• For Chocolate Peppermint Truffles, substitute a peppermint liquor (like Peppermint Schnapps, or a simple peppermint extract) and use plain cocoa powder or add 1-2 drops of peppermint essential oil (or extract)to your cocoa powder.
• Chocolate and raspberry is a divine combination, so if you use Chambourde liquor and plain cocoa powder, you’ll get Chocolate Raspberry Truffles.
• Using Creme de Coconut for your liquor, and rolling the truffles in shredded coconut (your choice — sweetened or unsweetened), you’ll get Chocolate Coconut Truffles.
• For the ultimate in chocolatey goodness, use Godiva Original Chocolate Liqueur and plain cocoa powder; let’s call this one Chocolate Decadence Truffles.

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Feb 03, 2009 @ 10:00 EST5EDT