Bourbon Caramel Truffles Recipes

CHOCOLATE-BOURBON TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Set a stainless steel mixing bowl over a pan of boiling water to make a double boiler. Put chocolate, cream and salt in bowl and heat until chocolate is completely melted, about 15 minutes.
• Add vanilla and bourbon and whisk thoroughly, until mixture is smooth and shiny. Pour into a pie plate or baking dish, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Use a melon baller or soup spoon to make rough 1/2-ounce spheres. Roll between cocoa-dusted palms, then in crushed nuts. Refrigerate, but don't serve them ice cold; remove from the refrigerator 10 minutes before serving.

CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square dish with plastic wrap; set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels, milk chocolate chips and cream. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave 1 minute longer, stirring every 15 seconds or until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth. Spread into prepared dish; refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm., Using plastic wrap, lift candy out of pan. Cut into 30 pieces; roll each piece into a 1-in. ball. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm., In a microwave-safe bowl, melt semi-sweet chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip caramels in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. If desired, use additional melted chocolate to drizzle over truffles. Refrigerate until firm.

CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Line an 8 inch square dish with plastic wrap and set aside.
• In a microwave safe bowl, combine the caramels, milk chocolate chips and cream.
• Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir.
• Microwave 1 minute longer, stirring every 15 seconds or until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth.
• Spread into prepared dish; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
• Using plastic wrap, lift candy out of pan.
• Cut into 30 pieces, rolling each piece into a 1 inch ball.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
• In microwave safe bowl, melt semisweet chips and shortening; stir until smooth.
• Dip caramels in chocolate and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets.
• Refrigerate until firm.

DEATH STAR CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square dish with plastic wrap; set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine caramels, milk chocolate chips and cream. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave 1 minute longer, stirring every 15 seconds or until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth. Spread into prepared dish; refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm., Using plastic wrap, lift candy out of pan. Cut into 30 pieces; roll each piece into a 1-in. ball. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Insert lollipop sticks into truffles. Press the end of a small wooden spoon into the upper portion of each truffle to create an indentation. Return to refrigerator until firm. , In separate microwave-safe bowls, melt the black and white candy disks; stir every 30 seconds until smooth. Tint white candy with black candy, adding 1 teaspoon at a time until desired color of gray is achieved; reserve remaining melted black candy. Dip caramels in gray candy, allowing excess to drip off; let stand until set. Tint remaining gray candy slightly darker with reserved black candy. Place in piping bag fitted with small #1 round tip; pipe onto truffles to resemble Death Star. Refrigerate until firm.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring condensed milk, butter, and cream to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until butter melts. Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens slightly and turns pale golden, 4 to 6 minutes (do not let it get too dark, or mixture will separate). Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes. Add chocolate, cocoa powder, and vanilla, stirring until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth and combined. Transfer to a pie dish or a wide, shallow bowl and refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours.
• Scoop 1 tablespoon of chocolate mixture into your palm and roll into a ball. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet; repeat with remaining mixture. Place sprinkles in bowls (onefor each color). Roll truffles in sprinkles until thoroughly coated. Place in paper mini baking cups and serve, or store in refrigerator, covered, up to 1 month.

MADAGASCAR BOURBON VANILLA TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Halve 3 of the vanilla beans lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. In a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, bring the beans, seeds, and cream to a boil. Turn off the heat, cover the pan and steep for 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla beans and discard. Place 1 pound of the chocolate in a 2-quart mixing bowl. Reheat the cream to a boil and pour into the bowl with the chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 1 minute, then stir together with a rubber spatula, whisk, or immersion blender until thoroughly blended. Cover the truffle cream, let cool to room temperature, and chill in the refrigerator until thick but not stiff (2 to 3 hours). Or let the truffle cream sit at room temperature for several hours or overnight until completely set and thick.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Fit a 12-inch pastry bag with a large, plain round pastry tip with a 1/2-inch opening and fill partway with the truffle cream. Holding the pastry bag 1 inch above the paper, pipe out mounds about 1 inch in diameter. Or use a small ice cream scoop to form the mounds. Cover the mounds with plastic wrap and chill in the freezer for 2 hours or in the refrigerator for 6 hours.
• Dust your hands with cocoa powder and roll the mounds into balls. These will be the truffle centers. Cover and chill the centers for another 2 hours in the freezer.
• Remove the truffle centers from the freezer and bring to cool-room temperature so the outer coating won't crack when they are dipped. Line 2 more baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Using a clean coffee grinder, process the remaining 2 vanilla beans until finely ground, and set aside. Melt and temper the remaining 1 1/2 pounds chocolate (see pages 25-30). Place a truffle center into the tempered chocolate, coating it completely. With a dipper or fork, remove the center from the chocolate, carefully shake off the excess chocolate, and turn the truffle out onto the paper. After dipping 4 truffles, center a pinch of ground vanilla beans on top of each truffle before the chocolate sets up.
• Let the truffles set up at room temperature, or chill them in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. When the truffles are set, place them in paper candy cups. In a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the truffles will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. The truffles are best served at room temperature.
• VARIATIONS
• Tahitian Vanilla Truffles: Substitute Tahitian vanilla beans for the Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans.
• White Chocolate Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Truffles: Substitute white chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate and use 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream.
• Milk Chocolate Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Truffles: Substitute milk chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate and use 1 cup heavy whipping cream.