Chocolate Orange Easter Egg Truffles Recipes

CHOCOLATE-ORANGE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Bring about 1 inch of water to a very slow simmer in a medium saucepan. Put the chocolate in a medium heat-safe bowl that can sit on top of the pan without touching the water. Put the bowl over the water and let the chocolate melt, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, bring the heavy cream, honey and half of the orange zest to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the honey. Strain the cream mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl and then gradually whisk into the chocolate until smooth and shiny. Whisk in the butter until melted. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a cool spot until slightly firm, about 1 hour.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Rub together the sugar and remaining orange zest in a small bowl until combined. Transfer the truffle mixture to a piping bag or resealable bag fitted with a plain 1/4-inch tip. Holding the bag about 1/4-inch over the baking sheet, pipe 3/4-inch truffles. Sprinkle with the orange sugar. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.

CRANBERRY ORANGE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a double boiler or metal bowl over simmering water, heat chocolate and butter until melted, stirring frequently. Whisk a small amount of mixture into egg yolks. Return all to the heat, whisking constantly. Cook and stir until mixture reaches at least 160° and coats the back of a metal spoon., Remove from the heat; stir in the cranberries, orange juice concentrate and extract. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Shape into 1-in. balls., In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip truffles in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets and drizzle with bittersweet chocolate. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

DARK CHOCOLATE ORANGE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt chocolate; stir until smooth. Gradually stir in cream until blended. Stir in extract. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate until firm. Shape into 3/4-in. balls. Roll in sugar.

CHOCOLATE-ORANGE EASTER-EGG TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chocolate and stir just until melted and smooth. Add butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in Grand Marnier and orange peel. Pour mixture into 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Refrigerate until mixture is firm enough to shape, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Line baking sheet with foil. Using scant 2 tablespoonfuls for each truffle, spoon 16 mounds of chocolate mixture onto prepared sheet. Using 2 serving teaspoons to form eggs and holding 1 teaspoon in 1 hand and second teaspoon in other hand, scoop 1 mound of chocolate from the first spoon to the second. Scoop chocolate from 1 spoon to the other several times, running spoon over surface of mounded chocolate to smooth oval as much as possible. Using palms of hands, roll chocolate mound into egg shape, smoothing surface as much as possible (surface will not be completely smooth). Place on plate. Repeat with remaining chocolate mounds. Refrigerate chocolate eggs until firm, about 45 minutes. Working in batches and using table knife or fingers, smooth surface of chocolate eggs again, if necessary. Chill until firm, about 15 minutes. Sift cocoa powder over chocolate eggs, covering completely. Cover and refrigerate. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

DARK CHOCOLATE ORANGE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• FILLING.
• In a small saucepan, heat cream just until bubbles form around edge of pan, remove from heat.
• Stir in 250 g of chocolate pieces until smooth, stir in orange juice concentrate and orange zest.
• Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until thickened and cold.
• Using a whisk (NOT electric mixer), beat chocolate mixture just until creamy and lighter in colour. Do not overbeat or mixture will separate.
• Using a pastry bag fitted with 1 cm plain tip, pipe filling into 2.5 cm diameter rounds on two wax paper-lined baking sheets.
• Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
• Sift icing sugar into a pie plate.
• Working with rounds from one baking sheet at a time, lightly roll in icing sugar.
• Gently roll each round between fingertips to round off tips. Return to wax paper-lined sheet and freeze for 1 hour or until hard and almost frozen.
• COATING.
• In top of double boiler over hot (not boiling) water, melt 375 g of chocolate.
• Remove from heat, let cool slightly.
• Sift cocoa into a pie plate.
• Using two forks, dip balls from one baking sheet at a time into chocolate, letting excess drip off. (If chocolate thickens while you work, rewarm gently over hot stove.
• Place balls in cocoa.
• Using two clean forks, roll truffles in cocoa and refrigerate on wax paper-lined baking sheet until hardened.
• Place truffles in candy cups and store in airtight container in refrigerator until just before serving.
• Can be refrigerated for up to 1 week or frozen up to 3 months.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Pour milk chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate in a large bowl and set aside.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together cream and orange zest and bring to a boil; immediately pour over chocolate chips in the bowl.
• Let stand for 1 minute then mix until the chocolate is completely smooth. Add in orange extract.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for about 45 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken.
• With a large wooden spoon, stir mixture for 10-15 seconds or just until it lightens in color (do not overbeat or it will not be the right texture).
• Spoon rounded teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets (they don't have to look pretty). Place baking sheet in the fridge and let chill for at least 10 minutes.
• Using your hands, gently roll each spoonful into a ball.
• Follow the directions on the candy coating packaging and melt chocolate (I melted mine in the microwave according to the package directions).
• Dip each chocolate orange ball in the candy coating and push around until completely covered; allow excess to drip off (I use two forks when I dip these truffles and that way the excess chocolate can drip through before I remove it from the bowl).
• Place each truffle on wax paper; let stand until set. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge.