Cognac Truffle Recipes

CHOCOLATE COGNAC TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil over medium heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, pour the cream over the chocolate, stirring with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until the mixture is smooth. Stir in the butter. Stir in the Cognac and vanilla extract. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
• Put the cocoa powder in a shallow bowl. Remove the chocolate mixture from the refrigerator and, using hands wet with cold water or two teaspoons, form it into 1-1/2-inch balls. Roll the truffles in the cocoa powder to coat. Place several at a time in a fine-mesh strainer and gently shake to remove excess cocoa powder. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

COGNAC TRUFFLES

Steps:

• -------------ENROBING------------- 1 lb Bittersweet chocolate 1 lb Cocoa It is important to use an excellent quality chocolate when making truffles since it is the primary ingredient. Valhrona is my first choice and Callebaut is my second.
• BRING THE CREAM TO A BOIL and pour it over the cut chocolate. Allow to stand 1-to-2 minutes and stir smooth.
• Beat in the softened butter and cool to set. Beat with an electric mixer (using a paddle attachment if available) on medium speed until light. Beat in Cognac. Pipe out small truffles on parchment or waxed paper with a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tube. Refrigerate to set. Melt the chocolate. Sift the cocoa into a deep pan.
• Dip the truffles in the melted chocolate and then deposit th em in the cocoa, shaking the pan to cover them.
• After the covering sets, shake the truffles in a strainer to remove the excess cocoa.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 minute more.)
• Meanwhile, bring the cream and honey to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat (or in the microwave). Gradually whisk the cream into the chocolate until smooth and shiny. Whisk in the butter until very smooth. If possible, switch to an immersion blender and blend for about 1 minute for a lovely satiny texture. Cover the surface of the chocolate with plastic wrap; set aside in a cool spot until slightly firm, about 1 hour.
• Line a baking sheet or large plate very, very tightly with plastic wrap (the wrap will be slightly suspended over the surface of the pan). Transfer the truffle mixture to a piping bag fitted with a plain 1/4-inch tip. Holding the bag about 1/4-inch over the surface of the plastic wrap, pipe about 25 (3/4-inch) cones or truffles. Sprinkle the truffle tops lightly with sugar. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.
• Once set, the truffles can be held in a cool spot, out of the refrigerator for up to 2 hours. Otherwise, refrigerate the truffles covered, for up to 5 days. Truffles taste best if served room temperature not straight from the refrigerator.
• Finely grate the zest from the citrus with a fine holed grater, preferably a micro plane. Add half of the zest to the cream, (reserve the rest for decorating the truffles.) Bring the cream, zest and honey to a simmer, remove from the heat. Puree mixture with an immersion blender to combine the flavors. Proceed as above to form the truffles.
• Gently rub the turbinado sugar and the reserved zest together with your fingers. Sprinkle citrus flavored sugar on top of truffles.
• Pulse the fennel seed, confectioners' sugar, and cocoa in a spice grinder to a fine powder. Roll basic chocolate truffle in fennel-cocoa mixture.
• Add 2 tablespoons malt powder to the cream and proceed with the basic recipe as above. Roll finished chocolate truffle in the 1/4 cup malt powder.
• Stem and seed the chile, then toast in a dry skillet over medium heat until small whiffs of smoke waft from the chile. Add the chile to the cream and honey mixture and bring to a simmer. Cover and let set for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how spicy you like your truffles. Strain and discard the chile. Proceed as above to form the truffles. Mix the turbinado sugar, chili powder, cinnamon, and sea salt together. Sprinkle seasoned sugar on top of the truffles.
• Add the crystallized ginger to the cream. Bring cream, ginger and honey to a simmer, remove from the heat and puree with an immersion blender to combine the flavors. Proceed as above to form the truffles. Finely chop additional crystallized ginger to equal about a tablespoon and lightly press onto the top of truffles.

COGNAC-RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put the heavy cream, butter and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Put the chocolate in a heatsafe bowl, pour the hot cream mixture over it and let it sit until the chocolate is completely melted, about 10 minutes.
• Stir the chocolate-cream mixture with a whisk or rubber spatula until combined and smooth. Stir in the cognac, raspberry extract and vanilla extract, then whisk until the ganache is smooth and shiny. Transfer the ganache to a shallow container, cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the cocoa powder in a shallow dish. Scoop tablespoons of the firm ganache, roll into balls and roll the balls in the cocoa powder. Transfer the truffles to the prepared baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• 1. Place chocolate in a bowl. Bring cream to a boil in a small, heavy saucepan. Pour cream over chocolate. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes; gently stir until smooth. Add liqueur and stir to combine. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours.
• 2. Sift cocoa into a bowl. Using a measuring spoon, scoop up 1 teaspoon of chocolate, and quickly roll into a ball about 3/4 inch across. Drop into cocoa; roll each truffle in cocoa to coat. Chill until firm. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE COGNAC TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put cream into a small saucepan and heat over high heat until it comes to a simmer.
• Place finely chopped chocolate into a medium bowl.
• Pour the scalding cream into the bowl and let it sit for 2 minutes.
• Stir until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth.
• Then, stir in the cognac, if desired.
• Let mixture cool completely.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set (about 4 hours).
• Pour cocoa into a shallow dish and set aside.
• Using teaspoon, scoop the truffle mixture into 1-inch balls.
• Roll balls in the cocoa and coat evenly.
• Place coated truffles into small muffin tins or on a plate.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE COGNAC TRUFFLE TARTLETS

Steps:

• FOR CRUST:
• Mix first 3 ingredients in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar and vanilla in medium bowl until creamy. Add flour mixture and stir with fork until coarse crumbs form. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill until beginning to firm, about 20 minutes.
• Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Press 1 dough piece evenly over bottom and up sides of each 4 1/2-inch-diameter tartlet pan with removable bottom. Freeze 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Line crusts with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crusts until set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and beans (some crust may stick to foil). Bake until crusts feel dry, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer to rack; cool completely.
• FOR FILLING AND TRUFFLES:
• Combine cream and butter in medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until butter melts. Add chocolate; stir until melted. Whisk in Cognac. Cool filling 15 minutes.
• Spoon enough filling into each crust to fill (about 1/2 cup for each); reserve remaining filling. Refrigerate tartlets and remaining filling overnight.
• Line small baking sheet with foil. Form remaining filling into balls, using generous rounded 1/2 teaspoonful for each. Place on prepared sheet. Freeze 15 minutes. Roll each truffle in chopped pecans, coating completely. Freeze until truffles are firm, about 1 hour.
• Let tartlets stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Place paper in lattice pattern atop 1 tartlet. Sift cocoa over. Remove strips. Repeat with remaining tartlets. Garnish each with 3 truffles.

BASIC TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine chocolate and cream. Cook, stirring, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in flavoring. Pour into a small dish and refrigerate until set, but not hard, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Use to fill candies or form balls and roll in toppings.