Orange Toffee Almond Truffles Recipes

ORANGE-TOFFEE-ALMOND TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In large microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips uncovered on High about 1 minute or until softened; stir until smooth. (If not completely softened, continue microwaving 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each microwave time, until smooth.)
• Stir whipping cream into chocolate until very smooth and glossy. Stir in orange peel and toffee bits. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.
• Place almonds in small bowl. Shape chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls. Immediately roll balls in almonds, pressing to coat. Place on ungreased cookie sheet or in paper candy cups. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until firm. Remove from refrigerator 20 minutes before serving.

ORANGE AND TOFFEE GANACHE HEARTS

Steps:

• Bring the heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Put the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl, pour the hot cream over it and let sit for 3 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt. Add the salt and whisk until the ganache is completely smooth. Transfer half of the ganache to a separate bowl. Stir the orange oil into one bowl and the chopped toffee into the other. Transfer each flavor of ganache to a separate pastry bag fitted with a large round tip.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Pipe 1 1/2-inch chocolate hearts on the sheet pan. Allow the hearts to sit at cool room temperature to set up, or let them set up in the refrigerator before serving.

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.

ALMOND TOFFEE

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of a 15x10x1-in. pan with foil. Grease foil with 1-1/2 teaspoons butter; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan, melt remaining butter. Add the sugar, water and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 290° (soft-crack stage)., Pour into prepared pan. Cool for 4 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand for 3 minutes. Spread melted chocolate evenly over candy. Sprinkle with almonds; press down lightly. Cool until chocolate is firm. Break into bite-size pieces. Store in airtight containers.

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.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND TRUFFLE SQUARES

Steps:

• Chop fine 12 ounces of the chocolate. In a small saucepan bring the cream just to a boil, remove the pan from the heat, and whisk in the chopped chocolate, whisking until the chocolate is melted completely. Whisk in the Amaretto, whisking until the mixture is smooth, and let the truffle mixture cool slightly.
• In a small heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt the remaining 4 ounces chocolate. Line the bottom of an 8-inch-square baking pan with wax paper and spread half of the melted chocolate in a thin layer on the paper.
• Freeze the chocolate layer for 5 minutes and top it with the truffle mixture, smoothing the surface. Drizzle the truffle mixture with the remaining melted chocolate, spreading it lightly, and sprinkle the melted chocolate with the almonds, pressing them lightly. Chill the mixture for 3 hours, or until it is firm. Turn the mixture out onto a cutting board, peel off the wax paper, and with a long sharp knife cut the mixture into 3/4-inch squares. The truffle squares keep, chilled in an airtight container, for 2 weeks.

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 WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Line 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking pan with foil. Bring cream to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk in Grand Marnier and orange peel. Pour into prepared pan; freeze just until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Using foil as aid lift chocolate block out of pan; place on work surface. Flatten foil at edges. Cut chocolate into 25 squares. Place nuts in small bowl. Press chocolate square into nuts, coating completely. Roll truffle between palms into ball. Repeat with remaining chocolate and nuts. Cover; chill until very firm, about 2 hours. Serve cold.