Chocolatier Helen Staines
Decadence Chocolates
Toppings add texture and flavour to popular ganache morsels. Freeze-dried raspberries are crushed to a powder for the perfect pop of colour.
Ingredients
Ganache
2 cups dark chocolate
1 cup 35% whipping cream
1/2 cup light brown sugar
Toppings
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup freeze-dried raspberries
1/2 cup toasted coconut
1/2 cup crushed, toasted hazelnuts
Method
- Break dark chocolate into small, even-sized pieces and place in a medium-size mixing bowl. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, add cream and sugar and bring to a boil. Simmer for 1 minute to fully dissolve sugar. Turn off heat and cool for 5-10 minutes. Note: If you pour boiling cream onto chocolate, the cocoa butter will separate from the cocoa solids and split the ganache.
- Pour cooled cream onto chocolate pieces and mix well with a spatula until smooth and very glossy. Allow to cool to room temperature. Cover and place in fridge for 2 hours, or until fully set.
- Remove ganache from fridge. Using a teaspoon, scoop even-sized pieces onto parchment paper. Powder hands with cocoa powder and roll into evenly shaped spheres. Note: Fingertips are cooler and less likely to melt the truffles as you roll them as opposed to using the palm of your hands.
- Truffles can be rolled in topping of choice: cocoa powder, tempered chocolate, freeze-dried raspberry powder, toasted coconut, or crushed and roasted nuts of any variety.
Yield 50 truffles