Chocolate Truffles

[lorcas_novena]

Hi guys!

Am making some Christmas presents this year. I've made some gingerbread dough, cranberry chutney, and mincemeat (if you want any recipes I'll post them) and I'm after a good recipe for chocolate truffles, or any kid of chocolates that you've has success with.

Other foodie gift ideas also welcome!

Many thanks!

Comments

[kokoronagomu]

nut butter no bakes
in saucepan melt:
semi sweet chocolate chips
peanut butter (actually any nut butter is good, i think the best is a mix of both peanut and hazelnut butters but i bet coconut butter would be really good)
earth balance buttery spread (you can use butter but i can't see why =p )
*the nut butter to chocolate chip ratio is about the same and i use almost as much butter (buttery spread)
sweetener (to taste- slighter sweeter than you want the finished product as you will be adding oats) -- for the ones made last i had a little agave syrup, some partially crystallized maple syrup (there were a few cookies with crunchy sweet bits that were the maple crystals) and lo han kuo (lo han guo?) ( http://www.itmonline.org/arts/luohanguo.htm )
a few drops of water to melt the sweetener if using sugar or other dry sweetener.
optional -- cinnamon

when everything is melted add:
organic old fashioned rolled oats until it looks like enough (sorry, i never measure =p)
spoon onto a tray (or if you're like me, as i make mass quantities, several trays) and allow to cool and set.
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rum balls
in a big bowel toss the following and mix together to grind in food processor or meat grinder (i'm vegan, it's never ground meat)
until fine:
chocolate chips
pecans
almonds
walnuts
sweetened coconut flakes
raisins
pitted dates
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add 1 cup 151 proof rum
2/3 cup frangelico
*the alcohol is a little much since i used that much to make mass quantities for the cookie table at a 50th wedding anniversary so if you're not making 200+ rum balls you may want to experiment with the amount for what tastes best, or maybe you want them potent... then more power to ya!)
mini chocolate chips (lots of these)
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kneed all ingredients until thoroughly blended and sticky (it's best to use surgical gloves because the stuff will stick to your hands but not the gloves)
the mixture should be sticky and a little on the wet side -- taste if it needs more sweetness add some more dates, if it's a little too runny add more coconut flakes and nuts
roll into small balls -- the rolling is more like mushing it together to form balls as it's a little loose for actually rolling (they firm up after you roll in the coffee or nuts and refrigerate.
roll balls into finely chopped nuts or finely ground coffee
refrigerate or freeze
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-- options ---hazelnuts can also be used -- almonds or hazelnuts can be lightly pan roasted to strengthen the nutty flavor (allow to fully cool before grinding) --

[lorcas_novena]

Thanks. I love nutty chocolate.