Chocolate Funk - Truffles

Truffles

Truffles are some of the most prized chocolate confections. Since the time that the French started making them, they have been seen as the cream of the crop of the chocolate world. The elegance of their designs and the work that goes into making just one has put them on the top of many a chocoholics list of indulgences and for good reason.

The joy of truffles

In general, truffles are made from chocolate ganache, butter, and sugar. Many are also flavored with various liquers to give them a very unique and subtle flavor. They are then coated in cocoa, nuts, or powdered sugar. The first thing that we are often asked when discussing truffles is what is ganache. It is made by mixing semi-sweet chocolate with boiling cream and them stirring all of it until the mixture becomes smooth and even. The amount of both the chocolate and the cream added depends on the maker, who will have his own preferences and what he will be making with the ganache. The ganache itself is also often flavored for a more complex flavor and texture.

The mixture used to make the truffles is most often made using shell moulding. Shell moulding entails filling a mould with the heated chocolate mixture and then allowing most of it to run out, leaving only a little behind. The remaining chocolate is then cooled and this shell is then filled with the filling. Only after all of the truffle is cooled is it finally released from its mould. It is then that the truffle may be rolled in cocoa or another outside flavoring.

They are then carefully placed into lovely boxes that can be dressed up to suit any occasion. Many stores also sell them in bulk so you can choose your own variety and favorites.