Grammy's Recipe Book Desserts

Dark Chocolate Truffles

24 truffles

Prep
45 min
Cook
5 min
Rest
1 hrchill until firm
Total
1 hr 50 minstart to eating

Times are our estimates for Grammy's recipe, with unhurried prep.

Grammy's handwritten page for Dark Chocolate Truffles
Page 21 · full size

As written

Word for word from her page, with her spelling and line breaks. [?] marks a word we couldn't read.

Dark Chocolate Truffles

8 oz semi sweet chocolate
4 oz unsweetened choc chopped into 1/4" pieces
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 TBSP unsweetened coco sifted
2 TBSP confectioner sugar sifted

Heat heavy cream in saucepan over
med. heat till boils
pour cream over chocolates in bowl
let sit 5 min + blend with
whisk.

let sit in refrig for 1 hour[?]
until firm - not hard

tea spoon + roll - 1"[?]
Roll 16 rounds in cocoa
8 in confectioners sugar

Grammy's recipe

Her recipe, typed out to cook from: her amounts and her words, with abbreviations spelled out and the steps numbered.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces semisweet chocolate
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped into ¼-inch pieces
  • ⅔ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Method

  1. Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it boils.
  2. Pour the cream over the chocolates in a bowl. Let sit 5 minutes, then blend with a whisk.
  3. Let it sit in the refrigerator until firm but not hard.
  4. Scoop with a teaspoon and roll into balls.
  5. Roll 16 in cocoa and 8 in confectioners’ sugar.

Modernized

A present-day cookbook version, with missing steps filled in. These are suggestions, not her words.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
  • ⅔ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon butter, softened (optional)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa, sifted, for rolling
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, sifted, for rolling

Method

  1. Put both chocolates in a heatproof bowl.
  2. Bring the cream just to a simmer and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit 5 minutes.
  3. Whisk gently from the center out until smooth. Whisk in the butter and salt.
  4. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour, until firm enough to scoop but not hard.
  5. Scoop with a teaspoon or a small cookie scoop and roll quickly between your palms into balls.
  6. Roll 16 in cocoa and 8 in confectioners’ sugar. Keep chilled, and let them stand 10 minutes before serving.

Ideas to play with

Twists and variations to try. Suggestions, not hers.

  • Liqueur

    Stir 1–2 tablespoons Grand Marnier, Frangelico or espresso into the ganache.

  • Other coatings

    Roll in chopped toasted hazelnuts, pistachios, crushed peppermint or shredded coconut.

  • Spiced

    Steep a cinnamon stick or some orange peel in the cream first, then strain.

  • Gift boxes

    Set them in mini paper cups inside a small box. They keep a week in the fridge.