Chocolate Recipe: Truffles For Mother's Day

For this month's recipe, we thought we'd share something that would be a perfectly indulgent treat for mom, or any special someone in your life: dark chocolate truffles. A great way to end a meal, or savor over a glass of wine, truffles pack a punch of rich chocolatey flavor. Accompany them with some fresh raspberries, strawberries or pistachio nuts and you have a simple yet elegant dessert. And they are oh so simple to make.

A Truffle Without The Cream

A bonus point is that these truffles are dairy-free. You will be creating something called a water ganache. If you have spent any time making desserts, you've probably heard that water and chocolate don't mix - literally. Well, in the right ratio they actually do. And much like a little water added to to a glass of scotch whiskey opens up the flavor, a water ganache enables you to detect tasting notes you might otherwise miss.

This recipe calls for 4 ounces of dark chocolate (two bars). Any of our Origin Chocolate will work, but we are using our Bolivian chocolate today as the dried fruit notes will go well with fresh berries. The recipe will yield about 8 truffles. Trust us, two per person is plenty - so you'll have 4 servings total.

Water Truffle Ingredients

Ingredients You Will Need

• 4 ounces of dark chocolate

• 3 tablespoons of hot water (bring to simmer)

• 1 tablespoon of sugar (we prefer unrefined cane sugar)

• 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder for dusting (or powdered sugar or finally chopped nuts)

Fresh berries and a good glass of red wine or port as an accompaniment.

For equipment you will need to create a double-boiler. All you need to do this is a heat safe bowl and a small sauce pan with about an inch of simmering water underneath. The bowl should fit snugly over the pan so steam doesn't easily vent out. A heat-safe rubber spatula and a small whisk also will come in handy.

Active Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 90 minutes

Step 1: Chop and Melt Chocolate

Chop chocolate into fairly small pieces. They don't need to be too small, but the smaller the pieces the faster it will melt. Add into the glass bowl of your double-boiler. Stir occasionally into fully melted. (Yes, this starts out the same as our last recipe - but there are only so many ways you can melt chocolate!).

Step 2: Dissolve Sugar In Water

Place 1 tablespoon of sugar in a small heatproof bowl

or ramakin. Then add 3 tablespoons of hot water and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Correct ratios matter here, so you want to bring a kettle or pot of water to the boil and then measure out 3 tablespoons into the bowl. If you try and bring 3 tablespoons of water to the boil, half of it will be evaporated by the time it is hot enough.

Step 3: Add Water To Melted Chocolate

With a small whisk or fork in hand, pour in your sugar-water. The chocolate will start to separate at first, but do not fear - the water has to get fully incorporated into the chocolate before it smooths out into a ganache. Keep stirring until it looks glossy and smooth. Once you are satisfied, remove the top bowl and dry off any condensation from the bottom of the bowl. Remember to use caution: hot bowl!

Step 4: Chill It Out

Place the bowl in the fridge and let it chill, stirring occasionally, until the ganache gets to a fairly firm consistency (like butter). You will be rolling the ganache into balls, but it will warm in your hands quickly so error on the side of being a little firmer than you imagine it needing to be.

Step 4: Scoop and Roll

Using a metal spoon, scoop out into 1-tablespoon portions. Using the palms of your clean & dry hands, roll into balls. These don't have to be perfect spheres

so don't be too precious about it - after all they are called truffles because they resemble the mushroom. Return to the fridge for 15 minutes or so to firm back up.

Step 5: The Final Roll

Once the truffles have set back up, give them a quick roll in some finely sifted cocoa powder. This is primarily intended to prevent sticky fingers when you serve them and is not required. Alternatively, if you want your truffles a little sweeter, roll them in powdered sugar. Finely chopped nuts is another option. Have it whichever way you think you'll enjoy most.

Step 6: Serve

Truffles are best enjoyed near room temperature (coldness masks flavor). Simply plate with the accompaniments of your (or mom's) choice, let them rest for 15 minutes, and enjoy!