EASY DARK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Easy Dark Chocolate Truffles

Rating: Unrated

These are the easiest of all fine-chocolate confections. Once the spheres of chocolate ganache (best-quality chocolate melted with heavy cream and butter) are dusted with cocoa powder, they resemble a mushroom-type delicacy freshly dug from the earth -- the truffle from which they take their name.

Yield:

Makes about 30

Ingredients

•
1 pound bittersweet chocolate (preferably 65 percent cacao), chopped 

•
3/4 cup heavy cream 

•
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened 

•
2 tablespoons flavored alcohol, such as kirsch, Grand Marnier, Kahlúa, framboise, or rum (optional) 

•
3 cups good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting 

Directions

Step 1 Heat chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Add butter (and alcohol, if desired); stir until butter is melted.

Step 2 Pour mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until mixture is firm but still spoonable, about 2 hours.

Step 3 Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a very small (about 1 inch diameter) ice cream scoop (or a melon baller), drop balls of chocolate mixture onto lined sheet. Refrigerate 10 minutes.

Step 4 Put cocoa in a large bowl. With cocoa-dusted hands, roll chocolate balls one at a time until smooth. Drop into cocoa; roll to coat.

Cook's Notes

Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve, up to 2 weeks.