Chocolate Truffles

This Valentines Day I decided to give my boyfriend some delightful home made truffles. He has a sweet tooth and is a serious choc-aholic so this was the perfect present.

If you fancy making some truffles yourself, you will need:

• 280g dark chocolate (I used Green and Blacks)
• 284ml pot double cream
• 50g unsalted butter

I flavoured my truffles with various other ingredients, to flavour your truffles, you will need:

• Coconut flavoured rum
• Dessicated coconut
• Zest and juice of one orange
• Cocoa
• 100g milk chocolate

To make your truffles:

1. Chop the dark chocolate and melt in a heat-proof dish over a pan of boiling water, making sure the bowl does not touch the pan.
2. Put the cream and butter into a separate saucepan and heat gently until the butter melts and the cream reaches simmering point. Remove from heat, then pour over the chocolate. Stir the chocolate and cream together until you have a smooth mixture. Persevere as it will look odd and you will probably think you have done something wrong! 
3. Add any flavourings to the truffle mix at this stage (divide the mixture between bowls and mix a tsp at a time, to taste. )
4. To shape the truffles lightly coat your hands in flavourless oil (such as sunflower) and roll the truffles between your palms.
5. Coat your truffles immediately after shaping. Tip toppings into a bowl and gently roll the truffles until evenly coated, then chill on greaseproof paper.
6.  To coat in chocolate, line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Melt 100g milk, dark or white chocolate for 10 truffles. Allow chocolate to cool slightly. With a fork, pick up one truffle at a time and hold over the bowl of melted chocolate. Spoon the chocolate over the truffle until well-coated. Place on the baking tray, then chill.

They are really scrummmy. But if you're not a fan of rich, dark chocolate, use milk chocolate instead, or white chocolate! They would taste lovely. How about adding nuts or vanilla extract or maybe lemon rind and juice or chopped up glacé cherries.... Give it a go and let me know how it goes!!