Truffle Troubles

[Andy M.]

I need some help. S. O. and I tried to make truffles this weekend and they didn't work out well.

We followed the recipe from a Sara Moulton show where she brought in a guest expert to make these truffles. The truffles turned out too soft and would not hold their shape even after an overnight chilling in the fridge.

They taste great and I'm OK with eating the 'mistakes'.

Here's the recipe we used. I would really appreciate your taking a look at it and offering some expert suggestions on the cause and cure of our problem.

Thanks for taking the time to help.


Chocolate-Raspberry Truffles
Recipe courtesy Jackie Riley

Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: about 6 to 8 servings
User Rating:

20 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
6 tablespoons corn syrup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 to 7 tablespoons raspberry liqueur, such as framboise
Cocoa powder, for dusting


Put 12 ounces of the chocolate in a bowl. Whisk together the cream and corn syrup in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Pour over the chocolate and whisk until thoroughly combined and smooth. Whisk in butter until smooth and glossy. Add the raspberry liqueur and mix well.

Pour the chocolate into a deep pan and chill. When the chocolate is firm, scoop out small truffle balls, using a melon baller or other small scoop. (Dip scoop in very hot water before each scoop, patting each time onto a towel to avoid getting water into the chocolate mixture.) Chill truffles slightly, and then perfect the circular shape by rolling quickly in palms of your hands. Store the truffles in the refrigerator until ready to finish.

To finish the truffles: Melt the remaining 8 ounces of chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Set the bowl aside and let cool slightly, stirring occasionally, until just cooler than body temperature.

Put enough cocoa powder in a bowl to form a small pile. Wearing rubber gloves and working with 1 truffle at a time, rub some of the melted chocolate all over the truffles and roll quickly in your hands until smooth. Drop the truffles into the cocoa powder, roll to coat completely, and transfer to a platter. Store in a cool, dry place.

 

[PA Baker]

Andy, I've only made truffles a couple of times so this isn't "expert" advice by far , but a couple of things jumped out at me when I read your problem and the recipe.

First, it seemed like a lot of liquid vs the 12 oz of chocolate in the truffle centers. Secondly, the step of dipping the centers in the melted chocolate seems a bit counterproductive. Even with the melted chocolate cooling a bit, I'd think that that would cause the centers to soften again. Couple that with an abundance of liquid in the centers as well as the possibility of warm hands (my BIG downfall) and you have way too soft of a truffle. Granted the warm hand thing is just an aside--that would prevent them from firming up in the fridge. I'm thinking too much liquid in this one.

 

[Alix]

I think you have too much raspberry stuff in it. Try using tsps instead of tbsps and you might have the right consistency.

 

[Andy M.]

Thanks guys. I hink I'll take a look at some other recipes.

 

[Alix]

I've used this one successfully, but it is kind of a cheat.

Ingredients



3 cups (18 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 (14-ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk) 1 tablespoon vanilla extract Coatings: finely chopped toasted nuts, flaked coconut, chocolate sprinkles, colored sugar, unsweetened cocoa, powdered sugar or colored sprinkles.



Prep Time 10 minutes Chill Time 3 hours

1. In heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chips with EAGLE BRAND®. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.

2. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in desired coating.

3. Chill 1 hour or until firm. Store covered at room temperature.

Microwave Directions In 1-quart glass measure, combine chips and Eagle Brand. Microwave at HIGH (100% power) 3 minutes, stirring after 1-1/2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Proceed as directed above.
Amaretto Truffles Substitute 3 tablespoons amaretto liqueur and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract for vanilla. Roll in finely chopped toasted almonds.
Orange Truffles Substitute 3 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur for vanilla. Roll in finely chopped toasted almonds mixed with finely grated orange peel.
Rum Truffles Substitute 1/4 cup dark rum for vanilla. Roll in flaked coconut.
Bourbon Truffles Substitute 3 tablespoons bourbon for vanilla. Roll in finely chopped toasted nuts.

 

[PA Baker]

Here's one of mine, too Andy. Let me know if you want more--I have several. (Alix, yours looks good. I can't wait to try some of the variations!)

Chocolate Merlot Truffles

¼ c heavy cream
¼ c merlot
12 oz (1 ½ c) sweet dark chocolate
½ c sweet butter, room temperature
½ c unsweetened powdered cocoa


In a small saucepan, add cream and simmer over low heat until it has been reduced by half to ¼ c. Add chocolate and merlot. Over low heat, stir frequently until chocolate is melted. Continue to stir until smooth.

Add butter; mix well, using a wire whisk. Remove from heat, and place in a small bowl. Refrigerate until hard, about 1 hour.

Using a melon baler or teaspoon, form into balls about 1” in diameter. Work quickly as truffles may melt in your hand. Place powdered cocoa in a bowl, and roll truffles in cocoa to coat evenly. Store truffles in refrigerator, and allow to come to room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.

 

[marmalady]

My bet for the culprit is the corn syrup - think about what you use corn syrup in - pecan pies (gooey); marshmallow icing (gooey).


Here's a Jacques Pepin recipe that always works for me - nice variations, too!

BLACK TIE TRUFFLES
​

16 oz. of your very best bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

¾ cup heavy cream

½ cup crème fraiche (or use same amount of well drained sour cream)

2T. unsalted soft butter



Heat the cream to a simmer; remove from heat and pour over chocolate; allow to sit til chocolate is melted (you may have to nuke it a little also). Gently stir the chocolate and cream, mixing only enough to smooth the mixture. Add the butter and crème fraiche, and stir only enough to incorporate. Divide mixture into three bowls, and add the following flavorings:



Espresso-Rum: Microwave 2 tsp. espresso powder in 1T cream and stir to combine well. USE 2 tsp. of this mixture. 1T dark rum. Mix together in one of the three bowls.

For covering, use cocoa powder.



Hazelnut – Add 1 1/2T frangelica to one of the bowls. For topping, roll in toasted chopped hazelnuts.



Cognac – Add 2T cognac, or brandy, and 1 tsp. almond extract to one of the bowls. For topping, use toasted finely chopped almonds.



Allow the mixtures to cool to room temp. Using a spoon, scoop out small balls of mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet – be sure to label on the parchment which flavors you’re working with!!!! Place in fridge to set up for about 30 minutes.



Roll each ball into its topping, and refrigerate til ready to serve. About 30 minutes before serving, remove from fridge.

 

[PA Baker]

My bet for the culprit is the corn syrup - think about what you use corn syrup in - pecan pies (gooey); marshmallow icing (gooey).

Excellent point, marm!

 

[Alix]

Oh duh! I just reread the list and I think (as usual) marmalady has hit the culprit right off the top. Well done! Excellent detective work. LOL.

 

[marmalady]

TY! Try one of the other recipes posted, and see what you think!

Also, re the idea of dipping them in melted chocolate - 'traditionally' they're just rolled in cocoa powder, so as to resemble the fungus truffles they're named for. I think the dipped ones came into being when they started being mass produced by the large candy companies - not to say they're bad (especially the Lindt ones!) but just not 'traditional'!

 

[Andy M.]

Marm:

You gave me an idea with your Jacques Pepin recipe so I checked one of his cookbooks that I have. There is a similar set-up ther with dividing the filling into thirds and making different flavors. In one of his three choices, he sticks toothpicks into the centers and dips the centers into chocolate. Then he sticks the toothpick into a foam block until the coating sets. The instruction says you have to do this because if you put them onto a cookie sheet, they will flatten out.

That tells me that this recipe wouldn't work without the coating to hold the spherical shape. What do you think?

I agree that the ganache center and a roll in cocoa is what the truffle is supposed to be but that would call for a much firmer ganache than we made and that Jacques recipe suggests.

 

[MochaBean04]

I made truffles for a baking contest at my work and i won! i can give you my recipe if you would like. . just let me know. . .

 

[Andy M.]

I made truffles for a baking contest at my work and i won! i can give you my recipe if you would like. . just let me know. . .

Yes, please!

 

[MochaBean04]

sorry this took so long i was out all day today

1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp light corn syrup
2 tbsp butter
-mix ingredients untill butter is melted and mixture comes to a boil. remove from heat and add 8 oz of chocolate. gently swirl and leave alone for 5 minutes. after 5 minutes, stir untill well combined. pour in to a bowl and chill for 15 minutes and stir. stiring every 15 minutes for 45 minutes (so mixture can set, if you do not do this they will turn out "non workable") after mixture is set (you can tell when the chocolate is thick) spoon out by TBSP on to a pan (i use a melen baller) after chocolate is all gone put balls in to fridge for 5-10 minutes so balls are chilled a bit. Then roll in to melted chocolate and chill again untill outer chocolate is hard. sprinkle with cocoa powder or powdered sugar and enjoy

lol i was laughin through this whole recipe . . lol i typed from how i know how i do it. . not from the recipe so if anyting sounds confusing let me know. .

 

[yankeefaninseattle]

First, prior to my question, MOCHABEAN, I want that picture on mine too... How & where did you find the Yankee logo, and how did you get it on the thing under your name?????

Now for the question, with truffles, I am making some for the holidays as part of my grab bag gifts, and don't know how long in advance I can make them... If you can keep them at room temp, why doesn't the cream inside go bad?
Can you freeze truffles until you want them?? I have put store bought ones in the freezer, which didn't last long, but, can you do that w/ homemade ones?
And, as long as we're talking about chocolate, I am getting some Ghirardelli chocolate sent to me, and I want to know if I can keep it in the freezer until I am ready to use it, or if I should store it in the ol ziplox like the baking chocolate I bought, **** florida bugs .

Thanks
B.

 

[Andy M.]

The truffle recipes I researched suggested refrigeration for up to two weeks. I don't know about freezing truffles. You can keep the Ghirardelli in the fridge for quite a while. No need to freeze. For that matter, if it's in an air conditioned environment, you probably could leave it in a cabinet.

 

[yankeefaninseattle]

You know, Andy, I forgot all about the fridge, duh!

I considered keeping it in my pantry w/ the bakers chocolate, but given the fact it is a better quality chocolate, I wanted a better way to preserve it.
Thanks for the info.

B.

 

[MochaBean04]

i made a batch just recently and i put the extras in a cool whip container and put them in the freezer. the outher shell tates much bettter after been in there awhile. the longest i had them in there was a week and they tasted great. i kept them out on the cupboard and the outer shell melted cuz it was just chocolate. ..so i do recommend them in the freezer. .just not near anything smelly lol

 

[jpmcgrew]

I have frozen truffles before and they were fine.I set them in between layers of paper towels and put them in a tight plastic container.

 

[marmalady]

Yankeefan - Where is your chocolate coming from, and how is it being shipped? You're in FLorida, right? All of the chocolate companies recommend NOT shipping chocolate in hot weather, as it'll melt. If a friend is shipping it, I'd recommend they put it in dry ice and overnight it to you.