Peanut Butter Truffles- Substitute the semi-sweet chocolate for milk chocolate chips. Use the same amount of cream, but substitute peanut butter for the butter. Roll in crushed, unsalted peanuts.
White Chocolate Truffle- Substitute the semi-sweet chocolate for white chocolate. (You can use chips, baker’s chocolate, or candy melts). Use the same amount of cream and butter. Roll in crushed almonds or dip in white chocolate mixed with one tablespoon beeswax.
White Chocolate Almond Truffle- Same as above, but add ¼ tsp almond extract to the melted chocolate, cream, and butter mixture center before refrigerating.
Mocha Truffle- Same as above, but substitute one tablespoon of the cream for one tablespoon strong coffee. You can also substitute milk chocolate for the semi-sweet chocolate. Roll in instant coffee grinds or cocoa powder.
Orange Truffle- Use milk chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate. Add ¼ tsp. orange essence to the chocolate, cream, and butter mixture after it is removed from the heat. Refrigerate as usual. Roll in chopped, candied orange peel.
Packaging the Truffle
Truffles make excellent gifts. I like to show off the truffles with clear plastic gift bags. Just close the bag with a pretty ribbon. I like to buy a ribbon that fits the season or occasion- red and green for Christmas, red hearts for Valentine’s Day, etc.
You can include your homemade chocolates in gift baskets. Use your imagination to play with the flavors and themes. Include orange flavored truffles in a fruit basket. Create a coffee themed basket with mocha truffles. A small bottle of liqueur works well with the liqueur flavored truffles.
Chocolate makes a wonderful hostess gift, too. Just line the candies on an inexpensive but elegant serving tray that you can let her keep.