Basic Chilli chocolate Truffle recipe
This weekend is all about Mexican Independence, so how better to celebrate than with a dish packed with Mexican goodies?
As a chocolate-lover, I have always been intrigued by the Aztec and Mayan origins of this most divine of foods. In Aztec society, chocolate was more valuable than gold – which makes me think I was born in the wrong place and time. The concept of chocolate and chili is a strange one at first, but one that I have really grown to love.
Chocolate truffles are one of the best chocolate desserts in the world. That’s why I chose this dish. Though I still have a sweet tooth, I now appreciate the rich, spiciness of dark Latin American chocolate which pairs so well with the heat and piquancy of chili. So, I decided to make chili chocolate truffles.
Mexico gave the gift of chocolate to the world, so I felt that it was only right to celebrate chocolate in my recipe. I’m sure there is a fine art to making proper chocolate truffles, but this is a delightfully simple recipe that can be adapted for any variety of truffles – and with these flavors, they taste heavenly, so there is no excuse not to celebrate Mexico with a whole heap of these at your weekend fiesta!
Here is how to make mini chili chocolate truffles:
Chili Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients
- 400 g good-quality dark chocolate
- 150 ml double cream
- 1 tsp ground red chilli
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Cocoa powder to dust
Instructions
- Gently heat the cream, but don’t let it boil. Remove from heat and stir in the ground chilli and cinnamon.
- Break the chocolate into pieces and melt over a pan of simmering water. Remove from heat before it has all melted completely and continue to stir until smooth. Pour the cream into the chocolate and stir until it forms a ganache.
- Spoon into a baking tray and spread it out. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until it hardens.
- Dust a plate with cocoa powder and get about a teaspoonful of the ganache. Roll it quickly in your hands until it forms a smooth ball. Roll in the cocoa powder. Continue until all the ganache has been used.
- Store in airtight containers in the fridge – if they last long enough!
Notes
About chocolate truffles
Chocolate truffles are luxurious and indulgent confections that originated in France. The first choco truffle was created in the late 19th century by a French chef named Auguste Escoffier. These chocolate desserts don’t have truffles in them. They get their name from the resemblance of their shape to the highly prized truffle fungi found in European forests.
Traditional choco truffles consist of a ganache filling made from a mixture of chocolate and heavy cream. This ganache can be flavored with various ingredients such as liqueurs (champagne, mint liqueur, whiskey like bourbon), spices, extracts (lemon, strawberry, raspberry puree, espresso or strong coffee), or nuts (pistachio or hazelnut). The ganache is then rolled into small, bite-sized balls and coated in cocoa powder, powdered sugar, or melted chocolate.
Chocolate truffles come in a wide range of flavors and coatings. Some popular variations include dark chocolate truffles, milk, white chocolate truffles, and even exotic options like chili-infused or sea salt truffles. The choice of coating can also vary, with options like crushed nuts, coconut flakes, or even edible gold dust. You can create whichever you like.
These desserts have gained popularity worldwide and are a staple in the world of high-end chocolates. They are often featured on dessert menus at upscale restaurants and are enjoyed as a decadent treat on various occasions like weddings.
