CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Easter Bunny is readying itself to pay ‘The Hive’ a visit, so what better time for The Adoption Socials’ #WASO themed week to be Our Favourite Chocolate Recipe.

It is not a secret that the occupants of our household are more than a little fond of chocolate and anyone who follow me on Twitter or Instagram will know that I can be found often making something either made completely of chocolate or contains chocolate in one form or another.

With this said, I have found myself struggling to decide on my favourite chocolate recipe. So, in a vain hope that my 3 handsome men would help me choose the recipe, this morning I asked them to write down their favourite chocolate thing I have made on a piece of paper and I would either then choose one of their ideas or go for my ‘professional pacification’ recipe (also known as chocolate truffles).

Truffles it is!

Adult Only Truffles

Truffles need to be eaten within 12 days (never managed to survive the day, even less if it is social workers/professionals eating them).

120g (4oz) chocolate (white, milk or plain) broken into small, even-size pieces (I use deluxe Belgium chocolate)

4 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature

2 tablespoons double cream

½ teaspoon brandy, rum or liqueur of your choice

Grated chocolate to decorate (I always put the chocolate in the freezer before grating – it makes it so much easier to use)

1. Put the chocolate pieces into a heatproof glass bowl and place over a pan of hot but not simmering water. When it starts to melt, stir gently until completely melted. Do not overheat.
2. Remove from the heat and gently stir in the butter, then the cream and liqueur.
3. Leave to cool, then cover with cling film and refrigerate for 2-2½ hours until set.
4. Remove the mixture from the refrigerator. Using a teaspoon, scoop out small pieces of the mixture, then use your hands to roll them into balls.
5. To decorate, roll the balls in grated chocolate. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate.

Kiddy-Friendly Truffles

Truffles need to be eaten within 5 days – if you have kids like mine, you will be lucky if they last the day.

To make about 10 truffles:

100g (4oz) chocolate (broken into small, even-size pieces)

25g (1oz) butter

50g (2oz) plain cake, crumbled into fine crumbs

4 tablespoons chocolate sugar strands (alternatively and our preferred option crated chocolate)

Small paper cases (optional)

1. Put the chocolate pieces into a heatproof glass bowl and place over a pan of hot but not simmering water. When it starts to melt, stir gently until completely melted. Do not overheat.
2. Remove from the heat and gently stir in the butter.
3. Carefully lift the bowl out of the water.
4. Sift the icing sugar through a sieve into the chocolate. Add the cake crumbs and stir until everything is mixed well.
5. Leave the chocolate mixture to cool in the bowl. Then, put the chocolate sugar strands onto a plate.
6. When the mixture is firm and thick, scoop up some with a teaspoon and put it into the chocolate strands.
7. Using your fingers, roll the spoonful around until it is covered. Then, put it in a paper case if you wish.
8. Put the truffles onto a plate. Put them in a fridge for 30 minutes. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to own these recipes. They are recipes I have found over the years that I believe have the best results for making truffles.