Guest Blog: DIY Valentine's Day Truffles

Food invokes your senses and calls forth the pleasures of taste, but no edible does it better than chocolate, a known mood modifier. For Valentine's Day, go old school and love everyone with chocolate. 

I am always surprised at what people are willing to pay for items that are easily made at home. At Valentine's, folks pay $25 for a 12-piece box of high-end chocolate, which equals one gift for one love.

I don’t know about you, but I have more than one love in my life. In fact, cycling through my family could wear my pocket book down to the point of seeking silver at the bottom of a lint-filled change purse.

My solution for fighting against excessive loss of disposable income through generosity is to make the chocolates yourself. You can make enough truffles for three or four people for the cost of one high-end gift box.

Plus, the homemade element puts the spirit back into the holiday. I know I always feel good giving away goodies.

Making truffles is an extremely easy process. Confections are made in small quantities with very few ingredients so try and stick to the proportions, because a small alteration could have a poor effect.

Chocolate Truffles

6 oz        Heavy Cream

2 oz        Corn Syrup

15 oz      Dark Chocolate

1 oz        Butter

1 oz        Brandy, Grand Marnier, or Cognac

Cocoa Powder for finishing

Orange Truffles

5 oz        Heavy Cream

1 oz        Corn Syrup

18 oz      White Chocolate or Vanilla Chips

1 oz        Grand Marnier

2 oz        Candied Orange Peel

Toasted Coconut for finishing

Combine cream and syrup in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Chop chocolate and place in a bowl. Pour hot cream mixture over the chocolate and let sit for a couple of minutes to allow the chocolate to melt.

Next, stir the mixture in small circles in the center until it begins to emulsify and then, in larger circles to make sure that all the chocolate is melted and fully incorporated with the cream mixture.

Follow by adding butter to the mixture and continue to stir until it is blended. Add the liquor and continue to stir until incorporated. (For the orange truffles, chop orange peels and add to the ganache). Pour ganache into a shallow pan and allow to setup. After the ganache firms up, use a spoon and shape into balls. Roll in cocoa powder, nuts, toasted coconuts, or flavored sugar to finish the truffles.

Enjoy and happy Valentine's Day!