I tested a cake recipe the other day, a simple chocolate spelt cake with a fudgy chocolate and orange icing. To be honest, the cake sucked, but the icing was delicious! It firmed up in the fridge and was super creamy and rich. It reminded me of a delicious chocolate truffle recipe that I use to make growing up – it was made with dark chocolate and sour cream and spiked with orange and cardamom (can’t remember where I got the recipe unfortunately).
I decided to rehash the icing into the truffles you see here, and I’m so glad I did. There’s not much better than a deliciousnessly rich chocolate truffle, and I’m so happy I worked out a way to make them dairy-free. I love the hint of cardamom and orange, and I imagine any number of flavourings could work here – or just plain would also be delicious. Orange and cardamom is particularly Christmassy, and I think it’s a flavour pairing made in heaven. I don’t tend to use cardamom much, but I do love just a hint of it in chocolate desserts.
This is probably my last recipe for the year, though I will probably post a round up of this year’s most popular recipes after Christmas. But till then, I hope you and your family enjoys a wonderful and delicious festive season! Be sure to tag me on Instagram @libertybrowne or #homespuncapers if you make any of my recipes, I’d love to see them! Xx Liberty
Cardamom and Orange Dark Chocolate Truffles
Use a good tasting dark eating chocolate. Use a tinned coconut cream that is as close to 100% coconut extract as possible – I use Ayam brand.
Serves 15 (makes 30 truffles).
Prep time: 25 min
Fridge time: 1.5 hours +
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Cardamom and Orange Dark Chocolate Truffles
200g 70% dark (bittersweet) chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1 cup | 250ml tinned coconut cream **
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
Zest of 1/2 an orange
A couple of pinches of sea salt
1 tbls maple syrup (if desired, depends on your chocolate)
Cacao powder, to dust
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In a small saucepan over a low heat, very gently melt the chocolate in the coconut cream. Stir constantly and make sure you don’t let it get hot or the oils may split. When the chocolate is mostly melted, remove from the hob and let it finish melting in its own heat. Stir well and then scrape contents into a medium bowl.
Mix through the cardamom, orange zest and salt till combined, taste and add up to 1 tbls of maple syrup, if desired. Scrape down the sides then refrigerate till totally set through, 1-2 hours.
Fill a small bowl with a few tablespoons of cacao powder and select a plate or tray for the truffles.
Use a teaspoon to scoop the chocolate mixture into a small ball. Quickly roll the ball between your hands till smooth (your hands will start to melt the mix, so work quickly) and toss it in the cacao. Dust off any excess and place it on prepared plate or tray. Repeat till you have used all the mix – approximately 30 truffles. If you live in a warm climate you may need to stop once or twice and put the bowl in the freezer for 5 min if the mix it getting to soft to roll cleanly – you want the mix on the firmer side to minimise the mess.
Refrigerate the truffles till set, and/or ready to eat.
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Will keep for at least 1 week airtight and refrigerated or frozen. You may need to redust truffles with cacao if they have been in the fridge for a long time, as the cacao will disappear with any moisture. Due to the coconut cream, the truffles will become quite soft at room temperature, so if gifting make sure the recipient knows to refrigerate them.
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