Truffles in a Trilogy

All good things come in threes...I think...but non more so than my FAVOURITE films, The Godfather Trilogy. Yes, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro do have a large part to play in this....I first saw The Godfather Part I at Christmas time a few years ago....so they always remind me of festivities, despite all the shootings!

Truffles are also good things....which like the Godfather films, can be made up into delightful Christmas gifts in no more than three easy steps...what i'm trying to say here is that I made vegan friendly truffles this year for gifts and here is my recipie.

*Spice, like Enzo The Baker (Godfather Part I) stands guard!

Shopping Basket:

250g dark 70% cocoa solids vegan friendly chocolate
125ml thick coconut cream
Vanilla Extract
Cocoa Powder
Dessicated cococnut
Crushed nuts of your choice ... I chose almonds, but pistachios would be deeeelicous too

Kitchen Activities:

Part I: Ganache

1. Start by chopping your chocolate into small chunks, the smaller the better because you are going to rely on the warm coconut cream to melt them. Transfer to a small glass bowl.
2. Pour 125ml of coconut cream into a small pan and heat through. As soon as the cream starts to boil pour over your chocolate pieces.
3. Leave for a minute to allow the heat to melt the chocolate then gently stir to ensure all the chocolate is melted. This is your 'ganache' and should be silky smooth with a shiny finish.
4. Pour in a couple of drops of your flavouring. I used vanilla extract.
5. Stir!
6. Transfer the mix into a container and leave in the fridge for 4 hours or until set. A small plastic tuppa wear container works fine!

Part II: Decorate

So our next step is to form the truffle shapes and decorate with additional flavourings. A melon scoop would be ideal here but if, like me, you don't have this then a trusty teaspoon would work just as well.

7. Before you start take three small plates/bowls/saucers and fill each with a different topping (coconut, cocoa powder, chopped nuts)
8. Using a melon scoop or teaspoon, scoop out a small portion and use your hands to roll into a round ball about 1inch thick.
9. Roll the ball in a saucer of the nuts/powder/coconut of your choice and set aside.
10. Repeat 8 and 9 until all your chocolate has been transformed into truffles :)
11. Keep the truffles in the fridge to allow them to set again

Part III: Present

I made these babies for friends and family this Christmas due to a lack of funds ;) but they went down a treat and most of the recipients were not vegan, or vegetarian...of course you can eat these from a plastic box but I giftrwrapped mine...

The best way to wrap them is use sellophane paper. Don't bother with large department stores or a well known craft store (which was rubbish!)...I asked a florist at the market if I could buy a sheet of sellophane and ended up getting a roll of it for a £1 :)

You can cut out a square of paper, put your truffles in the centre and then use ribbon or string tie the sellophane gathered in the middle.

I got some small gift boxes and presented the truffles in these. You can also buy inividual paper wrappings for them if you want to go all out.

These would make a cute present for Valentines, Birthdays or just because truffles are awesome. xox

NB. This post features Spice, who is a beautiful Cat living in Norwich. Thanks Spice!