Q1: What is a "ganache," and is it difficult to make?

A ganache is a simple, luxurious mixture of melted chocolate and hot cream. It is the foundation of most chocolate truffles, and it is not difficult to make at all! The key is to use good-quality, finely chopped chocolate and to pour the hot cream over the top, letting it sit for a few minutes to melt the chocolate gently before you begin to stir.

Q2: How do I keep my chocolate from "seizing" or getting grainy when I melt it?

Chocolate "seizes" and becomes a clumpy, grainy mess when it comes into contact with even a tiny drop of water, or if it gets overheated. The method in this recipe—pouring hot cream over the chocolate in a dry bowl—is a very safe and foolproof way to melt it. If you are melting the chocolate on its own in a double boiler or a microwave, the key is to use a very low, gentle heat and to make sure that all your bowls and utensils are completely dry .

Q3: Can I make these truffles ahead of time for a party or for a gift?

Yes, they are the perfect make-ahead treat! You can make them completely and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days . They also make a beautiful, impressive, and delicious homemade hostess gift for a Thanksgiving dinner.

Q4: Do I have to use an immersion blender to make the ganache?

No, you don't have to, but it is a fantastic professional trick for the absolute smoothest, most perfectly emulsified, and velvety ganache. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can get a beautiful, smooth result by simply whisking the mixture patiently and thoroughly until it is completely combined and glossy.

Q5: What is the best way to roll the truffles without making a huge mess?

The secret, as the recipe suggests, is to wear food-safe, disposable gloves . The heat from your bare hands will quickly melt the ganache, which can become very sticky and messy. The gloves create a barrier, which makes rolling the truffles into perfect, smooth balls incredibly fast, easy, and clean.

Adorable & Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Truffles

Adorable & Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Truffles (Gourmet Recipe!)

A festive and creative recipe for homemade chocolate truffles decorated to look like miniature turkeys, perfect for Thanksgiving. The truffles are a simple, rich ganache made from high-quality semisweet chocolate, heavy cream, honey, and butter. After chilling, the ganache is rolled into balls and meticulously decorated using sliced almonds for the fanned-out tail feathers, feet, and wattle, and a piece of candy corn for the face and beak. A bit of reserved chocolate is used to pipe on the eyes and details.

Author: Evelyn
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes (includes chilling and setting times)
Yield: 14 truffles 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Chilling, Melting, Decorating
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale

8 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
6 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons good-quality honey
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sliced almonds
14 candy corns

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Instructions

Make the Truffle Ganache: Melt the finely chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (a double boiler), or in the microwave.
Meanwhile, bring the heavy cream and honey to a simmer in a small saucepan.
Gradually whisk the hot cream mixture into the melted chocolate until smooth and shiny. Whisk in the room temperature butter. For an extra smooth texture, use an immersion blender for about 1 minute.
Cover the surface of the ganache with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, until firm.
Shape and Decorate: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the ganache in a small resealable plastic bag for decorating later.
Scoop the remaining chilled ganache into slightly rounded tablespoon-sized portions and roll them into balls. Refrigerate the balls for about 15 minutes to set.
Let the truffles soften at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Gently insert a fanned-out row of 8 almond slices into the back of each truffle to create a tail.
Press a candy corn onto the front of each truffle for the face and beak. Press an almond slice underneath the beak for the wattle, and two almond slices underneath the truffle for feet.
Snip a tiny corner from the reserved bag of ganache and warm it for a few seconds. Pipe small eyes onto the candy corn faces and decorative lines on the almond tails.
Let the decorated truffles set at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Notes

Using an immersion blender on the ganache is an optional but recommended step for the smoothest, most satiny texture.
The truffles need to be chilled at various stages, so plan accordingly.
For the best taste and texture, the recipe advises serving the finished truffles at room temperature, not straight from the refrigerator.
The truffles can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 truffle
Calories: 140-180
Sugar: 12-16 g
Sodium: 15-25 mg
Fat: 10-14 g
Saturated Fat: 5-8 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 13-18 g
Fiber: 1-2 g
Protein: 2-3 g
Cholesterol: 15-20 mg

Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/thanksgiving-turkey-truffles/