Chocolate Truffles

Line a baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Chop both chocolates into small pieces (about 1/4″ or so) with a sharp knife. Place chocolates in a medium heat-proof bowl.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the cream just until it boils. Remove the cream from the heat and let sit for about 30 seconds. Slowly pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Whisk the mixture gently until combined and chocolates are completely melted. Add the coffee, vanilla, and Grand Marnier (if using). Whisk until combined. Set bowl in refrigerator for 25 minutes, then let it sit at room temperature for another 30 minutes.

With a teaspoon, scoop up a rounded ball of truffle mixture, about 1-1/4″ in diameter. With a second teaspoon, scrape the truffle mixture onto your prepared baking sheet. Repeat until you have used up all the truffle mixture and you have a full pan of roughly shaped balls. Set pan in refrigerator for 10 minutes.

Place cocoa powder in a small bowl. After the balls have chilled and firmed up a bit, roll each one in your hands. Aim for a “rough roundness”, not perfect balls. I will gently dent mine here and there if they are looking too round, to mimic classic truffles. Roll in cocoa powder. I don’t like eating a mouthful of cocoa powder, so I try to get any excess off by giving the truffles a small gentle toss between my two hands (over the bowl of cocoa powder).

These store very well for about a week in the refrigerator and can be frozen for about a month. Either way, always bring them to room temperature before serving. If the cocoa powder seems to get absorbed, simply roll the truffles in cocoa powder again.