Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles

Ingredients

• Servings: 26
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut up
• 1 tablespoon light-color corn syrup
• 4 teaspoons hazelnut-flavor liqueur or milk
• 1 (10 ounce) package ghirardelli® 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking chips
• 26 whole hazelnuts, toasted*
• 12 ounces ghirardelli milk chocolate baking bar, chopped
• 4 teaspoons shortening
• 2 ounces ghirardelli chocolate baking bar, chopped (optional)
• coarse sea salt (optional)

Recipe

Preparation Time: 45 mins Ready Time: 1 hr 45 mins


• in a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine whipping cream, cream cheese, corn syrup, and liqueur. microwave on medium power (50 percent) for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until mixture is smooth, stirring once. add ghirardelli® 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking chips; do not stir. let stand for 5 minutes; stir. microwave on medium power (50 percent) for 1 minute or until mixture is melted. stir mixture until just smooth. (do not over-stir or mixture will separate.) cover surface with plastic wrap and chill for 15 to 20 minutes. beat chocolate mixture with an electric mixer on low speed until light and fluffy. cover and chill for 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
• line a baking sheet with waxed paper. using a small cookie scoop or spoon, drop the truffle mixture into 3/4-inch mounds on the prepared baking sheet. place one hazelnut in the center of each mound. roll mounds into smooth balls, enclosing the hazelnut.
• meanwhile, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine chopped ghirardelli milk chocolate baking bar and shortening. microwave on medium power (50 percent) for 1-1/2 minutes. remove and stir. if chocolate is not melted, return to microwave and repeat heating step, stirring every 30 seconds to avoid scorching. stir until smooth.
• use a fork to dip the balls into the milk chocolate mixture, allowing excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. return truffles to baking sheet; chill for 30 minutes or until firm.
• if desired, in a small microwave-safe bowl, place chopped ghirardelli chocolate baking bar. microwave on medium power (50 percent) for 1 minute. remove and stir. if chocolate is not melted, return to microwave and repeat heating step, stirring every 30 seconds to avoid scorching. stir until smooth. drizzle melted chocolate over tops of the truffles. if desired, sprinkle with a few grains of sea salt. chill for 10 minutes or until firm.
• enjoy immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. if refrigerated, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.