Fluffy Truffles with a Candy Cane and White Chocolate Icing

There are lots of different methods for making truffles and melting chocolate.  I've used double boilers and microwaves, but recently I discovered that melting chocolate in a slow cooker is another option.  I love slow cookers.  I have 3 of them.  They're useful for making just about anything especially when you have a stove top and oven completely full or when you need consistent low heat and can't be bothered to fool around with the stove.

A lot of time and effort is dedicated to the process of melting the chocolate.  It seems a bit odd to completely ignore the chilling process in making truffles and not add a little something to that process for extra texture and taste.

This instructable describes another method for making truffles in a way that makes them fluffy and smooth with a light coating of white chocolate and crushed candy canes, perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

I've used fewer steps according to the amount of "fooling" you have to do with a particular part in the process because many of the mini-steps occur so quickly or so slowly such as with waiting and stirring.  Carefully read through the all the steps to know what will be occurring next and prepare for it.  There is buffer time between each step, but stay on your toes without getting horribly stressed.  Preparation is everything when it comes to candy-making.  In the end, it will probably taste good no matter how badly you do it - it's chocolate, cream, and candy canes.  Don't test that theory though.

I have also added notes and tips throughout the steps and have also added alternative or additional steps for a different result.  There are many points in this instructable for deviation, and I have only pointed out a few of them.  This is something that you make.  When I am testing a new recipe, I follow it as it's written.  After that, I do what I want.  Do what you want, and make it your own.

 

Step 1: Gear and Ingredients

The Gear:
-Small Slow Cooker (~1.5 quart)
-Hand Mixer
-Mixing Bowl
-Meat Pounder/Hammer
-Spatula
-Baking sheet
-Wax Paper (or silicone mat)
-Disher
-Butter Knife
-Glass (to be filled with ice water)
-Clean Kitchen Towel (not pictured)

The Ingredients:
-2 Cups of Dark Chocolate Chips
-2/3 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
-2 Cups of White Chocolate Chips
-4 Candy Canes (I've used cherry but choose whatever flavor you like)

Comments

[PotatoCoffee]

They look great!

[canida]

Wow, those look excellent.  Great pictures, too!

[AngryRedhead]

Thank you!!!

 

[ChrysN]

They look super yummy!  Great photos too!

[AngryRedhead]

Thank you!!

 

[geekazoid]

 Hi!
I was wondering if you had pictures of the finished truffles? Great work though! Great... now I want to eat truffles...

[AngryRedhead]

Honestly, I was making this batch for a party and ran out of time to take shots of the finished truffles on the baking sheet because they almost immediately went into a serving dish and out the door.  Fortunately, I set a few aside to photograph after the party.  The main image is a shot of 3 finished truffles but doesn't really show all the detail.  I just took a close-up shot of one for a more detailed view - they kind of look like frosted brownie bites up-close but definitely don't taste like them.

At the party, I drilled everyone on what they thought of them, and everyone loved them.  They were completely gone!  The best compliment I got was that they felt light and not heavy when eaten which was exactly what I was going for because one minor issue I have with truffles is the thick, heavy mouth-feel.  So they've been tested by people who aren't me and my SO and who don't make up a terrible sample population such as just the two of us.  However, it was still a convenience sample.  Ah well...

Let me know if this is what you were looking for!