Slightly uneven little spheres dusted in cocoa to simulate the soil on a freshly dug fungus — the black Tuber melanosporum — defines a chocolate truffle at its most basic. With supervision, an 8-year-old can shape and dip truffles for a nice afternoon activity. In addition to the classic cocoa-coated version, chocolate truffles are often encased in a chocolate shell, sometimes embellished with nuts, icing and even gold leaf. Their flavor can also be varied according to whether you opt for dark, milk or white chocolate, add ,ingredients like raspberry purée, nuts and coffee, or spirits like port, brandy and even Champagne. Chocolate truffles should be one-bite affairs, no more than an inch in diameter — three-quarters of an inch is ideal.

Source: New York Times December 13, 2020 03:22 UTC