Chocolate Truffles (with Variations)

Total Time: 4 hrs 5 mins Preparation Time: 4 hrs Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• cocoa or powdered sugar

Recipe

• 1 in heavy saucepan over low heat, melt butter. add cocoa; stir until smooth. blend in sweetened condensed milk; stir constantly until mixture is thick, smooth and glossy, about 4 minutes.
• 2 remove from heat; stir in vanilla. refrigerate 3 to 4 hours or until firm.
• 3 shape into 1 1/4 inch balls; roll in cocoa or powdered sugar or a blend of these two ingredients. refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours. store, covered, in refrigerator. roll spoonfuls of truffle mixture between hands to form balls. keep hands and truffle mixture as cold as possible. place in decorative candy cups.
• 4 nut truffles: add 3/4 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans to chocolate mixture when adding vanilla. (to toast pecans: in ungreased shallow pan, spread 3/4 cup pecan halves in single layer. bake at 375 degrees, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 7 minutes. cool before chopping.).
• 5 espresso truffles: decrease vanilla to 1 teaspoon. stir in 1 1/4 teaspoon powdered instant espresso or coffee with vanilla. roll balls in cocoa or chopped nuts.
• 6 nut-coated truffles: roll balls in chopped nuts.
• 7 liqueur truffles. eliminate the vanilla extract and add 1 tablespoon of amaretto, kahlua or any other liqueur.