cake truffle tutorial...

*disclaimer - the pics in this post SUCK! i made these truffles over a couple of evenings - or maybe i should say nights...i work in the wee hours & the lighting in my kitchen at that time of day is horid! i promise ur's will look much prettier! ;0)

these r 4 real, the easiest things 2 make ever!

yeah, they're time consuming! u better plan 2 devote an evening (or more) 2 making them - especially if u're doing several different flavors/chocolate dippings

but they're oh, so worth it!
;0)

4 the base cake, u can really use whatever u want - whatever sounds yummy 2 u! but the moister the cake, the better...use ur grandma's famous spice cake recipe, a decadent chocolate cake recipe u found online, or just a yellow box mix - really, whatever floats ur boat!

here i'm making peanut butter truffles & i used my basic moist yellow cake recipe (i baked a 9x13" pan - & i got at least 3 dozen good sized truffles out of it)

i crumbled the cake in a big bowl & got out a masher...threw in some peanut butter & peanut butter chips (adds yummy texture)...they're so soft that you don't really need to chop em up 1st, but if u used semi-sweet chips or something similar, you might want 2 run em thru the chopper 4 just a sec (i use this)...continue mashing/mixing, occasionally feeling the cake 2 see how moist/dry it is

u want it to be wet enuff that it easily allows u 2 form balls, but not so wet that it's goopy...another binding ingredient that works well, & can b used in almost any flavor, is light corn syrup

form the truffles into big bite size balls (don't get skimpy here - mine really take 2 bites 2 eat) & lay on wax paper on top of a cookie sheet...i flatten the bottom a little as i form them - that helps with keeping them from rolling away, & also makes it easier when it's time 2 dip them

above r the peanut butter ones on the left...beside those r almond - i used white cake, chopped almonds, almond flavoring & corn syrup

here r some more almond, spice, fudge chip & confetti truffles

spice - a dense/moist spice cake with a tiny bit of allspice sprinkled in, corn syrup
fudge chip - my fudge chip cake, more chopped semi-sweet chips, special dark cocoa, chocolate syrup
confetti - white cake, colored jimmies (sprinkles), corn syrup

& here's strawberry - strawberry cake, strawberry flavoring, corn syrup

once the truffles r formed, pop em in the freezer 4 about 10 or 15 minutes...this is where using a cookie sheet really helps speed up the process - it gets cold & helps chill ur truffles faster...u don't want em frozen solid, just good & firm (without crumbs falling away) 4 dipping

while they're in the freezer, start melting some chocolate in a double boiler...or if u don't have a double boiler, use a glass bowl over a saucepan of water...just remember, the smaller/deeper the bowl of chocolate u're dipping in2, the easier it will b

if u want, pick up some candy melts
- they work great 4 dipping & come in a variety of colors...but i tend 2 stay on the more "frugal" side of things & just use chocolate chips...u'll want 2 use semi-sweet chips rather than milk chocolate...or white chips - depending on which you want 2 dip ur truffles in...also, add some gulf wax 2 the chocolate, so that the truffles harden up nicely & have a nice shine 2 em (if u're worried about how safe it is 2 add paraffin 2 ur candies - please read this)

then dip away! have another cookie sheet (lined with wax paper) nearby 2 place them on...there r lots of handy dipping gadgets out there, but i just use a fork...that's where the flat bottoms help out

as soon as you've dipped em, add the toppings while they're still wet...here i dipped the confetti truffles & sprinkled em with colored jimmies

here's almond truffles, dipped in white chocolate - almond slivers on top

or fudge chip truffles - sprinkled with Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa (after dried - if u're using cocoa or powdered sugar as a topper - do that after the chocolate is dry & hardened)

how about peanut brittle crunch on top of the peanut butter truffles?
mmmmm!

or u can drizzle colored chocolate over em too!

here's yellow 4 the lemon truffles - lemon cake, lemon flavoring, corn syrup

or red for the strawberry truffles

or even melted caramel!
oh my word, these r the spice truffles - a new flavor 4 me & they were soooo good!

finally, once the chocolate (& topping) is completely hardened, move the truffles to sweet little candy papers & then package 4 giving away

here's the big batch i sent 2 Wendy - my giveaway winner

or here's 6 in a pack - using cellophane baggies...FAB teacher gifts!

or pile em high in a dish 4 ur hubby 2 take 2 work & share with his co-workers...Curtis loves when i do that! ;0)

another great way 2 make these & share them is cake pops...Bakerella is the PRO at making these! she forms her balls using icing as the binder...i think that's a tad 2 much sweetness, but it's also a quicker/easier route...but boy, u have 2 see the cute creations she makes! they're adorable!!!

another super easy treat idea is cupcakes in a jar...i've posted about these b4 - they're even easier than the cake truffles! here's 2 i threw in with Wendy's truffle prize

so now u have no excuse...all of u know how 2 make these simple treats urself!

go ahead, give em a try - & if u share, u just might make some new best friends!
;0)