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Did the cream I used have the correct fat content?

Did I heat the cream up sufficiently before adding it to the chocolate?

The good news is that it’s possible to rescue a ganache if it goes wrong. Just add a couple of
tablespoons of boiling water to it while stirring and you’ll be back to a smooth, shiny and
well-emulsified texture in no time.

From ganache to truffle
A ganache is transformed into a truffle mixture by simple agitation. Bit by bit, turn the
ganache over with a spoon. This softens the ganache so that it can be piped or transformed
into a different shape. Once piped or spooned, the ganache will start to firm up again.

How to coat and decorate truffles
Once the truffles have been made and shaped, it’s time to coat them with melted, tempered
chocolate. In most instances one good coat is sufficient, but most professionals coat the
truffles twice. After the second coat and while the chocolate is still wet, drop it into a

topping like ground pistachio nuts, cocoa powder, icing sugar or ground biscuits to finish –
anything that corresponds with the flavour of the truffle will work well. If you find the
coating chocolate starts to get too cold and harden, pop it back onto a double boiler and
allow it to heat up by a degree or two. Another decorating option is to wait for the chocolate
coating to set and then with a different chocolate colour, pipe squiggles or lines onto the
truffle.

What to look for in a perfectly finished truffle
You’ll know you’ve succeeded in creating a perfect artisan truffle when:

The ganache filling has a completely smooth texture with a thin, crisp outer chocolate
shell.
The flavour of the chocolate ganache dominates and when you bite into it, the truffle
immediately begins to melt in your mouth.

Storing truffles

Chocolate quickly picks up aromas from fragrant foods like spices and garlic, so it’s best to
store finished truffles in an airtight container at cool room temperature. The shelf life for
truffles can range from 4–10 days.

Learn to cook online at learn.yuppiechef.com

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