Chocolate Ginger Truffles {with Cacao & Smoked Sea Salt}

Tempted by Chocolate…..Sure why not?

With Valentines day coming up in a few weeks I figured I would tempt you with some dark chocolate truffles.  These are rich and fabulous.  A little goes a long way.  Remember small indulgences with high quality ingredients keep us happy and satisfied.  Deprivation, BORING.  Small occasional indulgences with highly flavored, pure ingredients…….GRAND!

Remember even though chocolate has healthy properties, it is a high calorie, sweet treat.  Don’t trick yourself into thinking more is better.  Mindful portions here OK folks?

Oh, by the way….I entered these truffles in the Scharffen Berger/TuttiFoodie Chocolate Adventure Contest. They were also given as holiday gifts to my friends and my kids teachers.  They all loved ‘em, I think you will too!  A little sweetness goes a long way!

Let’s live it up and celebrate Valentines Day together!

Truffles anyone?

Fresh Benefits

Chocolate

Chocolate is loaded with Flavonoids (antioxidants.)  The darker you go, the higher percentage of these benefits come your way. Chocolate is a win-win treat.  You get health benefits and taste bud satisfaction!!

Did you know that chocolate is an all natural mood enhancer?  It produces feelings of pleasure because it stimulates the secretion of endorphins.  Love that!  This feel good goodie contains the hot topic neurotransmitter Serotonin.  Stimulating, Sugary, Caffeinated chocolate…..Here’s to happy thoughts!  To read more about Cocoa and the health benefits of chocolate click the following links:

Family Fresh Cooking- Cocoa: The Basics

About.com: Health Benefits of Chocolate

WebMD: A Dark Chocolate a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Cacao

Cacao Nibs are great for you too!  They are the building blocks of chocolate so they have even more of the good for you stuff mentioned above.  To read more about Cacao click here:

Pomegranate Coconut Shake {with Roasted Cacao Nibs}

Ginger

Ginger has a bunch of great for you properties as well.  It is known to help relieve gastrointestinal stress.  It also has antioxidant properties that provide anti-inflammatory support.  Get seasick?  Sucking on a ginger candy can help relieve symptoms of motion sickness.   To read more on the health benefits of ginger:

WHFoods: Ginger

Chocolate Ginger Truffles {with Cacao & Smoked Sea Salt}

makes about 46 one inch truffles (You can half or double this recipe in direct proportions.)

• Source Organic ingredients when available
• Shop for Scharffen Berger Chocolate at the Family Fresh Cooking Amazon Store
• As always, use your own taste buds to determine how you want to season your truffles. More honey, less smoked sea salt? The choice is yours! My ingredient lists are wide open for interpretation. I would love to hear your take!
• You can also visit www.scharffenberger.com to see and buy the full range of products.
• Use your favorite Dark Chocolate and Cocoa Powder in this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 10 ounces 70% Scharffen Berger Bittersweet Baking Chunks
• 10 ounces 62% Scharffen Berger Semisweet Baking Chunks
• 8 ounces Organic Heavy Cream
• a few inches fresh Ginger, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup Raw Cacao Nibs, roasted and finely ground (Use more if you desire more “crunch.”)
• 1/4 cup Crystallized Ginger, finely diced
• 3 tbs Raw Honey
• 1 tbs Vanilla extract
• 1 tsp Smoked Sea Salt, finely crushed with mortar and pestle
• 1/2 cup Scharffen Berger Sweetened Cocoa Powder Optional: A few tbs Sweet Paprika to add to cocoa powder
• OPTIONAL: Additional diced Crystallized Ginger to top truffles -or- A few coarse crystals of Smoked Sea Salt on each truffle.

METHOD

1. Pre heat oven to 250˚F with rack in the center. Spread raw cacao nibs on a baking dish and roast for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let nibs cool and put in food processor or coffee grinder. Grind to a fine ground.
2. Bring cream and ginger to a light boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer for a few minutes so the cream gets infused with the essence of ginger. Strain ginger/cream mixture and discard ginger chunks.
3. Put both varietals of chocolate in a medium stainless steel bowl. Pour hot ginger/cream mixture over chocolate. Stir mixture together until chocolate is completely melted and combined well with cream. You now have a ganache.
4. Add to ganache mixture: ground cacao nibs, diced crystallized ginger, raw honey, vanilla extract and ground smoked sea salt. Combine throughly with spatula or spoon.
5. Cover ganache mixture tight with plastic wrap and store at room temperature or in the fridge for a few hours or overnight to harden into a firm ganache/truffle mixture.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. With a small scoop or spoon, scoop out truffle mixture and quickly roll in your hands to make a smooth ball. Place truffles on lined baking sheet. Cool for about an hour in the fridge.
7. Combine cocoa powder and optional paprika in a bowl. Roll each truffle in cocoa powder mixture.
8. Using melted Chocolate as “glue” top each truffle with a small piece of ginger and a few crystals of smoked sea salt if desired. Let truffles cool a bit in fridge before serving. Store truffles in the fridge in an airtight container.
9. Enjoy! Buzz, Buzz!

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Chocolate Recipes on Family Fresh Cooking

Cocoa Coconut Oat Parfait
Cocoa: The Basics
Cocoa 3 Ways
Pomegranate Coconut Shake {with Roasted Cacao Nibs}
Skinny Frozen Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cookies

Tagged as: antioxidants, cacao, chocolate, dark chocolate and health, dessert, flavonoids, ginger, giveaway, Organic, Scharffen Berger, serotonin, smoked sea salt, treat, Valentine's Day