Chocolate

These bite-size candies are terrific with after-dinner coffee.

Passion fruit has a sweet/tart flavor that is unique. It transports me to the tropics with every taste. It can be time-consuming to get the juice from passion fruit, so I recommend using frozen passion fruit concentrate, which can be found in some specialty markets or through some of the sources listed at the back of this book.

This is the ideal candy for peanut lovers!

These scrumptious candies bring together three eminently compatible flavors: orange, hazelnut, and chocolate. For the best flavor, be sure to use homemade candied orange peel. These clusters are easy to make and always receive rave reviews.

Truffle cream is piped into foil, fluted-edge candy cups and chilled to form these delectable bite-size candies. Before they are eaten, the foil cups are peeled away, leaving a fluted design in the chocolate.

It’s easy to grow lemon verbena in a pot inside or in the garden. The leaves themselves are bitter and unpleasant to eat, but when infused into cream, the sweet lemony flavor is a perfect pairing with white chocolate.

White chocolate and apricot complement each other perfectly. The addition of apricot brandy or Cointreau gives these truffles a special zip.

Caramel is another perfect flavor match with chocolate. I love these with after-dinner coffee.

The pungent flavor of crystallized ginger blends perfectly with the richness of white chocolate. These truffles have a slightly granular texture, which adds to the pleasure of eating them.

Lime zest, cream of coconut, and white chocolate are blended together to create a scrumptious flavor in these truffles. Cream of coconut is sold in cans, and is available in the baking or specialty foods section of most supermarkets, or in large liquor stores. Be sure to stir the cream of coconut thoroughly before using.

The flavors of milk chocolate, rum, and coconut in these truffles complement each other perfectly.

Cacao nibs add an extra flavor dimension to these truffles.

Gianduja is a blend of chocolate and hazelnuts. By itself it is delicious; as a truffle center it’s heavenly.

Top-quality Scotch whisky, like Glenfiddich, is smooth and very tasty. When it’s combined with raisins and dark chocolate, the result is flavor heaven.

These truffles are shaped into disks instead of balls, then dressed up with flakes of edible gold leaf for decoration. If the marvelous flavor doesn’t impress your family and friends, the look of these truffles will.

Five-spice powder is a classic blend of star anise, clove, cinnamon, fennel, and pepper. Its intriguing licorice flavor adds extra intensity and depth to bittersweet chocolate in these truffles.

If you like almonds, these truffles are for you. California Truffles offer a bounty of almonds combined with dried apricots.

These truffles combine bittersweet chocolate with hazelnut-and-chocolate Nutella to create a smooth and distinct flavor.

Mint adds a burst of fresh flavor to dark chocolate. These are the perfect truffles to serve after dinner, or anytime for that matter.

Orange and chocolate have a natural harmony. Candied orange peel imparts a chewy texture to these truffles.