Chocolate Truffle: What’s That?
Well, chocolate truffles aren’t what pigs go sniffing out in the forest, but the name does derive from the luxurious mushrooms due to the resemblance in shape.
These delightful bite-sized chocolate treats originated in France. Want to make this delicacy? Get ready with these main ingredients: chocolate, cream, and cocoa powder.
The Truffle Legends
Two legends dominate the truffle story. On one hand, we have Louis Dufour who, in 1895, whipped up some ganache and rolled this concoction into balls. The ganache balls were dipped into melted chocolate and rolled in cocoa powder. And voila! The chocolate goodie was born. On the other hand, we have Auguste Escoffier from the 1920s. His apprentice’s creation of the was actually an error. By mistake he used hot cream in a bowl of chocolate chunks. Cream meant for something else. He took the ganache he had accidentally created, rolled it into balls, and then rolled those balls in cocoa powder, resulting in truffles.
Whichever of these stories is actually true, one thing is for certain when it comes to these delicious treats. To be a “true” chocolate truffle, we must have a ganache filling.
International Alternatives
Although the French version is the traditional blueprint, many countries have developed their own truffle-inspired creations. We have truffles of the Swiss, American, Belgian, and other varieties. Their chocolate truffle ingredients can include things like praline, hot cream, and butter, syrup, milk powder, butterfat, even coconut oil! It is still an authentic truffle as long as that ganache centre is there. Even if it is square-shaped or coated with anything other than cocoa powder. So don’t let those creme or fruit-filled chocolate confections out there fool you into thinking they are truffles. Though these alternatives are no less delicious.
Whether you enjoy them rolled in classic cocoa powder, crushed nuts, coconut, or any other type of topping, just make sure they have that ganache filling. And that the main ingredient is chocolate, so it’s not their fungi namesake! Today of all days, you should head out your door and pick up some chocolate truffles at a chocolatier or candy shop near you. It is National Truffle Day after all!
