White Christmas truffles with brandied cherries

White Christmas truffles with brandied cherries
Amanda Laird

Viva 12/12/2012

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This is a take on traditional White Christmas, which can be made in a myriad ways - crushed biscuits or rice bubbles, glace fruit or dried. Plenty of coconut is needed and white chocolate. I have put a brandy-soaked fresh cherry in the middle of each for a pleasant surprise. With so many gorgeous packaging options available it only takes a little imagination to present these treats beautifully using different containers and ribbons.

Ingredients

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20 Cherries, fresh
50 ml Brandy
100 g Butter
1 can Condensed milk
½ cup White chocolate, chopped
375 g Wine biscuits, crushed
150 g Dried apricots, chopped
1 cup Desiccated coconut, plus extra for rolling
2 tbsp Lemon juice, plus finely grated zest
2 tbsp Lemon juice, plus finely grated zest

Directions

1. Remove the stalks and stones from the cherries. Put into a bowl and pour over the brandy. Stir and leave – this can be done days in advance.

2. Melt the butter then add with the remaining ingredients to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until just combined, then remove. Place some mixture in your palm then put a cherry in the centre and cover. Roll and repeat. Once all done, roll the balls in the extra coconut and refrigerate until firm.

Comments

  • ratsgirl05
    ratsgirl05
    added 186 days ago

    Brilliant idea - great to have a different slant on the usual truffles!!

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  • sugarmouse
    sugarmouse
    added 188 days ago

    Thanks a lot for your suggestions, they're very helpful. Cheers!

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  • sugarmouse
    sugarmouse
    added 188 days ago

    I would like to make these for a friend who would not eat them if they contain alcohol. What would be the best substitute? Or should I just make something else?

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    • Jess_Food_Hub
      Jess_Food_Hub
      added 188 days ago

      Hi sugarmouse, if you were going to give them to your friend to eat within a day or two you could make them with fresh cherries and simply omit the brandy. The alcohol plays a preserving role here, which is why the cherries are steeped before rolling. You could try cooking the fresh cherries in some sugar syrup to get a preserving effect? Bring 1cup water with 1/2cup sugar and a dash of vanilla extract to the boil, simmer for 5 minutes, add pitted cherries and cook for 5-10 minutes until tender. Drain and then follow the recipe above for forming the truffles :)

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    • Jess_Food_Hub
      Jess_Food_Hub
      added 188 days ago

      Or, replace the cherry centre with another surprise filling, like dried fruit or a piece of chocolate.

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