Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueur

Satisfy your chocolate craving and get hooched up at the same time with these Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueur!

Nah. Just teasing.

But what a headline that would make, huh? Just so you know, there is liqueur in these but not enough to cause any unruly drunkenness or even the slightest tipsiness.

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueur

These truffles were an answer to a recipe challenge using PAMA liqueur, a pomegranate liqueur. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur is a liqueur made with all-natural pomegranate juice. It’s perky. And tangy. And full of flavor. The obvious pairing was with chocolate as PAMA reminds me a little of raspberries. Many other recipe ideas to use with PAMA are still churning away in my mind. Maybe later.

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueur

I’m a home cook who likes to try new things, but I’ve never entered a recipe contest. And while I fantasize about wielding a knife (a kitchen knife people) against the best of ’em, I’m too prone to cave under the pressure and stress. Besides, I like to cook while listening to my favorite tunes in my bare feet and that wouldn’t make for good TV.

But it’s quite easy to be the armchair expert isn’t it? Whether it’s The Amazing Race (which I’d rock at), Iron Chef (that too), The Apprentice (yeah, I’d take ’em all down), Food Challenge (although not a baker, somehow I’d make the best 5′ cake evah), I always feel confident as I sit comfy and cozy at home in my sweats, without a camera watching my every move or lack of sleep, away from my family and any support for that matter. Funny how that is…

Anyway, back to the truffles and the recipe contest (I would rock at Amazing Race though, I just know it)…

Truffles are easy. They look all fancy and everything, but they’re real easy. And wouldn’t they make the perfect addition to a holiday dessert buffet or a special Valentine’s dinner.

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueur

And I took an even easier route by coating them with nuts…

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueurand cocoa. Tip: if you choose to coat with cocoa, make sure to gently tap off excess or roll lightly on a paper towel to remove excess. If you don’t, you’ll choke and be mad at me and think I don’t know what I’m doing. Which, most of the time, I don’t know what I’m doing but trust me on this – tap off the excess.

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueur

You could always dip them in your favorite melted chocolate too, which I tried, but something about tempering and blooming…they didn’t look so pretty after hardening. I’ve got a lot to learn so I opted out for easy.

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueur

These truffles were made with dark chocolate, but if you’re not a dark chocolate lover, use semi-sweet instead. A smidge of cayenne was added for a little somethin’ somethin’. Other liqueur substitutions can be made as well, but PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur pairs so well with chocolate it’s definitely worth trying. Also, I used roasted peanuts for a tad bit of saltiness but another nut could be pan toasted with butter and salt if you’d prefer.

Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueur

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Pomegranate Liqueur

Yield: 36
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Delightful little bites featuring pomegranate liqueur.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
  • 11 ounces of bittersweet chocolate (bar, chopped or chips)
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/4 cup PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
  • 1 cup roasted peanuts (another nut could be used as well) OR approx. 1/2 cup cocoa (for coating truffles)

Instructions

  1. In a small sauce pan over medium heat bring the heavy cream and light corn syrup to a simmer.
  2. Put bittersweet chocolate (chips or chopped chocolate) and butter in a small glass or metal bowl.
  3. Pour heavy cream and light corn syrup mixture over chocolate and butter and let sit for 2 minutes.
  4. Stir together the cream mixture, chocolate and butter to incorporate making sure all chocolate is melted. (If needed place bowl over a smaller pot with hot water (not boiling) to slightly warm and continue to melt chocolate.)
  5. Add cayenne and mix.
  6. Add liqueur a little at a time, being sure to mix well.
  7. After chocolate mixture is combined well and smooth, place in refrigerator for an hour.
  8. If using nuts to coat, in a food processor, process nuts until finely chopped. If using cocoa powder pour cocoa in shallow dish.
  9. After an hour remove chocolate from refrigerator. Using a teaspoon, scrape across chocolate and with the palms of your hand gently make about 1-inch balls with the chocolatey goodness.
  10. Gently roll truffle balls in coating of choice. Just make sure if you choose to coat in cocoa powder to tap off excess or roll on a paper towel to get excess off.
  11. Place on waxed paper or silicon mat on baking sheet or dish and refrigerate to harden a little bit more.
  12. Optional: dip in chocolate and chill to harden.

Did you make this recipe?

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