Ever find yourself short on ideas and time for Valentine’s Day? You want to find a gift with a more personal touch, but you don’t know where to start. Suddenly the 14th of February is here, and you still have nothing thoughtful to give your valentine. The answer is right in front of you with these easy handmade chocolates, minimal in effort and filled with heart.
In The Curious Miss Fortune, two of my characters share an evening of fine dining. The finishing touch is a rich chocolate mousse, creating a romantic mood that sets them on a new and unexpected path of love.
Inspired by the role that chocolate plays in my romance novels, these no-fuss chocolate truffles make Valentine’s Day gifting a breeze. They look impressive and taste beautiful but can be whipped up on the day with no specialist ingredients, equipment or skills required.
Ingredients
Makes 15 truffles
Prep time: 30 minutes (chilled for 2-3 hours)
90g 70% cocoa dark chocolate bar, broken into squares
35ml coconut milk (or coconut cream for a richer feel)
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla paste or honey, optional
Instructions
Melt the chocolate
Break up the bar of dark chocolate into small squares. Place the squares in a microwaveable container and heat the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Stir the chocolate after every interval until the chocolate has just melted and is glossy. This should take no longer than 2 minutes in total. Be careful not to let the chocolate overcook as this will affect the way it sets and tastes.
Combine the chocolate and coconut milk
Warm the coconut milk (or coconut cream) in a microwaveable container for 10-20 seconds in the microwave. Pour the melted chocolate into the warm coconut milk and stir gently until the mixture is smooth. Add 1 tsp vanilla paste or honey at this point if you want a slightly sweeter taste.
Set to chill
Pour the mixture into a bowl or container with a lid and leave it to set in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
Shape the truffles
Once the mixture is just set but not rock hard, take it out of the fridge. Use either two spoons or the palms of your hands to divide and shape the chocolate mixture into 15 small spheres.
Coat in cocoa
Place 1 tbsp of cocoa powder into either a reusable bag or a container with a lid. Add in your shaped truffles and either close the bag or put on the container lid. Gently shake everything in the bag or container until the spheres are coated evenly in cocoa powder.
Final chill and share
Leave the truffles to chill in the fridge for another 30 minutes. When ready to serve, take them out of the fridge 15 minutes before to get to room temperature.
You could serve these beautiful truffles on an elegant side plate or in a dessert bowl perfect for sharing with your valentine. They make a lovely after-dinner treat with a refreshing glass of elderflower or citron pressé.
There’s no need to settle for anything less than a thoughtful and heartfelt gift this Valentine’s Day with these bittersweet flavour blasts. Wishing you all love and romance for February!
Much love,
Tina-Marie xoxo
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