This month’s Sugar High Friday is being hosted by The Passionate Cook. We couldn’t have asked for a better theme with the holidays just around the corner….Truffles. Who doesn’t love to make candy around this time of year? I chose to go non-traditional and do a white chocolate truffle. Let me tell you, there aren’t that many recipes around and I did my best to throw together a combo of them with my own twist. I realized that I have done nothing with pears on this blog and decided to rectify that.
I bring to you my White Chocolate Truffle infused with Pear Skins, Wildflower Honey and Nutmeg. Say that three times fast. A tart book I own has a tart infused with pear skins so I thought why not in a truffle? White chocolate is much more temperamental than dark or milk and can sometimes be a pain to work with….but these were worth the pain to me. Nutmeg is my favorite spice and I try to use it as much as possible, and works well with pears. I threw in the honey because I got it as a gift and never use it. Last but not least I chose to roll my truffles in crushed up sugar cookies. Nuts, powdered sugar, cocoa….I’ve seen it all, but I have yet to see sugar cookies(I’m quite sure someone has, I just have yet to see it myself).
White Chocolate Truffles Infused with Pear Skins, Wildflower Honey and Nutmeg
1/3 cup, plus 1 TBSP heavy cream
9 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into thin slices
peels from one pear
1 TBSP wildflower honey
1/2 tsp freshy grated nutmeg
crushed sugar cookies(for rolling truffle in)
In small, heavy, nonaluminum saucepan, combine heavy cream and pear skins. Over low heat, heat until cream comes to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Cover tightly; allow to stand 20 minutes at room temperature.
Shortly before cream standing period is up, combine white chocolate, nutmeg, honey, and butter pats in medium heatproof bowl. When cream has stood 20 minutes, remove cover. Reheat cream mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a simmer again. Remove from heat. Strain through fine-meshed strainer into white chocolate mixture. Press down on the pear peels left in the strainer to extract all the liquid from it.
Place white chocolate mixture over warm water on low heat (water should not touch bottom of bowl). Stir frequently just until almost melted; remove from heat and hot water. Stir until melted and smooth. (Note: White chocolate, even of excellent quality, can be stubborn about melting. If there are small lumps of white chocolate in your truffle base, transfer the truffle base to a food processor fitted with a steel blade; process at high speed just until smooth.)
Transfer truffle base to small bowl. Chill at least 4 hours (overnight is fine, too), covering tightly when cold.
Form balls of about 1 inch diameter from the cold truffle base(I use a melon baller). Drop into the crushed sugar cookies. Roll in cookie crumbs until well-coated, then place in a storage container. Continue until all base is used.
Store truffles airtight in refrigerator for up to one week; freeze for longer storage. To serve, remove from refrigerator 15 to 20 minutes prior to serving time. Let stand at room temperature, covered, until serving time.
This made about 24 truffles.
Tanna says
Love the teeth marks! hehehe!
Seems like you took these over the top at each step! Wish I had one.
Ellie says
These look delicious..there aren’t any left, are there? 😀 *looks hungrily at screen*
Lisa says
Not a fan of white chocolate at all. BUT. You, my friend, have created a winner here. I would eat my weight in white chocolate if it was prepared this way. The infusion flavors sound PERFECT and I LURVE the idea of rolling them in crushed sugar cookie crumbs. This is a truffle I’d expect to see from a high end chocolatier. Seriously.
julia says
truffles! yummy!
I’m as well not that big a fan of white chocolate, but I really love your special twist to them – and adding pear? great!!
I’ve had that urge as well…;)
Brilynn says
How do you come up with such amazing ideas? No, seriously, how do you do it????
Lauren says
Were they good?? They sound amazing.
Nicole says
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kirsten says
WOW! So unique and they look delicious. Agree with Lisa’s comment that I would expect these from a fancy chocolate store – hmmm, a business idea?? 🙂
Ivonne says
You have actually made me crave pears! These are gorgeous, Peabody!
Scott at Real Epicurean says
Now this is a really, really great and original idea for truffles. I really wanted to participate too – but didn’t get around to cooking and photographing (I’m at work!).
Since I have my recipe (which is nowhere near as exciting as this one) all typed up I’ll just have to blog it next week : (
Sara says
Oh…my…I think I might be drooling.
Stephanie says
Peabody, that’s just plain pornographic.
I love white chocolate, but it doesn’t always like me.
I’ve been struggling with white chocolate modeling clay, because I (stupidly) promised to make a friend’s wedding cake, and decorate it with white chocolate roses!
johanna says
what an inspiring creation! i’d never have thought of this combination, but i can already taste that i absolutely works… thanks for participating, look forward to reading more of your recipes! (once i’ve mastered the round-up)
Anita says
I love this truffle idea! The photos are gorgeous too!
esther says
I tried to put together my own special white chocolate truffle recipe and the result was a chocolate paste that wouldn’t set! I’m going to give your base recipe a try!
Michelle says
How much of the actualy pear was still attached to the skin b4 you threw it in the cream, was it peeled with knife, or with a peeler? I am dying to try your recipe, I just want to make sure I get it right.
Jeanne says
Wowee! What an interesting combination of flavours. Although I’m not a huhge fan of white chocolate, I can see why this would not work with anything darker. And they look gorgeous – like festive little snowballs!
Julie O'Hara says
These are just stupendous and so creative. It is an inspiration to try out more of my favorite flavors and see what happens. I wish I could taste these.
Meeta says
Pear, white chocolate and nutmeg – a very cool combination. Love the idea here. Lovely.
Haladdin Lomak says
Showed this to my dentist: he was horrified!!!
Donna says
I made these for my daughter’s bridal shower. They were amazing! Everyone loved them!
I packaged them in a mini cupcake liner and treat bags for a party favor. They were beautiful. These were perfect little treats! This recipe is now and forever in my collection! Thank you!