Let's talk mascarpone. You may know it as the soft Italian cheese that comes in wee little containers at the grocery store with not-so-wee price stickers attached. It's often described as "similar to cream cheese," and although the textures might be similar, I think the flavors are actually quite different. Cream cheese is tangy and a little bit aggressive, while mascarpone is what thick, rich cream would taste like if it took a more solid form. It's decadent, which might explain part of the expense. But I discovered something amazing last year: it's actually quite easy to make your own mascarpone. Yes, really! All you need are cream, lemon juice, and some time, and you can make this gourmet cheese for half the cost of what it sells for. Here's the recipe I use, from one of my favorite baking blogs.
Once you have your trusty mascarpone, either purchased or homemade, I hope you'll use it to make these White Chocolate Mascarpone Truffles. They're a perfect showcase for the soft and subtle cheese. White chocolate is mild enough that it doesn't overwhelm the mascarpone, and the hint of orange zest in the truffles is the icing on the cake...or the chocolate on the truffle, if you will.
If you want to go a little more traditional with your mascarpone, you can't go wrong with Tiramisu Truffles. Tiramisu means "pick-me-up," and one bite of these truffles will certainly give you a lift! Traditional tiramisu uses mascarpone cheese in the dessert layers, and these truffles do likewise. They also have a heft dose of coffee, and can be optionally made with brandy to really give you a boost. The truffles are finished with a heavy dusting of cocoa powder, just like tiramisu itself.
Get the recipes:
White Chocolate Mascarpone Truffles
Tiramisu Truffles
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Truffle Photos ©2011 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.
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