Truffle Ornaments

1. Finely chop the chocolate, and place it along with the softened butter in a large heat-safe bowl.

2. Place the cream over medium-high heat and bring it to a simmer. There should be bubbles forming along the sides of the pan, but it shouldn’t come to a boil.

3. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and let it sit for a minute to soften and melt the chocolate. Gently whisk the cream and the chocolate together until the chocolate is melted and you have a glossy, smooth mixture. This is your ganache. Press cling wrap to the top of the ganache and refrigerate it until it is firm enough to scoop, about 2 hours.

4. Once it is firm enough to scoop and roll into balls, melt one color of the candy coating. Pour the cocoa powder into a shallow bowl and dust your palms with cocoa powder. Using a small candy scoop or a teaspoon, scoop up a small (1-inch) ball of ganache and roll it between your palms to get it round. Set the truffle on a baking sheet lined with foil or waxed paper, and repeat until all of the truffles are rolled. Dust your palms with more cocoa powder as necessary to prevent the ganache from getting too sticky.

5. After all the truffles are formed, take a miniature marshmallow and dip the bottom in the melted coating, then press it on top of a truffle--this will represent the top of the ornament. Repeat until all of the truffles are topped with marshmallows. Refrigerate the tray until the truffles are firm, about 30 minutes.

6. When the truffles are firm, melt all of the different colors of candy coating. Using forks or dipping tools, dip a truffle in the melted coating. Tap the fork against the edge of the bowl to remove excess coating, then replace the truffle on the baking sheet. If you want, you can sprinkle candies or sprinkles on the truffle while the coating is still wet. Or, you can let the coating set and then finish decorating them.

7. Here are a few other decorating ideas: dip the top half of the truffle in one color, let it set, then dip the bottom in a different color. You could also take a truffle that has been dipped in one color and dip just the marshmallow top in a different color. Once a truffle has set, you could draw designs on it with a different color of candy coating. Alternately, you could draw patterns or designs with a different color, then roll the truffle in sprinkles so that the sprinkles stick only to the wet coating.

8. Once all of the truffles are dipped and decorated, refrigerate them to set the coating completely, about 20 minutes. Store Ornament Truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. For best taste and texture, let them come to room temperature before serving them.