Baileys Chocolate Truffles

Why fork out an obscene amount of money for chocolate truffles when you can make your own in a snap?

I'm talking uber premium stuff here. The finest quality Valhorna chocolate and cocoa, fresh cream and pure butter. The cost of ingredients will probably cost you around $12 for 30 regular sized pieces. That's $0.40 cents a pop for pure chocolate heaven.

Makes 30 pieces:

• 170g fine quality chocolate (60% cacao or more)
• 2/3 cup cream
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 4-5 tablespoons Baileys liqeuer

Place a metal bowl over lightly simmering water and melt chocolate and cream. Whem melted, remove from heat and stir in butter and Baileys (or any other liqueur or flavouring you prefer). Pour into moulds and place in refrigerator to set for 2 hours.

Speciality baking supplies stores like Phoon Huat have special moulds in all shapes and sizes if you're really into chocolate making. But for the occasional chocolatier who can't bother with moulds, just pour the chocolate into a square tin lined with cling wrap. Once it's set, pull the cling wrap up to remove chocolate from the tin and cut it into squares with a knife warmed in hot water ala Royce style.

When the truffles have set, pick each up up with a toothpick, roll in cocoa powder and voila! Truffle heaven.