White Russian Truffles

Christmas Candy Making Installment No. 4:  The White Russian Truffle – AKA The Caucasian Truffle. These truffles are a gift for some of my closest friends, friends I don’t see often enough.  Friends with whom I have watched The Big Lebowski with 428 times or so.  There is a reason Caucasians are The Dude’s cocktail of choice, they are delicious.   I toyed with the idea of rolling them in powdered coffee creamer, if you are a fan of the movie, you know why, but I thought almonds a little more palatable, and prettier.

Appleton, Ginger and Lime Truffles

Welcome to the third installment of Christmas Candy Making – Classic Chocolate Truffles with a Caymanian twist.  There is enough rum in these little candies to warm your chest and flush your cheeks.  The fresh ginger provides a little heat and the lime brightens the whole thing.  These are not hard to make.  So, go, make them!

Salted Caramels

Step two in the candy making adventure: Salted Caramels.  These require a little more care and a few tools but trust me, they are worth it.  I think that these just may be the best caramels I have ever had.  Soft, creamy, salty, sweet, fragrant.  They can be dipped in chocolate but they really don’t need it.  Save the chocolate for something else.

Chocolate-Covered Toffee with Roasted, Salted Pumpkin Seeds

This is the first in a series of several candies that I am making for the holidays.  Some will go to friends, some will be in bowls around the house, some will be thank you presents and hostess gifts. It has been a while since I have made candy, a few years at least.  Candy can be difficult.  Sugar gets very hot, chocolate burns easily.  There are all kinds of temperatures and stages to remember.  So I am starting out easy, just getting my feet wet.

Say hello to toffee.  You don’t really need a candy thermometer to get this one right and although tempered chocolate results in a professional sheen and delicate snap when bitten into, simply melting some good quality chocolate will do just fine.  Pumpkin seeds are a nod to the season, feel free to substitute any toasted nut.