Red Wine Truffles with Dried Cherries

I was trying to come up with a new truffle recipe this week and I remembered how much my grandmother Dolores loves Champagne Truffles.  I always send her a box every Christmas along with other sweet treats.  Last year, I actually made them for her 90th birthday celebration. This year, I thought I would create a truffle inspired by her. She's the one who taught me how to make delicious Filipino desserts and I'd like to think I inherited her passion for cooking and baking.  So Lola Do, if you're reading this, I dedicate this truffle to you :-)


Lola Do at her 90th birthday party, holding up a favor box filled with Champagne truffles

My grandma loves drinking red wine everyday.  I still remember the big green jug of Spanada my dad would buy for her, sometimes by the case.  I'm sure she enjoys other red wines but that seems to be her favorite. She would have a glass along with her meal or wait till bedtime to enjoy as a nightcap.  That must be her secret for living such a long and fruitful life.



Another one of my grandma's favorites is chocolate.  Ah, now wine and chocolate, what could be a better pairing than that? So that's why I decided to combine her two favorites and create a truffle in honor of her. These truffles are made with a luscious filling of red wine and chocolate with a little bit of butter and honey.  I coated them with a shell of bittersweet chocolate and then topped them with chopped dried cherries.  I think the tartness of the dried cherries really compliment the red wine and bittersweet chocolate.  Oh I can't wait to send these to her!



Red Wine Truffles with Dried Cherries
Makes about 40 truffles 
Allergy Note: contains dairy ingredients*

filling:
3 1/4 cups bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips*(I use Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips)
1 cup red wine
1/4 cup butter*
1/4 cup honey

coating:
2 cups bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips*(I use Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips)
4 teaspoons shortening

topping:
1 cup dried cherries, chopped into small pieces

*For a dairy-free alternative for chocolate chips, you can use Enjoy Life brand or Chocolate Dream brand. For a dairy-free alternative for butter, you can use an allowed margarine or buttery spread. You can also use Spectrum Naturals organic shortening.

For the truffle filling: place chocolate chips in a large bowl and set aside. On low heat, melt together red wine, butter and honey in a saucepan. Pour over chocolate chips and stir until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until the mixture is slightly firm.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper. Measure out about 1 tablespoon of the truffle filling, roll them and drop them onto the cookie sheet. Freeze them for 15 to 20 and then roll them into balls. Freeze them again for 10 to 15 minutes more or until firm.

For the coating: Melt chocolate chips and shortening  in a double boiler; stir until smooth. Place the cookie sheet with rolled truffle filling on one side and the bowl of coating chocolate in front of you. Line another cookie sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper and place a bowl of chopped dried cherries on the other side.  Drop the truffles into the chocolate coating one at a time, quickly coat them and remove with a fork. Gently shake off any extra chocolate and place the truffle onto the empty cookie sheet. Sprinkle with chopped dried cherries on top. Repeat till all the truffles are coated with chocolate and topped with dried cherries.  Wait for coating to be firm before transferring into candy boxes or an airtight container.

You can store the truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Please note: I am not a paid endorser nor did I accept any freebies of the brands or products mentioned in this post.  I just love them and wanted to share them with you :-)