Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cups

This recipe makes approximately one large pie, 12 tartlets or 40 miniature chocolate cups.



Ingredients & Special Tools:

For pie or tartlets you will need:

• your favourite pastry or cookie crumb crust - pre-baked as the filling does not get cooked.

For miniature chocolate cups you will need:

• a candy mould (I use a cup-shaped mould, 4 cm in diameter across the top and 3 cm deep)
  
• 250 g fine dark chocolate
  
• an icing brush (or other fine art brush - which has not been used in paint or other noxious chemicals!)

For the filling you will need:

• 250 g fine dark chocolate
  
• 2 egg yolks
  
• a favourite liqueur (I use a wonderful raspberry liqueur called "Chambord")
  
• 300 ml whipping cream, whipped

For the garnish you will need:

• 150 ml whipping cream
  
• 2 tsp sugar
  
• a favourite liqueur
  
• grated chocolate
  
• whole raspberries

Directions:

1a. If you are making a pie or tartlets, prepare your favourite pastry or cookie crumb crust and bake it. (Or, if you are strapped for time, you can cheat and purchase ready-made pie or tartlet crusts which just need to be baked.)

1b. If you are making miniature chocolate cups you will need some time, but these are beautiful and well worth the effort!

- melt the chocolate (gently! chocolate can burn)
- pour the melted chocolate into the candy moulds, filling each cup approximately 1/3
- paint the chocolate up the sides of the mould, coating all surfaces evenly
- refrigerate until set (approximately 20 minutes)
- gently pop the chocolate cups out of the moulds and place upright on a tray or serving platter

2. To make the filling:

- melt the chocolate - gently!
- beat in the egg yolks and liqueur (approximately 1 tablespoon of liqueur - but it doesn't hurt to be a little more generous if you like)
- fold in the whipped cream
- spoon filling into prepared pie shell, tartlet shells or chocolate cups
- refrigerate until set

3. To garnish:

- whip the cream with the sugar and liqueur
- top the pie or each tart/cup with whipped cream
- sprinkle grated chocolate on top
- top with raspberries (1 each for tartlets or miniature cups, make a ring or some other pretty design if making one large pie)

4. Invite some friends over and enjoy!