American Heritage Chocolate with Lola Dweck
Lola’s Amaranth Alegrías with Chocolate Recipe
PREP TIME: 5 minutes COOK TIME: 15 minutes SERVINGS: 8
INGREDIENTS
6 ounces piloncillo (or dark brown sugar)
6 ounces water
3 ounces honey or agave
6 cups puffed amaranth
½ cup golden raisins
½ cup roasted, unsalted peanuts
½ cup pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
10 0.42-ounce AMERICAN HERITAGE® Dark Chocolate Tasting Squares, roughly chopped
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS
In a medium pot, boil water and piloncillo over medium heat. Using a wooden spoon, break down any chunks of piloncillo and continue to boil until completely dissolved, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in honey.
Add amaranth to a large bowl and using a spatula, mix in half of the syrup. In a small bowl, mix raisins, peanuts, pepitas, and ½ of the chopped chocolate. Incorporate half of this mixture into the amaranth and mix well. Mixture should be well-coated with syrup, but not gooey. You should be able to form small balls into your hands. If too dry, add more syrup.
Spread out mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and smooth using a spatula. Sprinkle remaining nut mixture and chopped chocolate over amaranth mixture and cover with a piece of parchment paper, then roll until completely smooth.
Cool completely before cutting and serving.
Lola’s Chocolate and Date Truffles with Festive Toppings Recipe
PREP TIME: 15 minutes COOK TIME: 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes +at least 4 hours of cooling time for mixture
NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 20 – 30 truffles
INGREDIENTS FOR TRUFFLES
5 cups pitted Medjool dates
2 oranges, juice and zest
1 teaspoon Mexican vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup AMERICAN HERITAGE® Finely Grated Baking Chocolate (dark)
INGREDIENTS FOR TOPPING
3 tablespoons AMERICAN HERITAGE® Finely Grated Baking Chocolate (dark)
3 tablespoons shredded coconut
3 tablespoons ground pistachios
3 tablespoons powdered freeze-dried raspberries or strawberries
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS
In a high-power blender or food processor, blend dates, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla extract, and kosher salt until creamy and smooth.
For melted chocolate, place 1 cup of AMERICAN HERITAGE® Finely Grated Baking Chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Set over a pot of gently simmering water over medium heat and stir with a rubber spatula until melted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add melted chocolate to the date mixture and mix well.
Cover and cool in the refrigerator for a minimum of four hours, or overnight.
Once completely cool, roll into small 1½-inch balls and set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If the mixture sticks to the palm of your hands or the balls do not come out smooth when rolling between your palms, the mixture needs additional time to cool.
When ready to enjoy or gift, roll each ball in your favorite topping until well coated. These make tasty edible gifts for friends and family during the holidays and throughout the year.
Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
