Chocolate Pralines

Here is a recipe to create delicious chocolate pralines. These little treats are perfect as a gift or to end a meal with something sweet. There are various versions of pralines, but here I offer you a basic recipe that you can then personalize according to your taste.

Ingredients

• 200g of high-quality dark chocolate
• 100g of high-quality milk chocolate
• 50g of butter
• 100ml of fresh liquid cream
• 2 tablespoons of liquor of your choice (optional, for example rum, Grand Marnier, or Cointreau)
• Cocoa powder, chopped hazelnuts, pistachio grains, shredded coconut or others for decoration

Preparation

1. First of all, roughly chop the chocolates and transfer them into a heat-resistant bowl.
2. In a small saucepan, bring the cream almost to a boil. As soon as it starts to sizzle around the edges, pour it over the chocolate. Let it rest for a moment so that the heat spreads and begins to stir until you get a smooth and homogeneous ganache.
3. Add the butter in pieces and continue stirring until it has completely melted into the ganache. At this point, if you wish, you can add the chosen liquor.
4. Cover the ganache with cling film in contact and let it cool to room temperature until it sets to the right point (it may take a couple of hours or, if it’s very hot, put it in the fridge for a few minutes).
5. When the ganache is solid yet still moldable, use a teaspoon or an ice cream scoop to form small balls. If the mixture sticks too much to your hands, run them under cold water and dry them before proceeding.
6. Roll each ball in your chosen ingredient for decoration (cocoa, hazelnuts, pistachios, etc.) until completely covered.
7. Place the pralines on a plate or tray lined with parchment paper and let them harden in the fridge for at least one hour before serving.

Trivia

Chocolate pralines are a classic of the fin de siècle pastry. Their name comes from the Marquis of Plessis-Praslin, for whom they were invented in the seventeenth century. Initially, they were almonds covered in caramelized sugar, but over time the recipe has evolved to include chocolate. Today, they are one of the most appreciated gifts among chocolate lovers and exist in an endless variety of variants and flavors.