• Pour heavy whipping cream into small saucepan with a pinch of salt; bring to a soft boil, stirring often to make sure cream does not scald. Remove from heat
• Add chocolate to the hot cream. Allow chocolate to sit submerged in cream for 1 minute. Whisk until thoroughly mixed. Pour ganache into bowl and allow to cool.
• Refrigerate for 2 - 3 hours, but best to let refrigerate overnight. Using a regular teaspoon and your hands, quickly form ganache into a 1" ball. Immediately coat truffle with coating and place on a baking sheet.

Adding Flavoring

• This recipe can adapted to add your favorite flavor! After ganache cools but before refrigeration, add flavoring to ganache.
• You can add your favorite liqueur, instant espresso powder or your favorite spices. Spices can either be finely chopped and added to the cool ganache before refrigerating or spices can be steeped in the hot cream to flavor it—strain the cream and reheat before adding chocolate.
• If using a liquid flavoring, use a larger amount of chocolate in the ganache recipe. Other favorites for flavoring: Lemon or orange zest, flavored brandy or rum.

Coatings

• Nuts—Use your favorite nuts to coat the truffle (ex. hazelnuts, pistachios). To prepare the nuts, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread nuts evenly on baking sheet and toast in oven for 6 minutes. Remove from oven and hot baking sheet; let cool. Finely chop toasted nuts and pour into a shallow bowl. Immediately upon forming the truffle, roll truffle in nuts, coating thoroughly, and place on baking sheet. Replace in refrigerator to firm, about 1 hour.
• Chocolate—Melt 10 oz of good quality chocolate (semisweet or milk chocolate) in the microwave for about 1 minute. Stir chocolate to melt completely. Continue to melt in microwave, 30 seconds at a time, until completely melted. Drop formed truffle into melted chocolate and make sure it is covered on all sides. Lift truffle out of melted chocolate with a fork and place on baking sheet. Replace in refrigerator to firm, about 1 hour.
• Cookie toppings—Use your favorite cookie sprinkle toppings either to coat the truffle, similar to the technique used to coat with nuts, or you can sprinkle the toppings on the chocolate used to coat the truffle
• Other coating ideas: crushed peppermints; crushed pretzels; toasted coconut; mini chocolate chips
• Storage: Store in an airtight container in refrigerator. Let sit for 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.