Her Modern Kitchen

Eating & Living in Austin, Texas

valentine's day

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Ganache Truffles

by

Homemade Chocolate Ganache Truffles are seriously the best — better than any Russell Stover’s box of mystery chocolates you might pick up at CVS and they’re ridiculously easy to make.

Ganache Truffles Close-up

Homemade Ganache Truffles are seriously the best — better than any Russell Stover’s box of mystery chocolates you might pick up at CVS. They’re also a fun treat to share with your VAL or GAL-entine. They’re a meaningful, homemade treat that are always a hit because seriously, how often do you come across HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE GANACHE TRUFFLES?

Answer: Never

You will be the champion of all things with homemade chocolate Ganache Truffles.

Ganache Truffles Gathered

Since chocolate is always better when paired with a bit of coffee (it helps bring out the chocolate flavor in the chocolate) I added a tablespoon of instant espresso powder while making the truffles. The result is a silky, chocolatey truffle with a hit of caffeine, making it a great mid-afternoon pick-me-up on Valentine’s Day or the sweetest ending to a homemade meal.

Ganache Truffles Bite faraway Ganache Truffles Bite

These treats also last a few weeks in your fridge, so the Chocolate Ganache Truffles are fun to box up in pretty packaging and share with your best of friends in celebration of Galentine’s Day.

Now, I get it, candy making seems intimidating but Ganache Truffles are as easy as pb&j, I promise you.

Melted Chocolate Spoon Ganache Truffles Dipped

It requires 4 basic ingredients, a bit of patience, and a willingness to get a little messy! Here’s how easy these are to make — 

  1. Make the ganache by melting the dark chocolate with heavy cream and espresso powder over a double boiler
  2. Chill for at least 2 hours until the ganache has hardened
  3. Scoop and roll into teaspoon sized balls (this is the messy part!)
  4. Freeze for another 1-2 hours
  5. Melt your white chocolate over a double boiler
  6. Dip the frozen truffles in the white chocolate, let excess drip off and !

BAM, you’re done!

Now grab your homemade bonbons, kick-up your feet and soak in that sweet Valentine’s Day love. You’re welcome.

Ganache Truffles Close-up

5.0 from 4 reviews
Valentine's Day Ganache Truffles
 
Save Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 48
Ingredients
  • 12 ounces dark chocolate chips
  • 6 ounces heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder or instant coffee
  • 10 ounces white chocolate (or colored chocolate of choice)
  • assorted sprinkles
  • mini cupcake liners, optional for serving
Instructions
  1. Create a double boiler by boiling a pot of water on the stove and placing a medium-sized mixing bowl on top of it
  2. Place the dark chocolate, heavy cream and espresso powder in the medium-sized bowl over the boiling water
  3. Stir continuously until the chocolate is fully melted and shiny
  4. Place the bowl of melted chocolate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours until the ganache has hardened fully (I refrigerated mine overnight(
  5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and using a melon baller, scoop out 1 teaspoon sized balls of ganache and roll into a perfect ball using the palms of your hands
  6. Place the ganache truffles back on the parchment lined baking sheet and repeat until you've rolled all of the ganache
  7. Freeze the ganache truffles for at least 2-hours
  8. Using the same double boiler method as above, melt your white or colored chocolate
  9. Once melted, place a single, frozen ganache truffle onto a skewer and dip it into the melted white chocolate, covering all of the ganache. Let any excess drip off, gently tapping the skewer on the side of the bowl to shake off extra as needed
  10. Using a fork, slide the dipped ganache truffle off of the skewer and place it back on the parchment to dry. Top with sprinkles for decoration and repeat until all truffles are coated. You may need to reheat the white chocolate if it becomes too thick to dip. Do this by microwaving the bowl for 10-15 seconds, stir, then return to dipping the truffles.
  11. For serving, using a small knife to trim off any excess chocolate around the truffles (this helps make them more round and looks a bit nicer)
  12. Place the trimmed truffles in mini cupcake liners
  13. Ganache truffles can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 days or kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

 

 

Valentine’s Day Wish List for Her

by

A wish list of last minute Valentine’s Day gift ideas for her. Even something small will show you were thinking of her.

Valentine's Day Wish List

 succulent planter //  y’all hat // kate spade clutch

oh darlin’ chocolates // marble platter // tassel necklace

Succulent Planter – skip the traditional flowers and grab this awesome succulent planter from 1800-Flowers for your Valentine! They’ll last months longer than the roses you thought of buying

Y’all Hat – this ya’ll hat is darling and created by an Austin local, Frankie Jean. Pick it up online or at a local shop like Hacienda or Parts & Labor

Kate Spade Clutch – in powder pink, this clutch is 100% classic  and the perfect grab-n-go bag for the girl who likes wants to carry the minimum

Oh Darlin’ Chocolates – get a treat that’s beautiful to look at and delicious to eat! This Texas-inspired box of chocolates by Maggie Louise Confections is the perfect way to say ‘I love you’. Order online or swing by their Austin based 6th street shop

Marble Platter – a little chic, a little rustic. This marble and wood platter is perfect for the lady who likes to entertain. Pair this with an Antonelli’s gift card and you’ll have the perfect gift

Tassel Necklace – this is a do-good tiny tassel necklace handmade by a women artist in Cambodia. It’s so sweet and so feminine. Choose a color she’ll adore to let her know you were thinking of her.

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? Do you have any last minute gift ideas?

 

 

Mocha Lotta Love Cakes with Chocolate Ganache Dip for Valentine’s Day

by

If Valentine’s Day were a food, it’d be these heart-shaped Mocha Lotta Love Cakes — decadent chocolate cake, espresso buttercream, and dark chocolate ganache.  Make these cakes, and you’re sure to score a sweetheart on Valentine’s Day.

Mocha Lotta Love Cakes Cake Stand

My Mocha Lotta Love Cakes were 100% inspired by these sweet I saw on Amazon and just couldn’t pass up! I’m just way too easy when it comes to holiday-themed baked goods and sometimes go overboard. (These heart-shaped weren’t’ my only Valentine’s Day holiday splurge. Fortunately for you, My Mocha Lotta Love Cakes can also be made as cupcakes in case you have more willpower than I do, I provide directions below!)

Mocha Lotta Love Cakes Overhead

The truth is, I don’t really care about Valentine’s Day. <3M and I skip this holiday since our anniversary is 2 weeks after this universal day of love. Though, that doesn’t mean I won’t accept a sweet Valentine’s Day gesture if he decides to get me something (hint, hint if you’re reading this <3M!).

Mocha Lotta Love Cakes Pinterest

I love any kind of chocolate and coffee flavored dessert. In fact, our wedding cake was this same combination of rich chocolate cake filled with silky espresso buttercream which inspired these love cakes! It’s simply so decadent and feels so indulgent. Perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Mocha Lotta Love Cakes Bite

I added to the cake’s chocolate decadence by ‘icing’ my Mocha Lotta Love Cakes with a rich, dark chocolate ganache. Ganache seems intimidating but it truly only 3 ingredients and continuous stirring. It’s like a magical frosting that’s hard to mess up and looks super fancy. My one recommendation here is to freeze the cakes before dipping. It will make them easier to handle and won’t break off in the ganache when you turn them upside down for a dunk in some chocolatey love.

Mocha Lotta Love Cakes pink Sprinkles

Mocha Lotta Love Cakes Drizzle

To finish off my Mocha Lotta Love Cakes, and to make them extra special, I loaded them with and a drizzle of white chocolate.

These impressive Mocha Lotta Love Cakes will be hard for your Valentine to pass up and are sure to score you some extra sweetheart lovin’. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Mocha Lotta Love Cakes Sprinkles

Mocha Lotta Love Cakes Clean overhead shot

5.0 from 4 reviews
Chocolate Cake
 
Save Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This is my go-to chocolate cake recipe. It never fails me, it's always delicious and ridiculously moist!
Author:
Serves: 18
Ingredients
  • Wilton Silicon Heart Molds or cupcake liners/tins
  • 1½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1½ cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup Dutch-processed cocoa, preferrable sifted
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • ¾ cup hot water
  • 2 tsp instant coffee granules
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350*F
  2. Grease the baking molds with shortening (or baker's spray) and lightly dust with cocoa powder* then set aside
  3. Place all of the dry ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, stir to combine.
  4. In a small bowl, warm the water then dissolve the coffee granules
  5. In a medium bowl whisk together the vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla
  6. Slowly, add the hot-coffee water to the rest of the wet ingredients temper the eggs**
  7. Once combined, add the wet ingredients to dry and mix on medium for 2-3 minutes to create a thin batter
  8. Fill the prepared heart molds to about ¾ full***
  9. Bake for 17 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean (or 13-15 minutes for cupcakes)
  10. Cool 10 minutes in the pans then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely
  11. Trim the cake bottoms and cut off any excess as needed to ensure they sit flat and maintain a heart shape (skip this step for cupcakes)
Notes
* If you're making cupcakes, simply line the cupcake tins with liners and set aside, no need to grease and dust with cocoa
** Adding the hot water too quickly will cook the eggs
*** If you only have one mold, you'll need to wash, grease/dust, and fill the molds an additional 2-3 times

5.0 from 4 reviews
Espresso Buttercream Filling
 
Save Print
Prep time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 2 cups
Ingredients
  • ½ cup shortening
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon meringue powder, optional
  • ¼ cup luke-warm water
  • 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4¼-1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
  • ¼ cup half and half
Instructions
  1. Dissolve the coffee granules in the water and set aside
  2. In a mixer, mix together the shortening, butter, and meringue powder (if using)
  3. Add in vanilla and coffee-water along with 2 cups of confectioner's sugar and mix to combine
  4. Gradually add more sugar, drizzling in the half and half until a soft, spreadable consistency is reached

5.0 from 4 reviews
Chocolate Ganache
 
Save Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 8 ounces dark chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon coffee granules
Instructions
  1. Pour all ingredients into a medium-sized saucepan
  2. Place the pan on the stove and melt the chocolate over low heat stirring continuously about 3-5 minutes
  3. When most of the lumps are melted, remove the chocolate from the heat and stir continuously until the ganache is smooth and shiny

5.0 from 4 reviews
Mocha Lotta Love Cae Assembly
 
Save Print
Prep time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 18
Ingredients
  • chocolate cake hearts or cupcakes
  • mocha frosting
  • chocolate ganache
  • 1 cup white chocolate, melted*
  • sprinkles
Instructions
  1. Place the frosting into a piping bag fitted with anicing filling tip (Wilton 230)
  2. Fill the hearts from the bottom by gently squeezing the frosting into the center, right and left rounded tops of the heart and tip of the heart. While holding the cake you should be able to tell when it becomes full**
  3. Place the filled hearts onto a parchment lined tray and freeze for up to 2 hours before dipping in ganache. You must freeze the cakes before dipping so they don't break off into the ganache when dipped
  4. With the warm ganache, dip the tops of the frozen heart cakes (or cupcakes) into the ganache. If needed, use an offset spatula, spread the ganache evenly across the top of the cake to create a smooth, flat layer and cleaning up the edges as needed
  5. Let the ganache set a few minutes before drizzling with white chocolate or adorning with sprinkles
  6. Serve immediately or keep at room temperature for 2-3 days
Notes
* Melt the white chocolate using the same method as creating the ganache (omitting heavy cream and coffee). Place all the white chocolate in a saucepan over low heat. Stir continuously until fully melted. Pour the melted chocolate into a piping bag and snip a bit of the tip off to easily drizzle onto the cakes.
** If using cupcakes, simply fill as you would normally and freeze the cupcakes for at least 2 hours before dipping the tops into the ganache

 

Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies

by

I’m a sucker for any holiday as it gives me an excuse to bake holiday-themed goodies. This year, I couldn’t help but be swept up by the mass of hearts, pink, and red that greeted me at Target earlier in the week, so of course, I quickly snatched up a set of heart cookie cutters with the intent of making some holiday themed cookies!

Lace Hearts

…

Read More »