Little Holiday Cooks | A chocolate surprise

Do the children want to participate in the preparations for the Holidays? Every week until Christmas, we offer you a simple and festive recipe that they can cook with the help of their favorite sous-chef. Today: crispy chocolate truffles.

Does your child want to offer a gourmet gift to a loved one? Karine Desserre-Pezé has the recipe she needs: crispy chocolate truffles. Small bites that are easy and fun to prepare, says the founder of the company C’est moi le chef!, which has been offering cooking workshops designed for young people since 2017.

“Children love to shape things. […] I think it’s a recipe that they will really like,” says Karine Desserre-Pezé. Playing with chocolate dough rather than modeling clay? We know few girls and boys who would say no to that.

But if your child doesn’t want to roll the dough into a ball shape, know that the recipe can also be served as a spread to spread on bread or pancakes, for example.

“We really have a vision that little chefs are able to cook like grown-ups,” explains Karine Desserre-Pezé, about the online workshops offered by her company.

Lasting about an hour, these live meetings take place in small groups. “We personally accompany each of the children throughout the preparation of the recipes. On our screen, we see each child precisely and we are able to interact with him and answer his questions,” explains the founder of C’est moi le chef!.

“We have a deep conviction that children can and should learn to cook from an early age,” she adds, confiding that the youngest participant was only 2 years old.

I am the chef ! offers online workshops on the theme of the holiday season until January 8. Free workshops are also planned at Le Central, in Montreal, on Sundays, December 4, 11 and 18, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Crispy chocolate truffles

Yield: 12 truffles

Store in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup chocolate chips (milk or dark)
• 1/2 cup almond and/or hazelnut butter (or sunflower seeds or chestnut cream, in case of allergies)
• 1/4 cup icing sugar
• 1/8 cup of milk
• 1 C. liquid vanilla extract
• 1 dozen whole hazelnuts
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds or unsweetened shredded coconut (or more, if needed)

Preparation

• 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and milk. Heat for 30 seconds until the chocolate chips melt.
• 2. Add the sugar and liquid vanilla extract. Mix well.
• 3. Add the almond and/or hazelnut butter. Mix well and set aside.
• 4. Add the flaked almonds or grated coconut to the pan and toast, turning often.
• 5. As soon as they are grilled, pour them into a bowl.
• 6. Crush the slivered almonds with the bottom of a glass.
• 7. With damp hands, take some chocolate paste. Insert a hazelnut and form a ball. Roll the ball in slivered almonds or grated coconut.
• 8. Repeat until there is no more dough.
• 9. Put the truffles in the fridge to harden.