White Chocolate Truffles

Delicious vanilla-flavored white chocolate truffles are a favorite with any chocolate lover, and these are easy enough for a 6- to 10-year-old to try. When you make them yourself, you don't have to save them up as a special treat; give them as a little present when a friend needs cheering up, or as a New Year's treat for all.

What You Need:

5 oz white chocolate

3¼ oz unsalted butter

Double boiler, or heatproof bowl and saucepan (the bowl on top)

Wooden spoon

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 egg yolks, lightly beaten

Mixing bowl

Whisk

Pastry board

Plastic wrap

Dessert spoon

1½ oz powdered sugar

Nonstick baking paper

Scissors

Tissue paper

Gift box

What You Do:

• Roughly break up the chocolate. Cut the butter into small pieces. Slowly melt the chocolate and butter pieces in the double boiler or in the bowl on top of the saucepan filled with a little hot water. (An adult should be on hand to supervise.) Stir with the wooden spoon.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
• Tip the egg yolks into a mixing bowl. Gradually whisk the warm chocolate mixture into the eggs. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for about 8 hours, to firm.
• Place the chocolate mixture on a pastry board. Scoop up some of the mixture with the dessert spoon and roll between your palms into a ball. Repeat until you have used up the chocolate mixture.
• Sprinkle the powdered sugar over a plate. Then roll the balls in the sugar and set on a sheet of baking paper.
• Cut pieces of tissue paper and baking paper just large enough to line the gift box. Cut the edges in a zig-zag shape. Place first the tissue paper, then the baking paper in the box. Fill the box with the truffles.