Chew on This | Coconut Truffles

❤ Will you be my V-a-l-e-n-t-i-n-e? ❤

If you will, you surely know, how happy I will be. 

Sugar, spice and all things nice, that's what you are to me.

❤ Will you be my V-a-l-e-n-t-i-n-e? ❤

Valentine's Day was so sweet in elementary school. We excitedly decorated shoe 'mail' boxes with red and pink construction paper, cut out hearts and lacy paper doilies. We would cut a mail slot into the box top and finish decorating with lots of glue and glitter.  All of this done in preparation for our classmates to stuff our shoe box full of painstakingly printed cards of love. And a secret admirer slipping in a box of Red Hots. 

Precious.

How about this year you surprise someone you admire with these Coconut Truffles. They'll blush, you'll swoon. Guaranteed.

Happy Valentine's Day!

❤ Cares

Here's the recipe:

Coconut Truffles

3 C shredded coconut

1/2 C finely crushed graham crackers

3/4 C sweetened condensed milk

1/2 C powdered sugar

In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Truffle batter should be sticky. 

Using a spoon, scoop up about a tablespoon of batter and roll into a ball. Place rolled truffles onto a cookie sheet and place sheet into the refrigerator to chill truffles for at least one hour.

When ready, dip chilled truffles into warm ganache, top with a toasted pecan, chill truffles once more, to set chocolate and enjoy!

Ganache 

2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 C heavy cream

In a microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and cream. Microwave on half power for 30 seconds - stir. Continue to cook in the microwave in 30 second intervals, on half power, until the ganache is smooth and warm, not hot.

Dip your cold coconut truffles into the ganache and coat completely. Place chocolate coated truffles onto your cookie sheet and top with a toasted pecan, if desired. Once all of your truffles are coated, return cookie sheet to the refrigerator to chill truffles and set the chocolate.

Toasted Pecans

1 C whole pecans

1 t salt

2 t granulated sugar

1 1/2 T butter

Preheat oven to 350℉.

First, prepare your salty pecans. Place pecans in a microwave safe bowl along with your salt, sugar and butter. Microwave on high for 20-30 seconds or until butter is melted. Stir pecans to coat completely. Pour pecans onto a cookie sheet and place into your preheated oven for approximately 10 minutes. Remove pecans from the oven and allow to cool before use.