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Very Tipsy Truffles for National Chocolate Week





Welcome to the fourth post in my Food In Fiction Series and some very tipsy truffles for National Chocolate Week.


I have noticed more and more the tie-in between food and fiction. As foodies, I am sure you love when food takes centre stage in a novel and when the author kindly includes some recipes, well that is just an added bonus.

The fourth title in my series is Wedding Tiers by Trisha Ashley.

I have long loved Trisha's books and there isn't one I have missed yet. I saved the latest two titles for going on holiday to Cyprus. This time my suitcase wasn't so heavy with books as I loaded my kindle up, so more room for new shoes, but that is another story.

There is a strong element of food running through Trisha's book and indeed some of her characters are foodies themselves, which leads me to suspect Trisha is a bit of a foodie too.

Several of Trisha's books are set in the neighbouring villages of Neatslake and Sticklepond in Lancashire and we often get to revisit some of the characters which is lovely and leads to a bit of anticipation when you start a new book.



Wedding Tiers by Trisha Ashley



Wedding Tiers is set in Neatslake and revolves around Josie Gray, who has moved into her late grandmother's cottage with her childhood sweetheart Ben.

On the surface their life is idyllic and they live the rural dream. Josie is as self-sufficient as she can be, growing her own fruit and veg, keeping hens and making ale and wine, while her boyfriend 'The Artist' works in his studio in between his ever increasing visits to London.

The wedding tiers of the title aludes to Josie's wedding cake business, where she makes weird and wonderful cakes for brides-to-be. Josie is sad that her boyfriend Ben has always been so against marriage, so she hasn't had a chance to be a bride herself, but as her childhood friend Lizzie arrives back in the village and starts planning for her own wedding, Josie gets caught up in the fun and soon the pair are setting up their own wedding business. As the story progresses secrets begin to immerge and Josie finds out why 'The Artist' is so against marrying her and having children. It looks as if Josie will only go up the aisle as a bridesmaid and bake cakes for other brides.

The story is full of baking, cooking, preserving and brewing, with a lovely dip into village life and all it's weird and wonderful characters. A treat for any foodie and an inspiration for anyone who would like to be a little more self-sufficient.

And now for the tipsy truffles, which feature in the book.





print recipe

Very Tipsy Truffles
These tipsy truffles come from the novel Wedding Tiers by Trisha Ashley.
Ingredients
  • 100g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
  • 3 tbsp toffee vodka (or alcohol of your choice)
  • 50g butter
  • 75g icing sugar
  • 75g ground almonds
  • enough cocoa powder to coat the truffles
Instructions
1. Melt chocolate in a bain marie (bowl over simmering water). Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water, as this would spoil the chocolate. You could also melt the chocolate at a low setting in a microwave.2. Stir in the butter until melted, then add the alcohol, almonds and icing sugar. Mix until well combined and smooth.3. Once cool, roll into balls and roll each ball in cocoa powder.4. Store the truffles in a container between layers of greaseproof paper. These will keep in a cool, dark place for up to a month.Notes: I made 14 truffles, but how many you make will depend on the size.

Details
Total time:
Yield: Make 14 truffles






Disclosure: I bought my own copy of Wedding Tiers and did not receive any payment or goods for this post. Trisha Ashley gave me permission to reproduce the recipe. The original recipe was in ounces, I changed it to metric.

45 comments

  1. Oh gosh why is everyone posting such delicious recipes which I have the ingredients for but which I'm too unwell to make. I have made truffles once but I cannot remember when and these look particularly good. I think that I would add Ameretto as this would be great with the almonds.

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  2. Mmm, now I need to try toffee vodka Jacqueline.

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    1. It's very nice Val. My friend Andrew bought it for me :)

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  3. I feel tipsy just looking at them! LOL! LOVELY post and as an avid reader of books and as an avid cook, I LIKE the connection! Karen

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    1. You could almost get tipsy looking at them Karen, haha. Quite a lot of alcohol.

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  4. ooh they look so good Jac, were you scoffing them while making new dresses from your curtains?

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    1. Hehe, of course and singing at the same time in harmony with Cooper.

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  5. wow they sound decadent - never heard of toffee vodka but I like the sound of it. And I think I would enjoy this book - love a peek at village life

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    1. The book is brilliant Johanna, you must have a read of it. The truffles I liked with the toffee vodka, but I think I will try them with rum next time. They will taste completely different. Oh and bet they would be good with baileys.

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  6. They look great, and toffee vodka sounds like a lot of fun!

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  7. That sound like a brilliant book! thanks for this review!
    Those boozy dark chocolate truffels look amazing, tasty & pretty too!!

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  8. I have totally missed out on Chocolate Week this year (I think my Slimming World consultant will be the only person who is happy to hear that!)
    Those truffles look perfectly scoffable, laying on the couch on a rainy sunday afternoon with a good book in hand. A girl can dream ;0)

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  9. Just mede them!! They look so delicious!! Hope my friends will enjoy them tonight!
    Happy Sunday

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    1. I forgot to tell you that, on my blog, I link to your post!
      Hope you don't mind :-)

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  10. I really like Trisha Ashley - I haven't read them all yet :-)

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    1. They are good. I look forward to another coming out. This one is particularly good as there is so much food in it :)

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  11. The vodka alone sounds good! I am off to see if I can find the ebook :)

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  12. Ooh, I like the sound of truffles using ground almonds Jac and they look decadently delicious too. The book sounds fun too BUT I never get time to read these days - sometimes I dream wistfully of those pre blog days!

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    1. You must take some time to read Choclette and not just blogs :)

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  13. Not heard of this author, but if her books are as good as those truffles look - then I must get downloading to my kindle!

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  14. I may have to make these with rum (perhaps Sailor Jerrys? Any excuse to buy some Sailor Jerrys!) for Christmas presents. Although they may not last until Christmas. And the rum may not last long enough to go into the truffles.

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  15. Truffles with vodka recipe sounds very good! I love chocolate and vodka is my favourite spirit (well use to be pre children ERA). I like books that include recipes!!

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    1. Me too Rita, a story with recipes added has to be my favourite kind of book :)

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  16. I love a good chocolate truffle enhanced with a little bit/alot of alcohol! I wish I could also read more but somehow life just gets in the way!

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  18. Dear Jacqueline, These are a delicious treat. Blessings, Catherine
    I am knew to your delicious blog.
    Blessings, Catherine

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    1. Thanks Catherine, I hope you become a regular visitor :)

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  20. How sad that she can only make wedding cakes for others! Your presentation makes me want to read the book to find out what happens and what's the secret. Lovely post and great truffles. I wish we also had National Chocolate Week (actually, a whole month would be even better). Thank you so much for contributing to Novel Food!

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    1. You should read the book Simona, it is a great one for foodies and a lovely comforting read too :)

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  21. Enticing-sounding book. Just like the truffles -- enticing! :-)

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  22. These chocolates look lovely and now I'm eager to check out that book! Glad you joined Novel Food this round. :)

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  24. hi, I tried the recipe but i got one problem, after i mix everything the butter starts to separate to the mixture :'( , what do you think i did wrong? Thank you.

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    1. I'm not quite sure what went wrong for you. The recipe worked for me. Did you measure everything carefully?

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x