Irish Cream Truffles

March 16, 2018 No Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

A sweet treat with an Irish twist? These Irish Cream Truffles are easy to make and a tasty way to finish off a big St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Irish Cream Semi-Sweet Chocolate Truffles

While I chose to go the semi-sweet chocolate route these truffles would be equally tasty with a white chocolate. You can make these adults-only treats using Irish Cream liquor or use Irish Cream coffee creamer instead to make friendly to those who do not drink. I chose to dip these treats in chocolate, but you could also roll in cocoa powder or sprinkles.

Ingredients:

2 Bags of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter
1/3 cup Irish Cream Liquor (or creamer)
Sprinkles (optional)

Directions:

Put one bag of chocolate chips into a heatproof bowl.
Slowly bring cream to boil (be careful not to scald) and mix in Irish Cream.
Pour the hot liquid over the chocolate chips and stir until smooth. If the mixture is not entirely melted, then you’ll want to slowly heat the mixture in the microwave in 15-second increments.
Mix in the coconut oil (or butter) until mixture is smooth and shiny.
Pour the mixture into a shallow 9×9 pan or dish and put in the fridge to firm up for approximately 1 hour.
Once firm, use a spoon to scoop out small quarter size balls of the truffle mixture. Roll into a ball using the palms of your hands. Note: you’ll get sooooooo messy! Try putting a bit of cocoa powder on your palms to help the process work a tad better. Set the completed balls of truffle mixture on a parchment paper covered plate and then set in fridge to firm while you melt your chocolate for dipping. If you are choosing to roll in sprinkles or cocoa powder instead of dipping, you can do so now.
Melt your chocolate slowly in the microwave or over a double boiler so that it does not burn and coats nicely. I tend to put in a tablespoon of coconut or vegetable oil to get it a better consistency.
Dip your truffle balls into the mixture and set on a sheet of parchment paper to firm. Top with sprinkles for fun!

This dessert is a classic candy with an Irish twist. What is your favorite dessert to enjoy on St. Patty’s Day? Comment below!

Freebies

Free St. Patrick’s Day Printables

March 13, 2017 No Comments Freebies

St. Patrick’s Day is coming soon! Each year my friends and I celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by heading out to a dinner at our local Mexican restaurant. We then try to visit a great Irish restaurant on Cinco De Mayo. However, this year, I worked on a fun St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Party with tasty Irish-inspired dishes, shamrocks, and chocolate golden coins.

See the printables in action in my recent spot on KATU’s Afternoon Live.

For this St. Patty’s Day Dinner Party I chose to go with a classic black and white stripe combined with clovers in green and white. An Irish Proverb is placed on my place settings. The large place setting printable could also be used to hang from the ceiling or place on the front door. The party circles are simply glued onto my straws for this party, but they can also be used for confetti! Type out your own menu on the free printable menu download before printing.

Check back later this week for some of my favorite recipes for a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Party!

Click the images below to get your free party printables. My free printables are for personal use only.

A Well Crafted Pantry

Irish Whiskey Cocktail with Honey Clove Syrup & Savory Cocktails Review

March 17, 2014 4 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

How are you celebrating today? Are you kissing someone Irish, wearing green, or enjoying a tasty dish of Bangers & Mash? I’ll be celebrating by whipping up a cocktail with an Irish twist!

This past winter I was sent the book Savory Cocktails by Greg Henry (affiliate link) for review. I’ve been making my way through the book getting creative with drinks such as a Perfect Martini and Salad Bowl Gin & Tonic. Enjoying the tart and refreshing combinations of herbs and liquor. As I was working on creating a cocktail in honor of St. Patrick’s Day I wanted to find something that would pair well with Irish Whiskey, so I picked up the Savory Cocktail book looking for ideas.

While I can drink a bourbon with just ice, for me Irish Whiskey has a bit more of a bite to it and I wanted something that would smooth out the flavor while keeping its notes of honey and citrus. (Not all Irish Whiskeys are the same… so, I may still discover something I can drink sans mixers.) That is when I stumbled upon Henry’s recipe for Clove-Infused Honey Syrup… the combination is PERFECT. It is smoky, rich, smooth, and sweet.

How to make an Old Irish Cocktail:

Ingredients:

1 oz Clove-Infused Honey Syrup
2 oz Irish Whiskey
Freshly Squeezed Juice of 1 Orange
1 orange slice for garnish

Directions:

Combine all ingredients over ice in a rocks glass (I love my large ice cube mold for my whiskey drinks— the larger ice cubes don’t melt as fast or water down my cocktails as quickly.)
Garnish with orange slice
Sláinte!

How to Make Clove Infused Honey Syrup

Recipe from Savory Cocktails by Greg Henry shared with permission

2 tbsp whole cloves
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup honey

“Place the cloves in a small, nonreactive container and lightly crush them with a wooden muddler. Add the warm water and honey; stir to combine, then cover and set at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. Taste the syrup; add more honey if you feel it is too strong.

When your syrup has the taste you want, pour it through a wire-mesh sieve lined with a double layer of damp cheesecloth; discard the solids. Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Makes about 1 cup.”

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of “Savory Cocktails” for purposes of review. All thoughts and opinions above are my own. I’ve also included affiliate links in this post. Items purchased from affiliate links help this blogger earn a small percentage of the sale. Thank you for supporting this blog.