When the festive season begins we find ourselves overwhelmed trying to find the perfect gift for everyone. However, there is no need for that. Homemade sweets are now a popular way to show gratitude to our beloved ones. After all, what better way to spread the Christmas spirit than gifting some decadent truffles rolled with your own hands?
Here is a delicate truffles recipe with Martino Couscous for the next gifting season. But, be aware: this is an activity for the whole family to enjoy. Bring the Martino Couscous, the ricotta cheese and the cocoa powder on one table and the wrapping papers and ribbons on another and get ready to play! Your family will love those sweet treats and your kids will enjoy wrapping them beautifully. And don’t be afraid to indulge in a couple more truffles this year: this recipe with couscous is not only lighter but also much healthier than the store-bought alternatives.
Recipe by Sara Bonaccorsi
Here is how to prepare the Christmas truffles with Martino Couscous
Servings: 8-10 Truffles
Preparation: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 100 grams of Martino Couscous
- 100ml of whole milk
- 1 ½ tablespoon of granulated sugar
- 80 grams of ricotta cheese
- 25 grams of bitter cocoa powder
- 25 grams of cocoa flour + for the truffles
- 50 grams of candied fruits
- 50 grams of raisins preserved in brandy
Directions:
Hydrate the couscous:
In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, add 100 ml of whole milk and 1 ½ tablespoon of granulated sugar. Bring everything to a simmer.
When ready, sprinkle evenly 100 grams of Martino Couscous and remove the saucepan from the heat. Let the couscous sit for 4-5 minutes with a lid on top until the milk is completely absorbed.
When the couscous is well hydrated, fluff with the help of a fork. This will remove any lumps and separate the delicate grains without crushing them to give the couscous a light, fluffy texture.
Prepare the truffles mixture:
Pour the couscous in a big mixing bowl and add 80 grams of ricotta cheese. Add 25 grams of bitter cocoa powder, 25 grams of cocoa flour, 50 grams of candied fruits and 50 grams of raisins preserved in brandy.
Mix gently with a wooden spoon between adding ingredients to make sure everything is well combined.
Shape the truffles:
Now you are ready to shape these exquisite little treats. Roll the couscous dough into small balls with your hands and place them one by one in the plate or a flat serving dish.
A good rule of thumb to make the rolling of the truffles easier is to rinse your hands in cold water to ensure you have cool palms. Also, if the mixture is getting too soft put it in the fridge or freezer and let it firm up before continuing.
Serving:
Before you proceed, mix a small amount of bitter cocoa powder with cocoa flour in a small bowl. Take the truffles one by one and roll them into the cocoa mix until all sides are well covered. Place them inside small paper cupcake cases. The Martino Couscous Christmas truffles are ready to serve or wrap!
Variations:
You can take your truffles to the next level by adding 1 tablespoon of dark rum in the mixture.
If you are in the mood for some experimentation you can add different kinds of dried fruits, or experiment with different extracts such as vanilla, mint, orange or almond. Anything that will awaken your taste buds.
There you go. Not only you have one less thing to stress about in the next festive season, not only you get to engage your kids in a creative activity, but you also get some pretty appetizing sweet treats! These couscous truffles are so tasty and yet way healthier and lighter than anything you will find on a store.
Try this easy recipe and don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter to receive all the delicious Martino’s couscous recipes directly in your inbox!
One of the reasons we love these Martino Couscous Truffles is that besides cocoa powder you can practically dust them with anything you prefer. Try for example dusting or rolling them in dried coconut flakes or finely ground nuts. If you are preparing them as gifts, combining different toppings will surprise everyone.
Discover now all our tasty recipes to prepare couscous in many original ways
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