Make Fairtrade Chocolate Truffles

One of the most welcomed of homemade holiday gifts –be it Valentine’s Day, Christmas, New Years, or Hanukkah– is a box of homemade chocolate truffles. Making the chocolates using organic Fair Trade certified chocolate and a whole food sugar raises the value even more as you bestow your thoughtful, care giving gift on those you love.

Why Fair Trade? The Fairtrade Labelling Organization notes that Fairtrade is a partnership between consumers and producers. It helps producers take more control over their lives, and provides a better deal for producers in the developing world. Fairtrade offers consumers a powerful way to reduce poverty through their every day shopping.

When a product carries the FAIRTRADE Mark it means the producers and traders have met Fairtrade standards. The standards are designed to address the imbalance of power in trading relationships, unstable markets and the injustices of conventional trade.

Download a list of all Fairtrade Standards.

One of the best natural sugars is agave, low on the Glycemic Index, but with a light sweetness with a flavor not unlike white refined sugar. (Can you get any better than that?) Just 2/3 cup agave replaces 1 cup sugar; reduce other liquid by 1 ounce per 1 cup of sugar (or 2/3 cup of agave) asked for in the recipe.

Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients
9 oz. high quality organic, Fairtrade semisweet chocolate
1 c. organic heavy cream
1/4. c. organic unsalted butter
2 tablespoons agave (more to taste)
3 tablespoons Grand Marnier or Caraco liquor
1/4 cup organic Fairtrade cocoa powder
1/8 cup organic Fairtrade coffee (optional)

Melt the chocolate and half the butter in a pan over warm water (or in a double boiler). Add the cream, the rest of the butter and agave, stirring vigorously between each additional item. Do not overheat. Stir in the liquor. Remove from heat, place in a bowl, and cool. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight. Once set, shape into balls and roll in cocoa, ground almonds, roasted ground hazelnuts, praline, or other coating as desired. Package as desired.
Makes about 30 truffles.