Question about chocolate coatings...

[cynatnite]

I want to make truffles for a Christmas party and I found a recipe I like. It calls for chocolate bark candy coating and I've heard that's expensive. Another thing is that the directions say that it has to be melted in a double boiler which I don't have. Is there an acceptable substitute for the chocolate bark candy coating and do I have to use a double boiler?

Here is the recipe in question...

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paulas-best-dishes/cookie-dough-truffles-recipe/index.html

on edit: would melting chocolate chips and using them as a coating work?

[yewberry]

1. You don't need to get a double boiler.

Just use a pot that will fit in another pot in such a way that the smaller one sits in water. Don't melt chocolate over direct heat.

You could probably use semi-sweet chocolate chips--you'll probably need to add some paraffin. If you get the bark in bulk, it might end up being around the same price. Check around a little.

[cynatnite]

2. I will. Thank you. n/t

[grasswire]

3. be really really careful not to splash any water into the chocolate...

...because it will seize up and clump and be ruined for your purposes.

[hippywife]

4. Here's the recipe I use.

No bark needed. Scroll down til you see the truffles pic for instructions.

http://www.joyofbaking.com/ganache.html

Instead of doing it on the stove top, you can put the chocolate, cream and butter in a glass bowl and stick it in the microwave on defrost setting. Take it out about every minute and stir. Do NOT leave it in there until everything is totally melted. Once it's mostly melted but still has some good sized chunks in it, just keep stirring it. It is then warm enough to continue melting without putting back in the micro.

:hi:

[HopeHoops]

5. You can fake a double boiler with two pots, one slightly smaller. DO NOT USE ONE POT!

Thick chocolate will burn quickly when exposed to direct heat. I would suggest putting a double boiler on your Christmas list. They're great for cooking two things at once when burners are at a premium. My late grandmother used to have double and triple boiler situations going for almost every meal. She just stacked pans to do it. It was a really old gas stove that was at most 2/3 as wide as a modern stove. I was always amazed at how many hot food dishes she'd have ready at the same time. She grew up in a deep southern Virginia house and was one of eight or so children, so I guess that method of cooking was rather essential.

[Bertha Venation]

6. Chocolate melts very well in a glass bowl in the microwave.

[GoCubsGo]

7. Some grocery stores sell chocolate bark coating

It's not that expensive, although probably not as high quality as some of the pricier barks you might find elsewhere. Is this a recipe where you could possibly roll the truffles in cocoa powder, rather than giving them a bark coating?