PRALINE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. To make praline,toast almondsin rimmed baking pan for 10minutes, or until lightly browned, stir-ring once halfway through. Set aside.Line a baking pan with a Silpat (Frenchbaking mat) or parchment paper. In amedium saucepan, bring sugarand water to a boil over mediumheat. Wash down the sides of the panwith a pastry brush dipped in cold waterto keep sugar crystals from forming. Onceall the sugar has dissolved, increase heatto medium-high and continue cookinguntil syrup is a caramel color. Removefrom heat. Stir in the almonds using awooden spoon. Working quickly, pourmixture onto prepared baking pan andspreadout with the back of a spoon. Letcool completely. Break into pieces andfinely chop into 1/8-inch pieces. Using astrainer, sift out and discard dust. Setchopped praline aside.
• In a small saucepan, bring cream, butter, and corn syrup to a full boil overmedium heat. Turn off heat. Add 1 poundchocolate; gently swirl pan to coverchocolate with cream, but do not stir. Let stand, undisturbed, 5 minutes.
• Slowly whisk until combined. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; refrigerate,stirring every 15 minutes.
• After 45 minutes, mixture will thickenquickly, so stir every 3 to 5 minutes untilthick enough to scoop, 10 to 20 minutesmore. Stir in praline pieces. Using two spoons or a small ice-cream scoop, form into 1-inch balls; transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Chill until firm, but not hard, about 10minutes. Remove from refrigerator; rollin palms to form a ball, and press gentlywith fingers to create irregular shapes.Chill until ready to dip, up to 1 week.Place remaining 12 ounces chocolate ina heatproof bowl over a pan of simmeringwater; stir occasionally until chocolatemelts. Remove from heat; cool slightly.
• Very finely chop the remaining praline pieces in the bowl of afood processor. Do not let praline getpowdery. Place praline in a small bowl. Removecenters from refrigerator. Using onehand, dip one center into melted chocolate, then roll around in your hand tocoat evenly, letting excess drip back intopan. Place truffle in praline. With yourclean hand, cover truffle with praline. Letsit in bowl 20 seconds.
• Lift out, and set on a parchment-linedbaking sheet. Repeat with remainingtruffles. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate 5 minutes to set. You can storetruffles in airtight containers up to 1week at a cool room temperature.