Kentucky Derby Truffles

Tomorrow is the 138th Kentucky Derby. I know you're going to have a Mint Julep with your Derby Pie. I posted a Derby Pie Recipe Round-up last year.  Love that there are so many variations. I also posted a recipe for Dolly Appel's Bourbon Balls.

However,  I've never posted a Derby Truffle Recipe, so I was thrilled to find this recipe for DERBY TRUFFLES in the latest issue of  Southern Living. I adapted it slightly. This is such an easy recipe, and these are great!

Like Mysteries? My other blog, Mystery Fanfare,  has a post today on Kentucky Derby Crime Fiction: a list of Novels, short stories, YA, non-fiction and more!

KENTUCKY DERBY TRUFFLES

Ingredients
12 ounces Dark chocolate (70-85% cacao), chopped
1 -1/2 Tbsp sweet cold butter, cubed
2 tsp Madagascar vanilla extract
9 Tbsp heavy cream
1/4 cup good Kentucky Bourbon
1 (5.3-oz.) package pure butter shortbread cookies, crushed  (Walker's)
2 cups finely chopped roasted, salted pecans
Wax paper

Directions
1. Combine first 3 ingredients in large glass bowl. Cook cream and bourbon in small saucepan over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes or until mixture is hot but not boiling. (Mixture will steam, and bubbles will form around edge of pan.) Pour cream mixture over chocolate. Let stand 1 minute.
2. Stir chocolate mixture until melted and smooth. (If mixture doesn't melt completely, microwave at HIGH 30 seconds.) Stir in crushed cookies. Cover and chill 3 hours or until firm. (Mixture can be prepared and chilled up to 2 days ahead.)
3. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls (about 2 tsp. per ball). Roll in chopped pecans. Place on wax paper-lined baking sheets. Chill 1 hour. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 5 days.