Goat Cheese + Grand Marnier Truffles

My Skinny Valentine…

Longing for chocolate but still adhering to my plan to lighten up… it took only a few minutes to whip up these simple perennial favorites. They keep well and are perfect to have on hand for emergencies. And at only 100 calories a pop, they’re just the thing to ward off any thoughts of bad behavior.

While solving your Valentine’s gift-giving quandary for the cheese & chocolate lover in your life, they’re also perfect for those who remain dedicated to watching their figure, and for dinner guests when you’d  like to end the meal on a sweet note.

Even with their creaminess and intense dark chocolate flavor, these truffles are surprisingly light {and low on the guilt scale}. Goat cheese lovers will appreciate the subtle tang, and they are not overly sweet – just enough to satisfy. Using a high quality cocoa will take the flavor and rich velvety color up a notch. Enjoy!

6 oz. bittersweet chocolate {not semisweet}
6 oz. fresh goat cheese, at room temperature
2 T powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp Grand Marnier or Cointreau
1 tsp orange zest
1/4 cup  cocoa powder, for dusting the truffles

Makes 16 truffles. 100 calories each. Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl set over simmering water until almost melted. Remove from the heat and stir until remaining bits have melted and are smooth; allow to cool slightly while mixing other ingredients. In a second bowl, combine the goat cheese, confectioners’ sugar, Grand Marnier & orange zest. Add in the melted chocolate, mixing vigorously until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for 1/2 hour. Spoon or scoop into 16 balls, rolling each one in your hand and then in cocoa powder until well coated. To refresh before serving, sprinkle with cocoa once again. No refrigeration necessary.

Tagged as: chocolate, diet, gifts, goat cheese, Grand Marnier, orange, skinny, truffles, Valentines Day, zest