Name: Monica's Christmas Candy
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 30 servings
Cuisine: USA
Ingredients: 300 g dark chocolate, chopped; 150 ml heavy cream; 30 g butter; 1 tsp vanilla extract; sea salt, a pinch; chopped nuts or sprinkles, for coating; 200 g extra chocolate, melted, for dipping

In Friends, Monica's homemade Christmas candy is good enough that her neighbors start gathering outside her apartment door hoping to be given a piece, turning an ordinary batch of chocolates into a small seasonal event in the building.

These are built the same way any good chocolate truffle is, a smooth ganache center rolled and dipped in more chocolate, and they're worth the effort of a proper tin or box if you're giving them away.

Part of our 60 famous foods from movies and TV list.

method

Place the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.

Heat the cream until just steaming, pour it over the chocolate, and let it sit for 2 minutes.

Stir gently until smooth and glossy, then stir in the butter, vanilla and salt.

Chill for at least 2 hours, until firm enough to scoop.

Scoop small amounts and roll into balls.

Dip each ball in the melted chocolate, and immediately roll in chopped nuts or sprinkles if coating that way, or let the chocolate set plain.

Chill again briefly before serving or packaging, and store in the fridge.

chef's tips

Package these in a decorative tin or box if you're making them as a gift; part of the charm of Monica's version in the show is that they look like something from a proper chocolate shop.
In Friends, Monica's homemade Christmas candy is so well regarded that her neighbors start gathering outside her apartment door hoping to be given some, turning a simple batch of chocolates into a minor seasonal event.
Work quickly when shaping the truffle centers, since the ganache softens fast from the warmth of your hands.
A thin, even dip in the melted chocolate coating gives a cleaner finish than a thick one, which can crack unevenly as it sets.