Do-It-Yourself Truffles Party

In a saucepan, bring 1 quart heavy cream to a simmer. In a large bowl, combine 3 pounds chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, 1 1/2 sticks chopped unsalted butter and a pinch of salt. Pour the hot cream on top. Let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth.

Divide the ganache into 4 bowls. For each quarter batch, stir in either 1 1/2 tablespoons dark rum, 4 teaspoons pure peppermint oil and 1 teaspoon ground cardamom or 2 teaspoons instant espresso dissolved in 2 teaspoons water. Cover and refrigerate until firm, 3 hours.

Using a small scoop, drop tablespoons of the ganache onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Using cold, wet hands, roll the ganache into balls. Coat the truffles in crushed mint candies, chopped almonds, toasted coconut flakes or cocoa powder.

• Peppermint filling with powdered sugar, chocolate cookie crumbs or mint candies
• Espresso filling with cinnamon–sugar, amaretti or cocoa powder-salt mixture
• Rum filling with coconut, candied ginger or toffee
• Cardamom filling with cinnamon–sugar, amaretti or candied ginger
• Plain chocolate filling with raspberry, malt balls or peanuts

1. Impromptu 1-Hour Party
2. Hanukkah
3. Aprés-Ski Party
4. Pantry Purge
5. Cookbook Party
6. Cheese Tasting
7. Feast of the Seven Fishes
8. Open House
9. Fight Cancer with Cookies
10. Gumbo Party
11. Asian Tea Party
12. Soup Kitchen Party
13. White-Wine Tasting
14. Antipasto Party
15. Iron Chef Potluck
16. Puff Pastry Prep Party
17. Winter Solstice
18. DIY Truffles
19. Wrap Party
20. Retro Cocktail Party