Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream 

1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom 

5 strips 1-inch-wide orange peel, pith removed 

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped 

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar 

1/4 cup sifted cocoa powder 

1/2 cup finely chopped assorted nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, and pistachios 

Preparation

In a small saucepan, whisk together cream and cardamom. Add orange peel; bring just to a boil. Remove from heat; let stand 15 minutes. Line a baking pan with parchment; set it and another pan aside.

Return cream mixture to heat; bring to a boil. Place chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Remove cream mixture from heat. Pour through a sieve set over chocolate; discard solids. Stir until melted and smooth.

Pour chocolate mixture onto the unlined baking pan, and spread in an even layer with an offset spatula. Transfer baking pan to freezer; chill chocolate until hardened but malleable, 15 to 20 minutes.

Using a tablespoon, scrape enough chocolate from pan to form a roughly shaped 1-inch ball, being careful not to press too hard against baking pan. Repeat. Transfer balls to the parchment-lined pan; chill truffles in the refrigerator 10 minutes.

Place the confectioners’ sugar, the cocoa powder, and the chopped nuts in 3 separate bowls. Roll the truffles in desired coatings.