HAZELNUT-CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM TRUFFLE

Steps:

• Whisk the milk and cocoa powder together in a small heavy saucepan until blended. Set over low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the cocoa is completely dissolved.
• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a second small heavy saucepan until thick and lemon-colored. Ladle the hot cocoa mixture a little at a time into the egg mixture, whisking constantly until well blended. Set the saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until dense and creamy, about 3 minutes. Strain into a bowl and cool to room temperature, covered with plastic wrap pressed directly to the surface.
• If you have an ice-cream maker, freeze the chocolate mixture in it according to manufacturer's directions. If not, set the bowl on the freezer shelf and let it sit, stirring occasionally, until frozen but still soft and moldable, from 2 to 3 hours. (You can "still-freeze" the ice cream like this up to a day in advance. Let it sit at room temperature until softened, about 10 minutes, before continuing.)
• To form the "truffles"
• Using a 4-ounce ice-cream scoop, scoop up a ball of the chocolate ice cream and poke a hazelnut into the center while the ice cream is still in the scoop. Drop the truffles onto a wax-paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining ice cream and hazelnuts, setting the formed truffles and the ice cream in the freezer if they begin to melt. Set the truffles on a level freezer shelf and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, chop the remaining hazelnuts to the size of the chopped chocolate. Toss the chopped hazelnuts and the chocolate together on a separate baking sheet.
• Take the truffles out of the freezer and roll them one at a time in the chopped chocolate and hazelnuts until they are lightly coated. Return to the wax-paper-lined tray, and when all are coated, return the tray to the freezer. (Depending on the temperature and how quickly the truffles start to melt, you may have to do them in batches.) Freeze at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. If keeping the truffles more than a few hours, transfer them to a covered container once they are frozen solid.
• To serve, let the truffles stand at room temperature until softened, about 5 minutes, before serving. Meanwhile, whip the heavy cream in a chilled bowl until it holds stiff peaks. Divide the whipped cream among chilled plates, mounding it in the center. Top with truffles and serve immediately.