When I need to satisfy a chocolate craving, I whip up a batch of Nutella cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, or these decadent chocolate truffles. You can never go wrong with homemade candy!
We all need a little indulgence now and again, and chocolate truffles are the perfect solution. They contain just a few ingredients, can be flavored in so many different ways, and taste MUCH better than anything you’d get from the local candy shop.
How do you make chocolate truffles?
Why buy expensive truffles when you can make them from scratch in just a few minutes? First, heat some cream in a pan until hot, but not boiling. Pour that hot cream over chopped chocolate and stir the mixture so that the chocolate melts. The cream and chocolate turn into a shiny chocolate ganache as it mixes together. Cool the cream and chocolate mixture in the fridge so it can firm up and be ready to roll into balls. Roll the cooled mixture into small balls. After you roll each ball, you can roll it in your favorite toppings. Chill the balls again to firm them up and the candies are ready to eat.
Tips for the perfect truffles
Chop the chocolate into small pieces that are all about the same size for easier melting. Rolling truffles is messy! You can wear disposable gloves if you want to keep your hands clean. If the chocolate mixture starts getting too soft to roll, just chill the mixture and it will be ready to roll again. Use a scoop to make balls that are around the same size.
What is the best kind of chocolate for truffles?
I like to use semi-sweet chocolate because it has a great flavor and is a good foundation for the toppings. Milk chocolate can be a little sweet and overpower the flavor of toppings like sprinkles. For the chocolate, I recommend chopping up a baking bar. The better the quality of your chocolate, the better the end result. I recommend using the highest quality of chocolate you can afford such as Valrhona, Callebaut, Guittard or Ghirardelli. Do not use chocolate chips.
Chocolate truffle variations
These chocolate truffles are great because you can customize them however you like. Here are some fun ideas.
Feel free to add flavors such as vanilla extract, raspberry extract, orange oil or liqueurs. If you’re using an extract or oil, try adding 1 teaspoon to the chocolate ganache. You can add up to 2 tablespoons of liqueur, just be sure to reduce the cream by an equal amount. For coffee lovers, try adding 2 tablespoons of espresso powder to the ganache. You can coat truffles by dipping them in melted chocolate or rolling them in sprinkles, nuts, powdered sugar, coconut, green tea powder, crushed peppermints, cinnamon sugar or finely ground freeze dried raspberries. The sky’s the limit!
How long do truffles last?
These truffles should be stored in the refrigerator to stay fresh since they contain cream. They stay good in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can serve refrigerated truffles cold or leave them on the counter for a half hour to bring them to room temperature. You can store truffles in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve them, thaw in the refrigerator and then you can leave them out for a half hour to bring them to room temperature.
I love chocolate truffles, they are such a decadent treat. You can make your own truffles with your favorite coatings with this recipe. Give it a try and be amazed as melted chocolate turns into impressive candies that you will be happy to serve to your family and friends.
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