When it comes to homemade decadence with minimum effort, you can’t beat Chocolate Truffles! Chocolate Truffles are made by melting chocolate with cream and butter. Chill, roll then coat. They’re EASY if you use my little trick to make these with minimum fuss without getting chocolate all over yourself!!!
Bonus: you get to lick the bowl clean. I’ll take that over cake batter any day!
Chocolate Truffles
5 years ago when I embarked on a chocolate truffle mission, I was rather surprised that it wasn’t as easy as I thought to find a “normal” chocolate truffle recipe.
All I wanted was a basic truffle recipe that I could make without having to use $40/kg ($20/lb) Lindt 85% cacao dark chocolate, without liquor in it, without a salted caramel centre, without using a candy thermometer, without a double coating of chocolate.
Was I asking for the impossible?? Was I reaching for the stars??
So I just muddled together my own. All you need is chocolate, cream and butter. How hard could it be? (*She thought confidently, overly confidently it turned out because it did end up requiring a few batches to get the ratios right for the perfect rollable-yet-melt-in-your-mouth consistency)
What you need
The world’s easiest sweet treat – chocolate, butter and cream!
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Chocolate – the better the quality, the better the truffle. But still so luxurious made with mainstream brand chocolate you get in grocery stores. Just be sure to use the chocolate you buy in the baking aisle, not eating chocolate. Baking chocolate is made for melting smoothly, eating chocolate does not melt properly and also has a different consistency once it resets.
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Cream – full fat all the way! I’m not just being fussy here, it’s actually required. Don’t use a cream with less than 30% fat because then the chocolate won’t firm up enough to scoop ‘n roll (as I found out the hard way when I attempted to make “low fat” chocolate truffles, SERIOUSLY WHO DOES THAT??!!)
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Butter – it adds another layer of richness to the chocolate truffles as well as assisting with consistency (because butter firms up in the fridge to make the mixture roll-able but then softens once the truffles are at room temp).
How to make Chocolate Truffles
Rolling truffles can get quite messy, so here are my tips to make truffles with ease:
1. Make sure that the truffle mixture is properly chilled before rolling them so I recommend chilling for at least 5 hours, preferably overnight. Don’t be tempted to freeze it to speed it up because then the chocolate will set unevenly which will result in some parts that are too hard to scoop out.
2. Keep your hands cold with an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas (covered with a tea towel) – I have hot little hands. Plenty of built-in insulation. 😂 Which is great for saving on the power bill in winter. Not so good for making chocolate truffles because my hot little hands melt the chocolate while I’m rolling the balls so they slip and slide everywhere.
So before you start rolling, run your hands under cold water and keep an ice pack, frozen peas or something cold nearby to keep your hands cold throughout the rolling process.
***I know this sounds weird, but it is so effective!****
Gifting and eating!!
And when to make these little beauties??
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Post meal “light” treat, rather than committing to a whole grand dessert. I don’t know about your family and friends, but mine tend to overload on the mains (possibly because the vast proportion of my cooking attention is focussed on the main affair) and often too full for dessert. Sound familiar to you too??
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After dinner coffee or cocktail – just like at fine dining restaurants! Try it with an Espresso Martini (*she swoons at the thought*);
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Afternoon tea, morning tea, and everything in between; and
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GIFTING – the main reason I make these! I will go all year without making truffles, then suddenly go on a truffle binge as we approach Christmas! Pack them in sweet little boxes with tissue paper and tie with ribbons or I’m little cellophane bags.
They last for yonks (that’s Aussie for “ages”), as in weeks and weeks. Keep them in the fridge if it’s hot where you are but definitely serve at room temperature so the chocolate is creamy and melty the moment you bite into it!! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Easy Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients
- 285g / 10 oz dark chocolate melts (chocolate chips, or chocolate block coarsely chopped)
- 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (125ml) cream (full fat, not low fat, not whipped)
Coating ideas (each enough to coat 24 truffles)
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch Processed is darker, looks "posh")
- 1/2 cup crushed peanuts (small, so can stick)
- 1/3 cup sprinkles or similar
- 1/4 cup icing sugar / powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place chocolate, cream and butter in a microwave proof bowl. Microwave on high for 4 x 30 second bursts, stirring in between.
- Cover bowl with a plate and stand for 5 minutes, then stir until chocolate is melted and smooth (this is a ganache!)
- Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 6 hours. Do not be tempted to shortcut it by freezing it! (Note 2)
- Put a dinner plate or tray that you will use to place the rolled truffles on in the fridge as well.
Rolling the Truffle Balls
- Place cocoa / coatings of choice in a small bowl or plate.
- Remove Ganache from fridge. The chocolate mixture should be firm - softer than cold butter but harder than peanut butter.
- Get an ice pack or bag of frozen peas from the freezer and place on the bench. Cover with a couple of paper towels. ("Freezer Pack").
- Scoop up a tablespoon (using tablespoon measure), then use a teaspoon to scoop the mixture out into your hands (see video). Roll into ball then place on chilled plate. Repeat with remaining chocolate mixture, chilling hands on Freezer Pack as needed.
- Once all balls are rolled, roll in cocoa or Coatings of choice. Serve at room temp so the chocolate is beautifully creamy inside!
Recipe Notes:
- Cold plate or tray for placing the balls on
- Keep your hands COLD. I have hot little hands. I keep a bag of frozen peas or ice pack handy to chill my hands!
Nutrition Information:
First published November 2014. About time I updated it!!!
Life of Dozer
At a “no dogs allowed” beach. He’s ALWAYS pushing the boundaries!!
I have a ton of salted butter can I us that or will it be to salty?
How much extra liquid can you add and still have the integrity of the truffle? I keep trying to make red wine chocolate truffles and I’m not happy with consistency. I do not want to reduce the wine – I want to use it straight up.
Thanks!
How much butter do you use when making the white chocolate or milk chocolate truffles? Is it still the same 2 Tablespoons? Please let me know, I’m planning on making these for my moms birthday on Saturday! Thank You!