Homemade Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate Truffles are the easiest homemade candies. You need just 4 ingredients to make a silky ganache base, then choose your favorite add-ins and toppings to customize the recipe.

To make Chocolate Truffles you can simply make a basic 2-ingredient Chocolate Ganache recipe and roll it into balls. But that’s just the beginning of the endless possibilities for making homemade truffles.

At the very least, I like to add a little butter for luscious texture and a hint of liquor to enhance the flavor of the chocolate. Dark chocolate truffles are a grown-up candy treat that is remarkably easy to make.

Ingredients

ingredients for making chocolate truffles in bowls

Ingredient Notes

  • Chocolate – Semi Sweet Chocolate is best for making dark chocolate truffles.
  • Cream – Use heavy cream or whipping cream. Do not use light cream.
  • Butter – A little butter makes truffles extra luscious.
  • Liquor – Enhances the flavor of the chocolate.
  • Sprinkles – For a sweet and pretty finish on the truffles

How to make Chocolate Truffles

a bowl of chocolate and cream with a spatula

Step 1: Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and butter. Set it aside for 3-4 minutes then stir until combined.

a bowl of chocolate ganache.

Step 2: Stir the optional liquor into the ganache then set it aside to cool completely at room temperature. Once the ganache is set at room temperature, chill for several hours before forming the truffles.

a bowl of ganache and a tray of ganache truffles being scooped

Step 3: Use small scooper or teaspoon measure to scoop 1″ balls of ganache. Line them up on a tray. If they start to get too soft chill before proceeding.

a tray of truffles, three bowls of sprinkles and a hand rolling a truffle in cocoa.

Step 4: Roll each truffle in traditional cocoa, sprinkles or your choice of topping. The baking aisle in your market is a great source for an array of pretty and tasty sprinkles.

a tray of truffles, three bowls of sprinkles a hand rolling a truffle in sprinkles

Step 5: Continue coating all the truffles, line them up on pan lined with clean parchment and store at cool room temperature until serving.

Pastry Chef tips for making truffles

  • For the smoothest texture, cool the ganache completely at room temperature before chilling. Chilling the ganache too fast causes the cocoa butter to form large crystals which compromises the silky smooth texture.
  • Use semi-sweet chocolate in the 55%-72% range.
  • A little alcohol enhances the flavor of the truffle. Some flavor molecules are alcohol soluble. With just a hint of rum or other liquor, the truffles will have a deeper chocolate flavor.
  • Stir the ganache just until it’s combined. If you continue stirring the ganache as it’s cooling you’ll add too much air to the ganache and the truffles won’t be as smooth.
  • See my Milk Chocolate Ganache recipe if you want to make milk chocolate truffles or my White Chocolate Ganache recipe for white chocolate truffles.
  • A scooper makes consistently sized truffles and keeps your hands from warming the ganache.

FAQs

What’s the difference between truffles and chocolate truffles?

A true truffle is a type of mushroom. Chocolate truffles got their name because when they are rolled by hand and coated in cocoa powder they bear a striking resemblance to the mushroom.

How long do homemade chocolate truffles last?

At room temperature chocolate truffles will keep for 2-3 days. They can be held in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. Bring them back to room temperature before serving.

How should chocolate truffles be stored?

If you will be eating the truffles within 2-3 days they can be stored at room temperature. They can be stored for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator or a month in the freezer.

Can I freeze homemade chocolate truffles?

Yes. Line the truffles on a parchment lined sheet pan and freeze until solid. Then pack them into a container. Defrost and bring to room temperature before serving.

Flavor variations and add-ins

  • Rum is a great flavor partner for dark chocolate. But you can use the liquor of your choice or simply use a little vanilla extract (1 teaspoon) if you don’t want to use liquor.
  • To make chocolate orange truffles add the finely grated zest from 1 orange zest plus a tablespoon of orange liquor in place of the rum.
  • For coffee flavored truffles add 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder to the heated cream and use Kahlua instead of rum.
  • For cinnamon truffles add a 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the heated cream and use brandy instead of rum.
  • For almond truffles add a 1/2 teaspoon of natural almond extract to the cream, use amaretto instead of rum and roll the truffles in ground almonds.

More recipes for chocoholics: Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Molten Cake, Chocolate Swiss Cake Roll, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie, Chocolate Mousse Pie, Dark Chocolate Sorbet.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, I’d really appreciate a 5-star review.

Print Recipe
4.67 from 3 reviews

Chocolate Truffles Recipe

Silky chocolate ganache make luscious homemade truffles. Roll the truffles in your choice of topping.
Prep Time45 minutes
Bake Time3 minutes
Total Time48 minutes
36 servings
Save Recipe

Ingredients

  • 8 oz semi sweet chocolate
  • 8 oz heavy cream (1 cup)
  • ½ oz unsalted butter (1 tablespoon)
  • ½ oz dark rum (liquor of your choice or optional)
  • 1 cup chocolate sprinkles (or your choice of toppings)

Instructions

  • Chop the chocolate into small pieces, none larger than 1/2" or chop roughly and finish chopping in a food processor. Place the butter in a large, heatproof bowl with the chopped chocolate.
    8 oz semi sweet chocolate, ½ oz unsalted butter
  • Pour the cream into a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup and heat until scalding. You want to get the cream as hot as you can without it boiling over. The time will depend on your microwave. Estimate 2-3 minutes for a cup of cream.
    8 oz heavy cream
  • Pour the cream all at once over the chocolate. Do not stir for 2-3 minutes to allow the chocolate to begin melting
  • Gently stir, trying not to incorporate any air, until all the chocolate bits are melted.
  • Stir the optional liquor into the ganache then set it aside to cool completely at room temperature. Once the ganache is set at room temperature, chill for several hours before forming the truffles.
    ½ oz dark rum
  • Use small scooper or teaspoon measure to scoop 1" balls of ganache. Line them up on a tray. If they start to get too soft chill before proceeding.
  • Roll each truffle in traditional cocoa, sprinkles or your choice of topping.
    1 cup chocolate sprinkles
  • Continue coating all the truffles, line them up on pan lined with clean parchment and store at cool room temperature for 1-2 days. Refrigerated for a week or frozen for a month. Serve at room temperature.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Notes

Flavor variations:
    • Rum is a great flavor partner for dark chocolate. But you can use the liquor of your choice or simply use a little vanilla extract (1 teaspoon) if you don’t want to use liquor.
    • To make chocolate orange truffles add the finely grated zest from 1 orange zest plus a tablespoon of orange liquor in place of the rum.
    • For coffee flavored truffles add 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder to the heated cream and use Kahlua instead of rum.
    • For almond truffles add a 1/2 teaspoon of natural almond extract to the cream, use amaretto instead of rum and roll the truffles in ground almonds.

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @eileen.bakingsense or tag #bakingsense!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




2 Comments

    1. Oops! Sorry. It’s been fixed. There are also step by step instructions with photos in the body of the post. Thanks for the heads up.