Chocolate Truffles

These rich, creamy, indulgent dark chocolate truffles melt in your mouth, and the recipe is so simple!

The best chocolate truffle recipe

Homemade chocolate truffles are the ultimate party dessert.

And these are surprisingly quick and easy to make in your own kitchen, with a base of just two or three ingredients and endless custom flavor possibilities.

Do you fancy chocolate hazelnut truffles? Or salted caramel cream? What about cappuccino, vanilla, dark chocolate cherry, or peppermint chip?

The sky is the limit, so have fun and let your imagination run wild!

I also like making these Lemon Truffles

What are chocolate truffles?

If you’ve never tasted a homemade chocolate truffle before, they are little round balls of pure chocolate bliss.

Their rich chocolate ganache centers absolutely melt in your mouth.

Truffles are so named due of their physical resemblance to edible fungi of the genus Tuber, popular in elegant cuisine. Thankfully, the smooth classic chocolate confection is much less expensive.

Bonbons and truffles are similar in shape and often sold next to each other in chocolate shops. The difference between the two is that bonbons have a chocolate fondant shell and the candy is filled with liqueur or another type of sweet center.

In contrast, truffles have chocolate centers and are often coated or dusted in another ingredient like cocoa powder or chocolate sprinkles.

Chocoholics will love this Chocolate Mug Cake

Step by step recipe video

Above, watch the chocolate truffle recipe video

To create your own chocolate truffles, you first make a two ingredient chocolate ganache consisting of melted chocolate and heavy cream or coconut milk.

This chocolate filling is cooled until firm and then rolled in cocoa powder or anything else your heart desires.

For truffles healthier or higher in antioxidants, extra dark chocolate or sugar free chocolate chips (for keto chocolate truffles) can be used instead of semi sweet chocolate chips. White chocolate also works.

This traditional truffle recipe calls for all natural ingredients. No powdered sugar, butter, coconut oil, corn syrup, or sweetened condensed milk are needed.

Chocolate truffle flavors

Mint – Stir 1/4 teaspoon of pure peppermint extract into the melted chocolate.

Espresso Truffles – Stir in 1 teaspoon of instant coffee, regular or decaf.

Raspberry – Instead of rolling balls, place a fresh raspberry on a fork or spoon and cover in the chocolate ganache. Refrigerate or freeze until firm.

Oreo Truffles – Instead of cocoa, roll the truffles in crushed chocolate sandwich cookies before refrigerating. They also make a great garnish for Oreo Fluff.

Peanut Butter – Stir 2 tablespoons of softened peanut butter or almond butter in with the cream and melted chocolate.

Orange Truffles – Add the zest of one orange to the melted chocolate before chilling in the fridge or freezer until firm.

Coconut – Roll the finished truffles in shredded coconut. Or make these Coconut Balls.

Other add ins to try include ground cinnamon, powdered or finely chopped candied ginger, crushed pistachios or pecans, a sprinkle of sea salt, flavored protein powder, or a teaspoon of amaretto, rum, or bourbon.

Can’t decide which version to choose? Turn your kitchen into a Godiva, Lindt, or Russels Stover chocolate factory and make an assorted box of all the different flavors.

And if you’d like a healthier option, these Energy Balls are super popular.

Also try these Cream Cheese Truffles

How to make chocolate truffles

Start by finely chopping your chocolate so that it will melt more quickly.

Heat the whipped cream or coconut milk, either on the stove or in the microwave, just until it starts to boil. Slowly pour over the chocolate.

If desired, stir in a pinch of salt and pure vanilla extract. Stir until the chocolate mixture is shiny, thick, and completely smooth.

Refrigerate the bowl of chocolate until it’s firm enough to scoop. This usually takes somewhere between thirty minutes and an hour.

Then roll out chocolate balls, either using your hands (with gloves if you wish, for less mess) or a mini cookie scoop.

Roll the orbs in cocoa powder, sprinkles, crushed almonds, or anything else you have on hand and want to add. Kids love helping with this step.

Set the balls on a parchment lined plate and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve. 

Storage tips

The truffles are fine to leave out on the counter for a few hours at a party indoors or outside on a cool or chilly day.

Or wrap them up and give as gifts for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or thank you presents to friends and family who live in your area.

If you want to ship chocolate truffles, I recommend freezing them until the last minute and then choosing overnight shipping and buying cold packs for the box to ensure they won’t melt in the mail.

Leftovers (leftovers?!) can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for one or two months. Or you can send leftover truffles to me and I’ll take care of them for you.

You’re welcome.

Vegan chocolate truffles

To make the recipe dairy free and plant based, simply use coconut cream, cashew cream, or full fat canned coconut milk for coconut milk chocolate truffles.

Or use a brand of nondairy heavy cream instead of dairy whipping cream. Leftover cream? Make a batch of Vegan Chocolate Mousse!

The opulent no cook chocolate truffles are a beautiful decoration on top of frosted cupcakes or a Keto Cake or double layer Vegan Chocolate Cake.

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