Smooth, creamy and elegant, assorted chocolate truffles are a delightful gift year round. Whether giving a Valentine to a special loved one, a Christmas gift for co-workers, or a from-the-heart Mother's Day gift, chocolate truffles are an unforgettable gift. Despite their beauty and decadent flavors, chocolate truffles are simple to make, even for a beginner. Two base recipes will serve as a springboard for a lovely assortment of chocolate truffles, created from the base recipes and many optional topping variations. With a few ingredients, some creative combinations and a little time you will soon have a lovely selection of gourmet-quality chocolate truffle variations to give as a gift or enjoy in your own home with family and friends as a satisfying dessert.
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
Ingredients
2/3 c. heavy whipping cream
1 T. seedless red raspberry jam
12 ounces dark chocolate chips
6 ounces additional dark chocolate chips, (for coating)
Toppings from list below (optional):
Optional Topping Ideas
Cocoa powder
Confectioners sugar
Nuts, ground or finely chopped
Crushed hard candy, i.e. toffee bits or peppermints
Graham cracker crumbs
Crushed cookies
Coating variations
In order to easily change a truffle flavor, simply drizzle chocolate in a alternate color over the primary truffle coating. Ideas include white chocolate on a milk chocolate truffle, or milk or white chocolate on dark chocolate truffles.
White chocolate chips, melted
Milk chocolate chips, melted
Dark chocolate chips, melted
Warm 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream and 1 Tablespoon seedless red raspberry jam in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until combined. Remove from heat, and set aside. Melt 12 ounces of dark chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute. Stir. Return to microwave for 30 seconds, and stir until smooth. Do not overheat. Stir cream and jam mixture into melted chocolate. Pour into a freezer-safe shallow pan. Freeze approximately 30 minutes, or until set. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Roll tablespoons of the set chocolate mixture into 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch balls with the palms of your hands. Place on cookie sheet and return to freezer 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small microwave safe bowl, melt 6 ounces dark chocolate for 1 minute, and stir. Heat an additional 30 seconds in microwave; stir until smooth. Working quickly with two forks, roll the set truffle filling balls in melted chocolate coating. Use forks to turn balls to coat all sides and to lift onto prepared pan. Fork tines may also help to add small swirls to the truffle surface. For truffles coated in candy pieces, nuts or cookie crumbs, sprinkle toppings on wet chocolate coating or roll entire ball in selected coating. If finishing truffle with an alternate chocolate color decorative drizzle, return to freezer for an additional 15 minutes before decorating. Keep finished truffles refrigerated or frozen. Makes 24 truffles.
Milk Chocolate Orange Truffles
Ingredients
2/3 c. heavy whipping cream
1 Tablespoon orange marmalade
12 ounces milk chocolate chips
6 ounces additional milk chocolate chips (for coating)
Toppings from list above (optional)
Follow directions above as given for Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles, but substituting milk chocolate for dark chocolate and orange marmalade in place of red raspberry jam. Additional changes to chocolate and jam flavors will result in still more variety in the truffle gift assortment, such as white chocolate peach truffles with macadamia nut topping.
 | Making chocolate truffles delivers impressive results for little effort. |
 | Dark chocolate truffles are exquisite, especially when served with a glass of wine or cup of hot coffee. Beautiful truffles require careful rolling of the centers and precise dipping. Take the time to decorate your fine truffles and they'll be as visually pleasing as they are delectable. |
 | If you want to make handmade truffles, but don't want the hassle of some of those elaborate recipes, you can always opt for a simple base recipe made from a few ingredients. While these truffles may not be the fanciest, they are still deliciously rich and beautiful to behold. |
 | We've all heard the age-old adage, "what people don't know won't hurt them." Well, with these vegan chocolate truffles, what people don't know will help them. With fewer calories but all the flavor, no one will know they are vegan if you don't tell them. |
There's nothing quite like the rich taste of a chocolate truffle melting in your mouth. Add a little something extra to your basic chocolate truffle when you try this chocolate raspberry truffle recipe. |
