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    Home » Recipes » Chocolate Dessert Recipes

    Chocolate Ganache Truffles and Treats for Valentines Day

    Published: Feb 10, 2020 · Modified: Jun 18, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    268 shares
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    5 from 18 votes
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    pinterest image for chocolate truffles

    With Valentines Day quickly approaching my thoughts turn to chocolate! Well, that’s not really a surprise, my thoughts turn to chocolate quite often, and not just because I like chocolate.

    I haven’t gotten to be this old to know that there’s a special relationship between women and chocolate. I’ve also learned that “Chocolate has charms that soothe a savage breast”  ( and no I didn’t make that phrase up, that’s actually how it was written by William Congreve in 1697….except I switched Music for Chocolate)

    chocolate ganache truffles 4

    Anyway, let’s get back to Valentine’s Day and Chocolate, and more importantly Chocolate Ganache Truffles!

    chocolate ganache truffles 2

    Truffles can be made flavored with your favorite liqueur and even stuffed with another flavored chocolate, fruit or nut. You can roll them in cocoa, or as I have ground salted pistachios for a salty-sweet experience.

    But a classic truffle will simply be dipped in chocolate so the outside is a crisp shell and the inside of the truffle a melt in your mouth satiny smooth bite of chocolate heaven.

    Chocolate Dipped Fruit

    Since I was melting chocolate I thought I’d have some fun with the fruit I had in the house.

    What Can I dip in Chocolate?

    When it comes to food and chocolate, just about any fruit can find it’s way into a bowl of melted chocolate. My favorites are strawberries and pineapple. But you can dip most fruits as long they’re big enough and sturdy enough. I wouldn’t dip raspberries because they’re too fragile and watermelon would be challenging because of the high water content.

    The amount of liquid in the fruit has a lot to do with how it will hold up to chocolate. Also, some fruits just won’t hold up very long when dipped.

    I also love dipping cookies (halfway, leaving some of the cookie exposed), pretzels and even potato chips. There is something magical about salty and sweet together.

    Chocolate Dipped Fruit

    What type of chocolate can I use for dipping?

    • Chocolate Chips are the easiest and most accessible chocolate to use. But chips don’t contain enough cocoa butter to temper, so the melted chocolate will harden with a streaked or swirled appearance. 
    • Couverture chocolate has a higher ratio of cocoa butter to cocoa, which helps it melt more smoothly. This can be found in craft shops if not at the supermarket. AC Moore has it on hand in their baking section.
    • Any good quality chocolate like Ghirardelli is also a good choice. The better the chocolate the easier it will be to melt. White chocolate will be very challenging and wouldn’t advise it for a beginner.

    How do I Temper Chocolate?

    This is always the question I get when talking about melting chocolate. You’ll need an instant-read thermometer to do it properly.

    To prepare the chocolate for melting start by grating or chopping the chocolate. Place two-thirds of the chocolate in a stainless steel bowl on top of a small saucepot of simmering water (don’t let it boil). Keep stirring the chocolate until it reaches 110°–115°F.

    When the chocolate is melting and has reached the temperature range, remove the bowl of chocolate from the saucepot and place the bowl on a towel. Allow the chocolate to cool to a temperature of 95°–100°F. Add the remaining chocolate to the bowl, stirring until melted. The chocolate is now ready for dipping.

    Chef Dennis Tip*

    I prefer using a bowl that sits on top of a saucepot instead of a conventional double boiler. The rounded insides of a bowl make it much easier to stir and not have unmelted bits in the hard to reach corners.

    Lisa’s favorite dipped fruit is pineapple, so I did a few spears and coated one with pistachios and the other with coconut. I also dipped some orange segments and of course, you can’t go wrong with Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, and in Florida, the berries are plentiful, fresh, super sweet and juicy as we come into our strawberry season.

    What toppings can I add to dipped chocolate treats?

    The skies the limit in what type of topping you can add to your chocolate treats. As long as it’s not too big and will stick to the chocolate you can use it. Think along the lines of salty-sweet for the best results. Holiday sprinkles are always a good choice and you can find many options in the baking section of your grocer. For purists, just the delicious chocolate will be enough.

    If you enjoyed this recipe you may also like these;

    • Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake
    • Triple Chocolate Pecan Fudge Brownies
    • Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
    • Classical Chocolate Mousse
    • Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    chocolate ganache truffles 4
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    5 from 18 votes

    Chocolate Ganache Truffles adapted from Alice Medrich's Bittersweet

    Chocolate Ganache Truffles are easiest truffles to make and still velvety smooth with a melt in your mouth deliciousness. A short video is included to help
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 232kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • 11 ounces semisweet chocolate roughly chopped into small pieces
    • ¾ cup heavy cream
    • 2 tablespoons Kahlua or your favorite liquor
    • 4 ounces chocolate of your choice optional (for dipping truffles some of the truffles)
    • 1 ounce cocoa powder optional
    • 2 ounces chopped salted pistachios optional (chopped)
    • 2 ounces coconut optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • line an 8-inch square baking pan (or similar size pan) with the film going across both ways leaving overhangs, then set aside
    • make a double boiler using a small pot and metal or glass bowl that fits on top of the pot (not touching the bottom of the pan or water)
    • place an inch of water in the pan and bring to a boil and reduce to simmer
    • Place chocolate in small bowl and place over simmering water
    • stir the chocolate frequently as it melts
    • When chocolate is almost completely melted remove from heat and continue stirring until all of the chocolate is melted and smooth, set aside to cool slightly
    • place heavy cream in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, remove from heat and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes
    • add cream and Kahlua to chocolate and using a whisk, gently mix the ingredients.
    • keep the whisk touching the bottom of the bowl, alternating from sides to center mixing slowly so that air does not get into the chocolate.
    • Only mix the chocolate until the cream is fully incorporated. It should look glossy, velvety and slightly thickened, resembling pudding.
    • Using a rubber spatula pour the mixture into prepared pan and allow to sit to cool for 15 minutes
    • cover the mixture with the overhanging plastic wrap and place it on the counter undisturbed overnight.
    • Do not place this mixture into the refrigerator until it has set up. This will keep the chocolate satiny smooth.
    • When the chocolate has set, it can be placed in the refrigerator.
    • Using a small cookie scoop, or melon baller form balls of the chocolate truffle mix, rounding them as good as possible. (if you use your hands the chocolate will melt, I have found that chilling it helps keep it more workable)
    • after you have made all of the truffles, place them into the fridge to chill.
    • Dip your Truffles in your choice of toppings, Cocoa, ground pistachio's, coconut, or dipped in melted chocolate.
    • serve at room temperature and they will melt in your mouth!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 211mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 232IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jo Thomas

      January 05, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      I’m having a problem the ganache is seeping through the chocolate and I Evernote tried dipping it twice. What am I doing wrong?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        January 05, 2021 at 4:14 pm

        sounds like the ganache is too warm or the chocolate too hot

        Reply
    2. Jo

      February 17, 2020 at 5:30 am

      5 stars
      I make these truffles quite often and my kids adore it. Such a great treat for any occasion. Melted chocolate and cream together is deadly, so hard to stop eating.

      Reply
    3. Natalie

      February 17, 2020 at 4:52 am

      These truffles look so delightful. Perfect for any occasion not just Valentines. I love the addition of Kahlua. Must give this a try.

      Reply
    4. Paige

      February 16, 2020 at 8:41 pm

      5 stars
      chocolate ANYTHING is my favorite, but these little bites of heaven were perfectly easy to make too. YUM.

      Reply
    5. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer

      February 16, 2020 at 11:54 am

      5 stars
      Is there anything more perfect than melted chocolate and cream mixed together? These look perfect and something I definitely need in my life (and tummy) right now! I love your tip on tempering chocolate too! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    6. Tiffany Marie Cutcliff

      February 16, 2020 at 4:09 am

      Wow, what a great post! Your desserts look amazing! I often struggle to figure out what works well for dipping so love this post. Thanks!!

      Reply
    7. Jamie

      February 16, 2020 at 3:57 am

      5 stars
      I loved the addition of kahlua to these truffles! They came out so creamy and delicious! We couldn’t stop eating them.

      Reply
    8. Analida Braeger

      February 14, 2020 at 8:50 pm

      5 stars
      We love to make chocolate desserts at our house and these were incredibly easy and fun! Thanks so much Dennis!

      Reply
    9. Danielle

      February 14, 2020 at 7:17 pm

      5 stars
      Now these are the truffles to enjoy any day of the week, not to say about the holidays. Fabulous execution and an easy-to-follow recipe!

      Reply
    10. Charity

      February 14, 2020 at 12:01 am

      5 stars
      I love truffles, but knowing that there’s kahlua in the ganache means I must make this recipe ASAP!

      Reply
    11. Denise

      February 13, 2020 at 10:13 am

      5 stars
      oh my… this looks like little bites of heaven. Your truffles look incredibly good. I do enjoy making my own chocolate treats.

      Reply
    12. Kathryn

      February 13, 2020 at 9:15 am

      Truffles are so fun to make at home. I love all the options you gave and the tips are super helpful!

      Reply
    13. Veena Azmanov

      February 13, 2020 at 12:32 am

      5 stars
      Perfect recipe for the Valentine Season, Easy, quick and delicious and mouth melting too. Awesome cretivity.

      Reply
    14. rika

      February 12, 2020 at 12:51 am

      5 stars
      They look so good! I have to make these for my husband. The best Valentine’s day gift ever!

      Reply
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