Juicy Orange Chocolate Christmas Truffles
These delightful truffles are surprisingly easy to make and offer a rich, healthy-ish indulgence perfect for the holidays!
Ingredients
- 7 ounces dark chocolate (about 200g, 70% cacao recommended), finely chopped
- 7 tablespoons cold heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
- 1/3 cup chocolate sprinkles (for coating)
Instructions
- First, finely chop your dark chocolate and grate the fresh orange zest, setting them aside. Prepare a baking tray by lining it with parchment paper, and have your chocolate sprinkles ready in a shallow bowl. Getting organized upfront makes the process super smooth!
- In a small saucepan, gently combine the cold heavy cream with the fresh orange zest. Heat this mixture over medium heat until you see tiny bubbles just starting to form around the edges. Be careful not to let it boil vigorously; we're just aiming to warm it and infuse that lovely orange flavor.
- Immediately remove the saucepan from the heat. Add all the chopped dark chocolate to the hot cream. Let it sit undisturbed for about 2-3 minutes, allowing the residual heat to melt the chocolate perfectly. After this short wait, gently stir from the center outwards with a whisk or spatula until the mixture becomes completely smooth and glossy. This patience ensures a wonderfully silky ganache!
- Pour the warm ganache into a shallow dish or a small baking pan. Place it in the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours, or until the mixture is firm enough to easily scoop and roll into balls. You want it firm but still pliable, not rock-hard.
- Once the ganache is firm, use a small spoon or a mini ice cream scoop to portion out small amounts. Quickly roll each portion between your palms to form smooth, uniform balls. Immediately after rolling, toss each truffle in the bowl of chocolate sprinkles, ensuring it's completely coated. Gently pressing the sprinkles onto the truffles helps them stick best.
- Place the coated truffles onto your prepared parchment-lined baking tray. Return the tray to the refrigerator for an additional 30 minutes to fully set the sprinkles and firm up the truffles. Once completely firm, transfer them to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy your homemade, festive treats!
Notes
Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Cook Time: 0-10 minutes (Active heating time)
Total Time: ~2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours (includes chilling)
Servings: 15-20 truffles (estimated) Nutrition Information (for the whole recipe):
Calories: 700-800
Total Carbs: 60-70g
Net Carbs: ~50-60g (estimated, assuming ~10-15g fiber from dark chocolate)
Fats: 50-60g
Protein: 8-10g
Cook Time: 0-10 minutes (Active heating time)
Total Time: ~2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours (includes chilling)
Servings: 15-20 truffles (estimated) Nutrition Information (for the whole recipe):
Calories: 700-800
Total Carbs: 60-70g
Net Carbs: ~50-60g (estimated, assuming ~10-15g fiber from dark chocolate)
Fats: 50-60g
Protein: 8-10g
