• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Savor the Flavour

  • Recipe Index
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy/Disclaimer
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Summer Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About Us
  • Our Shop
  • Services
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Candy Recipes

French Chocolate Truffles

Published: Dec 23, 2020 · Modified: Dec 6, 2024 by Emma Fajcz · As an Amazon Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases.

462 shares
  • 55
Jump to Recipe

Want an easy, decadent treat to share with family and friends this Christmas?  Thrill all the chocoholics in your life with these rich and creamy French chocolate truffles.  They're simple to prepare with only four basic ingredients, and everyone will love these bite-sized chocolates!

If you love chocolate truffles, check out my recipes for coffee truffles and raspberry truffles.

plate of French chocolate truffles with a candle
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How to Make French Chocolate Truffles
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serve
  • Expert Tips
  • Other Bite-Sized Treats
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Ingredients

glass bowls of ingredients for French chocolate truffles

This truffle recipe is quite simple, only taking four basic ingredients. Let's talk briefly about each one before we get baking.

  • Chocolate: Make sure to use high-quality dark chocolate for the best flavor.
  • Heavy Cream: You'll need to use full-fat cream for the best results.  Using half-and-half will not work for these truffles!
  • Vanilla Extract: The vanilla extract can be homemade or store-bought.
  • Cocoa Powder: Use unsweetened cocoa powder (not hot cocoa mix) to roll the truffles.  The slight bitterness from the cocoa powder helps cut the richness of the truffle.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

  • Milk Chocolate: swap out the dark chocolate for milk.
  • Dipped Truffles: skip rolling them in cocoa powder and dip them in melted chocolate instead.  Store in the fridge.
  • Fancy Truffles: dip them in melted chocolate, let them harden, then drizzle with a contrasting chocolate (white or milk).
  • Different Coatings: try rolling them in coconut flakes, chopped nuts, sprinkles, or crushed salted pretzels.

How to Make French Chocolate Truffles

Gather the ingredients for the French chocolate truffles.

heating cream and adding chocolate to make ganache
  1. Heat the cream over medium heat until it just barely begins to simmer.  Immediately take it off the heat. (image 1)
  2. Quickly dump in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract and whisk for a minute or so, until the mixture is smooth and melted.  Pour the ganache into a bowl and chill for 2-3 hours. (image 2)
scooping chilled ganache and rolling truffles in cocoa powder
  1. Use a spoon to scoop the chilled ganache mixture out of the bowl, and use your hands to roll it into 1-inch balls.  If the mixture is sticking to you and making a mess, dust your hands with a little powdered sugar or cocoa powder. (image 3)
  2. Roll the balls in cocoa powder.  You can also use sprinkles, chopped nuts, or crushed pretzels for this step. (image 4)
serving the French chocolate truffles
  1. Serve the truffles on a plate or another fancy container. (image 5)
  2. Enjoy them at room temperature so they melt in the mouth. (image 6)

Recipe FAQs

Do chocolate truffles contain truffles?

No, they don't!  Truffles are thought to have been created by Louis Dufour on Christmas Day, 1895.  Louis made chocolate ganache, chilled the mixture until it was firm, rolled it into balls, and coated them with cocoa powder.  The dessert caught on in France, and has become a popular treat worldwide.

Truffles are a type of fungus that are highly prized in gourmet cuisine. Although these treats bear a close visual resemblance to the fungus, they don't taste anything alike. The fungus isn't an ingredient in this dessert, either.

Why are truffles so expensive?

They're expensive because they are handmade with high-quality ingredients, and it takes a certain amount of skill to make them look perfect. It's much cheaper to make them yourself, plus you can customize them as much as you want!

What does a truffle taste like?

They have a rich, creamy texture and amazing flavor. The exact flavor will depend upon the brand and type of chocolate used. We like Ghirardelli 60% cacao, which has a rich, fruity taste and isn't overly sweet.

How do you store chocolate truffles?

Leftovers: Keep homemade truffles in an airtight container or well-sealed plate for 1-2 weeks at room temperature.
Refrigeration: They will keep in the fridge for 6 months as long as they are kept away from foods with strong odors.
Freezing: They can be frozen for up to 12 months, and can be quickly defrosted at room temperature.

Serve

If you're looking for other bite-sized desserts to serve with this recipe, make sure to try our recipes for lemon truffles, strawberry truffles, coffee truffles, dark chocolate raspberry truffles, and coconut truffles.

white plate of French chocolate truffles.

Expert Tips

  • Weigh the chocolate on a kitchen scale for accuracy.
  • Be sure that the cream is just barely simmering, not boiling.  If the cream is too hot, it can cause the ganache to split.
  • Whisk the mixture until it's fully combined, which will take a minute or so of constant whisking.

Other Bite-Sized Treats

  • glass bowl of grapefruit peels with some on parchment paper.
    Candied Grapefruit Peels
  • candied lemon slices on parchment paper and on a white plate.
    Candied Lemon Slices
  • candied ginger on parchment paper and in a glass bowl
    Candied Ginger Recipe
  • stack of peanut butter fudge on wax paper
    3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge

If you liked this recipe and found it helpful, give it some love by sharing!

Follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook for more crave-worthy recipes!

The pleasure of a 5-star review would be greatly appreciated!

Recipe

person holding a French chocolate truffle

French Chocolate Truffles

These rich, creamy French chocolate truffles are a delicious Christmas treat.  This easy recipe shows you how to make this decadent Christmas candy with real cream and dark chocolate.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin FavoriteSaved! Rate
Course: Candy
Cuisine: French
Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 24 truffles
Calories: 51kcal
Author: Brooke & Emma

Ingredients
 

  • 1 ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 12 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Keep your screen on while you work!

Instructions

  • Pour the cream into a 1-quart saucepan and set over medium heat.  Heat the cream until it barely begins to bubble and simmer, then instantly remove it from the heat.
  • Immediately dump in the chopped chocolate and vanilla extract, and whisk the mixture for a minute or two until all the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.
  • Pour the mixture into a bowl and chill for 2-3 hours, or until it's firm enough to roll into balls.
  • Roll the chilled mixture into balls, then roll each truffle in the cocoa powder.
  • Store the truffles at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Notes

  • Weigh the chocolate on a kitchen scale for accuracy.
  • Either chocolate chips or chopped baking bars will work in this recipe.  I usually make truffles with Ghirardelli 60% cacao chips.
  • Be sure that the cream is warm and bubbly, but not boiling.  If the cream is boiling, it can cause the mixture to split.
  • Don't freak out if the mixture isn't smooth right away; it takes a minute or so of constant whisking to get a smooth ganache.

Nutrition

Serving: 1truffleCalories: 51kcal (3%)Carbohydrates: 0.4gProtein: 0.4g (1%)Fat: 5g (8%)Saturated Fat: 3g (19%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 17mg (6%)Sodium: 4mgPotassium: 14mgSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 219IU (4%)Vitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 10mg (1%)Iron: 0.01mg

Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.

Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @savortheflavourblog or tag #savortheflavour!
« Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Copycat Recipe
Coconut Truffles Recipe »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Adele Aiken

    October 25, 2024 at 7:49 pm

    Do these need to be stored in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Emma Fajcz

      October 26, 2024 at 8:13 am

      If you live in a hot climate or have a warm kitchen, then the fridge is the best way to store them. Otherwise, I'd recommend keeping them in a cool, dry place.

      Reply
  2. Alex

    December 23, 2020 at 1:36 pm

    5 stars
    These chocolate truffles are rich and creamy. The cocoa on the outside adds a nice flavor. I could definitely eat a second one of these divine truffles!

    Reply
    • Emma

      December 23, 2020 at 1:40 pm

      So glad you enjoyed these, Alex!

      Reply
  3. Beth

    December 23, 2020 at 1:35 pm

    5 stars
    These lovely truffles are deliciously rich and creamy. I enjoyed mine thoroughly! Since they are quite rich, I did not have a second one, but they are certainly good enough to have a second one. I like the cocoa powder on the outside. The vanilla extract in the truffles is a nice touch.

    Reply
    • Emma

      December 23, 2020 at 1:39 pm

      I'm so glad that you enjoyed your truffle, Beth! Thanks for leaving a review.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

two ladies with brown hair smiling in a kitchen.

Welcome to our kitchen!

We're Brooke & Emma Fajcz, the mother-daughter team behind Savor the Flavour. Increase your kitchen confidence with our recipes, instructional photos, and helpful tips and facts. Our recipes have been featured in Oprah Magazine, The Guardian, Parade, Insider, Delish, and BuzzFeed.

More about us →
logos of newspapers and companies that featured Savor the Flavour.

Cool off with this Watermelon Slushie Mocktail!

two glasses of watermelon slushie with a bowl of watermelon

Summer Recipes

  • bowl of Brunswick stew with a wooden spoon.
    Georgia Brunswick Stew
  • white serving bowl filled with collard greens
    Southern Collard Greens
  • large white bowl filled with cowboy caviar
    Cowboy Caviar
  • bowl of Chick-fil-A market salad with forks
    Copycat Chick-fil-A Market Salad

Popular Posts

  • baked Cuban bread on a wire cooling rack.
    Homemade Cuban Bread (Pan Cubano)
  • glass bottle filled with Caesar dressing
    Caesar Salad Dressing
  • person holding a spoonful of black bean soup
    Panera Black Bean Soup (Copycat Recipe)
  • slices of tomato basil bread on a cutting board
    Panera Tomato Basil Bread

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Shop Our Store
  • Work with Us
  • Press
  • Services

Follow Us

  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility

As an Amazon associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2017-2025 Savor the Flavour