Skip to main content

Two-Ingredient Truffles

4.5

(5)

Image may contain Confectionery Food and Sweets
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Diana Yen

These chocolate truffles look fancy and luxurious, but they couldn't be easier to make. Since the truffle base is made from just two ingredients, using good-quality chocolate is key. Explore any fun toppings you like, from the traditional cocoa powder, to powdered sugar or your favorite chopped nuts or candy, to any of the flavor combinations below. Offer them to your sweetheart, serve them to guests after dinner, or pack them up for gifts—but make sure to save some for yourself!

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    2 1/4 hours (including chilling time)

  • Yield

    Makes about 32 truffles

Ingredients

For the truffle base:

2/3 cup heavy cream
12 ounces good-quality finely chopped milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate, or chocolate chips

For the coatings (pick one or more flavors; each combo makes enough to coat the full batch of truffles):

For the coatings (pick one or more flavors; each combo makes enough to coat the full batch of truffles):

Curry-Coconut

1 tablespoon curry powder
1 cup unsweetened grated coconut

Orange-Pistachio

2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
3/4 cup shelled roasted salted pistachios

Strawberry-Black Pepper

1 1/2 cups freeze-dried strawberries
1 tablespoon finely ground black pepper

Caramel-Corn

3/4 cup caramel popcorn
3/4 cup roasted salted peanuts

Preparation

  1. Make the truffle base:

    Step 1

    Set a heat-safe medium bowl over a medium saucepan filled with an inch or two of water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water in the pot). Heat over medium heat until water is simmering, then add cream to bowl and heat until warm, about 3 minutes. Add chocolate and cook, stirring constantly, until melted, about 3 minutes (or up to 5 minutes if using chocolate chips).

    Step 2

    Carefully remove the bowl from the saucepan and pour chocolate mixture into a second heatproof bowl or pie pan (preferably made from metal, since it cools more quickly). Let cool at room temperature 15 minutes, then freeze until truffle base is firm, about 1 hour.

    Step 3

    Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Once chocolate mixture has chilled, use a teaspoon, melon baller, or small scoop to drop truffle mixture by the heaping teaspoonful onto the prepared sheet. Form truffles into balls by rolling them quickly between the palms of your hands. This process is a little messy, so wash your hands in cold water halfway through rolling, if desired. Freeze truffles on prepared sheet for 20 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, prepare your choice of topping:

    Step 4

    Curry-Coconut
    In a medium bowl, mix together the curry powder and shredded coconut.

    Step 5

    Orange-Pistachio
    Finely chop the grated zest and pistachios by hand or using a food processor. Place in a medium bowl and roll the truffles in the mixture, pressing slightly to adhere the topping.

    Step 6

    Strawberry-Black Pepper
    Place strawberries in a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin or other heavy object, crush the strawberries until a mix of small pieces and powder is formed. Place in a medium bowl and mix in the pepper.

    Step 7

    Caramel-Corn
    Finely chop the peanuts by hand or using a food processor. Finely chop the popcorn by hand or add to the chopped peanuts in the food processor and pulse a few times until popcorn is in small pieces. Mix the peanuts and popcorn in a medium bowl.

  3. Finish the truffles:

    Step 8

    Once chilled, roll truffles in the topping of your choice (see above), pressing slightly to adhere the ingredients to the truffles. Store finished truffles in the refrigerator up to 5 days; remove to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Read More
Native American people made these with cornmeal dumplings, simmering them with wild grapes, which were harvested at their peak sweetness.
Cannoli and sfogliatelle require complex technique—making them is best left to the professionals. But a galette-inspired variation? That’s a snap to do at home.
Layer homemade custard, ripe bananas, and vanilla wafers under clouds of whipped cream for this iconic dessert.
These decadent brownies feature a sweet, minty topping complemented by a rich dark chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips for added texture.
There are many things that appeal about a Basque cheesecake—it's crustless (one less job) and is meant to look “rustic” with its wrinkled and jagged sides.
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.
This cookie is an unintended “celebrity.” It’s one of very few cookies that customers ask for specifically upon arrival at Mokonuts.
This cake was created from thrift and was supposedly named after its appearance, which reminded people of the muddy Mississippi River bottom.