Your ULTIMATE Guide to Chocolate Truffles

Have you ever bit into the perfect piece of chocolate?

If you’re a fan of chocolate, you’ve probably had an incredible experience with a delicious piece of candy at some point along the way. I know I have!

But have you ever found a chocolate candy that makes you stop and think that it’s the best one you’ve ever tasted? If you’ve never quite found the most heavenly kind of chocolate, or if you’re always looking to top your chocolate tasting experiences, then you need to try chocolate truffles right away!

But just what is a chocolate truffle?

Chocolate truffles are a popular type of candy that can be made in a variety of different ways. They are most frequently served as chocolate balls with a filling, but that isn’t always necessarily the case. They might be found in simple flavors like milk or dark chocolate, or in something as complex and unique as pumpkin spice or key lime.

And what is chocolate truffle used for, exactly?

That’s a great question, too! These candies are usually served on their own as snacks or small bites after a meal, but sometimes might be incorporated into lavish desserts featuring many different components. They make excellent gifts, and they’re simple enough to prepare on your own that you can easy make homemade versions and give them to all of your friends and family.

But this just scratches the surface. If you’re still asking, “What are chocolate truffles really?” then read on. I’ll give you plenty of information so you can understand where these candies came from, how they’re made, and what to look for when you go shopping for them online. By the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll have a vast understanding of chocolate truffles and everything about them!

Now pull up a chair—truffle class is just beginning!

Introduction to Chocolate Truffles

It is said that chocolate truffles were invented by a French confectioner who accidentally poured heated cream over baking chocolate, creating the first ganache. But what is a truffle chocolate other than a mistake gone incredibly right? These candies are delicious balls of chocolate that have a creamy center and some type of coating. The type of coating your truffle has depends entirely on what kind of truffle you’re eating.

Truffles should always be made with the highest quality truffle chocolate in order to ensure the best possible flavor. But what is truffle chocolate? This is any type of baking chocolate that can be shaved or chopped from a large block. It should be at least 50% cocoa, but the higher the percentage, the better the chocolate quality. When you bite into a truffle made from the best quality chocolate, you’ll be rewarded with an incredibly smooth, perfect ganache that melts in your mouth just like it should.

When shopping for chocolate, you might catch yourself wondering, “What is truffles chocolate really good for?” There are so many other types of chocolate to choose from that it might seem tempting to pick chocolate chips or CandiQuik instead. Remember that these chocolates have added sugars and sometimes even paraffin wax, which can really alter the texture and flavor of your truffles! Stick to the highest quality ingredients when you want to put together a truffle worthy of tradition.

What are Chocolate Truffles?

Now you know a little bit more about what constitutes a chocolate truffle, but there’s so much more left for you to learn! In this section, we’ll go a little more in-depth into what really makes a truffle a truffle.

What are the Ingredients that Go into Truffles?

Now that you know what a chocolate truffle is, you’re probably asking yourself, “What are chocolate truffles made of?” Different ingredients go into different types of truffles, but as a general rule, you can expect a handful of similarities to spring up across the board. Below, I’ve put together a handy list to help you recognize a true truffle when you see it, simply by ingredients alone.

Types of Chocolate Truffles

There are many different types of chocolate truffles, each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses. You might absolutely love one type of truffles and find that another variety is much too sweet for your tastes! It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the types of truffles chocolates available on the market so you can know exactly what you’re getting into when you go shopping.

1. French Truffles

French truffles are the most authentic and well-known version of the chocolate truffle. They are made using heavy whipping cream and high-quality baking chocolate. The whipping cream is poured over the chocolate to create a simple, smooth, and creamy ganache. The ganache is then left to set up in the refrigerator until it can be rolled into balls, which are then coated in confectioner’s sugar, Dutch-process cocoa powder, or another type of coating. However, these truffles can never be candy coated or finished with a hard outer shell.

French truffles usually aren’t flavored outside of the taste of the chocolate. They might include vanilla extract to help create a richer overall flavor, or they might have a hint of nutty flavor, but you aren’t likely to find French truffles that have strange or unique tastes. The biggest variety you’ll see in a French truffle is its topping, which could be one of many different traditional ingredients.

2. American Truffles

American truffles are probably the type of truffle you’re most familiar with if you’ve ever indulged in a store-bought version of these sweets. They are usually made with heavy whipping cream, but they might utilize half-and-half, milk, or even coconut cream instead. They are usually flavored with some type of extract or another flavoring, and they are always coated in a hard outer chocolate shell. American truffles are often decorated much more elegantly than other types of truffles, and may include hand-crafted designs that make them stand out from other versions simply by looking at them.

You can find American truffles in just about any flavor. Whatever you enjoy most with your chocolate, there’s probably an American truffle in that exact flavor! These types of truffles can be found ranging from birthday cake flavors to ice cream flavors, and even savory tastes as well. They may be found in milk, dark, or white chocolate varieties.

3. Swiss Truffles

Swiss truffles are very similar to French truffles in the way that they’re made. However, the concoction is a little bit different in that it includes butter stirred into the heavy cream and chocolate mixture while the ganache center is being made. These truffles are usually poured into a hard outer shell made of chocolate, and they are produced in candy molds that give them special shapes or ensure that they’re always perfectly round every time. The best Swiss truffles have a snappy outside and an inside that seems as though it’s almost melting as soon as you bite into it, even if they’ve been stored in the refrigerator.

Traditionally, Swiss truffles were only available in milk or dark chocolate varieties, but the Lindt company has made big changes in these chocolates. Today, Swiss style truffles may come in just about as many flavors as American truffles. You might find them in citrus fruit or coffee flavors, or example, among the simpler tastes such as hazelnut or toffee.

4. Specialty Truffles

Finally, specialty truffles comprise most of the other types of truffles you can find in stores and online. For example, you can find vegan and gluten-free chocolate truffles from many different chocolatiers and confectionaries. These truffles incorporate special ingredients to help them fit into the dietary plans of certain customers. When searching for chocolate truffle recipes, you might also come across versions that fit into a paleo diet or even a low-calorie diet. When it comes to specialty truffles, there’s really no limit to what you might find!

Depending on the type of specialty truffle you need, you might be able to find your favorite flavors easily. Vegan truffles, for example, include all traditional types of chocolate as well as some more unique offerings. When you buy a vegan truffle, you might come across something that is flavored with real pumpkin or maybe even rhubarb! Other types of specialty truffles offer similar unique flavors but never forget that you can always pick up some simple plain chocolate options if that’s more your speed.

Chocolate Truffle Shelf Life

The shelf life of chocolate truffles is very important. You don’t want to purchase a box or bag of chocolate truffles and then leave them out too long, only to find that they’ve gone bad! When you buy chocolate truffles from a store, they usually will last for a couple of weeks when kept in the refrigerator. Unless you live in a very cool climate, it’s a good idea not to leave store bought chocolate truffles out at room temperature, since they will melt. You can store them in the freezer for up to a couple of months at a time.

But how long do chocolate truffles last when you make them yourself? Homemade truffles should keep either at room temperature or in the refrigerator for one to two weeks. You can wrap them each individually in plastic wrap and store them in the freezer for up to two months. Certain types of truffles, like French truffles, should always be served at room temperature, so be sure to let them thaw out from the freezer before eating them.

1. Chocolate Truffle Storage

The refrigerator is the best place to store chocolate truffles long term. Keep them in an airtight container so that other odors and flavors from the fridge don’t contaminate them. If you must keep them in the freezer, wrapping them each in single squares of plastic wrap and then storing them in Ziploc freezer bags is the best way to keep them fresh. When keeping truffles at room temperature, be sure to store them in an airtight container, and don’t leave them out if the room will be too warm.

Truffles are a popular sweet treat to serve at parties and formal dinners. However, if you’ll be serving your desserts buffet-style, you might be concerned about keeping your truffles looking and tasting great throughout the night. As long as the room isn’t too warm, you should have no trouble with setting out truffles in a glass serving dish for a few hours at a time. If you will be keeping them out in a warm room or for a very long time, consider wrapping them in decorative foil to keep them from melting or softening too much until they can be enjoyed by your guests.

2. Chocolate Truffle Pricing

One of the first questions people ask when buying truffles is, “How much are chocolate truffles anyway?” That completely depends on where you buy them from! However, when you go with some of the better-known truffle vendors, you can expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $30 for a dozen chocolates. These packages are usually premade assortments, but they might be custom blends you can choose as well. Smaller chocolatiers may charge quite a lot more for truffles made from high-quality ingredients.

When making truffles at home, you should consider the cost of your ingredients before you go shopping. Most of the ingredients you’ll be using aren’t too expensive, such as heavy whipping cream and pure vanilla extract. However, if you really want to utilize a quality piece of baking chocolate, you may need to budget at least $10 for that ingredient alone. Depending on where you purchase your chocolate, you may be able to get it at a discount. Be sure to check local specialty food markets for great chocolate at a good price.

Making Chocolate Truffles at Home

Have you ever wondered how to make homemade chocolate truffles? It’s super easy to make chocolate truffles yourself at home! When you bite into a store-bought chocolate truffle, you might think it would be very difficult to create these decadent sweet treats. If you’re trying to make truffles that are the same quality as you might find in an upscale confectioner’s shop, then you may run into some difficulties, especially if you’ve never made this kind of candy on your own before. However, if you’re making truffles for yourself or your friends and family to enjoy, you can make the most of this simple homemade truffle recipe. To learn how to make chocolate truffles at home, just read on!

Procedure

1. Finely chop baking chocolate and place the pieces into a heat-resistant stainless steel or glass bowl.

2. Place the heavy whipping cream into a small saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat.

3. Heat the cream until just before boiling.

4. Pour hot cream over chocolate in the separate bowl and add the vanilla.

5. Let stand for 3 minutes to melt chocolate.

6. Using a whisk, gently and carefully stir the chocolate until it is completely melted and smooth.

7. Cover this mixture tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.

8. Roll out one-inch balls of the chocolate mixture by hand.

9. Roll chocolate balls in the Dutch-process cocoa powder.

10. Place these chocolate balls on a lined baking sheet and return them to the refrigerator to chill for 3 hours to overnight.

11. Serve at room temperature.

Options

Buying Chocolate Truffles Online

Although you can find some types of chocolate truffles in stores, it’s much easier to find exactly what you’re looking for when you do some online shopping. Buying chocolate truffles online doesn’t have to be a difficult matter, and with the right information, you’ll be able to choose the perfect truffles to fit your needs every time. While there are plenty of stores that offer chocolate truffles in bulk, the recommendations listed below are for smaller quantities of these delicious candies. Follow these tips and you’ll be rewarded with incredible flavor and delicious truffles every time you go shopping.

Choosing the Perfect Flavor

Before you pick the type of truffle you want to buy, you need to understand how to select the perfect chocolate truffle flavor. The flavor you choose ultimately depends on your tastes. Remember that different truffle companies offer widely different flavors, some of which might be incredibly unique compared to others. If you’re looking for flavors you’ve never come across before, some sellers have the best chocolate truffles to fit your needs. On the other hand, if you prefer traditional truffles in simple chocolate flavors, you might want to look at different options instead.

La Maison du Chocolat – Although you might never have heard of La Maison du Chocolat when checking out some of the more popular truffle brands worldwide, it’s an excellent place to stock up on traditional French style truffles when you catch yourself with a craving. This company only offers a few different flavors, but they give you a great chance to taste test truly authentic French truffles that will surprise and delight you with every bite.

Bear in mind that truffles from this company are a little bit pricier than those you might find from larger scale companies. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can pick up a box of 30 pieces of delicious dark chocolate truffles that represent each of the flavors available from this company. This box set includes plain dark chocolate truffles as well as blackcurrant, caramel toffee, and citrus fruit. These truffles are made with the highest quality ingredients that can be found worldwide, and they’re finished with a thorough dusting of cocoa powder to give them the perfect texture.

2. Swiss Style Truffles

Lindt – By far the most well-known name in Swiss-style chocolate truffles is Lindt. Lindt creates the Lindor line of truffles, which have been a popular way to enjoy this decadent treat for many years. One of the big draws of purchasing from Lindt is that your truffles will arrive in individual foil wrappers, meaning you can hand them out one at a time to guests at your next dinner party or just tuck one in your bag to enjoy during your day at work.

Lindt Lindor truffles are available in quite a few different flavors. These truffles are made with hard coatings and smooth, melting centers, and they are shaped in candy molds to make them perfectly round every time. Purchase a package of these truffles in a custom mix so you can choose the flavors you want to try the most. The best Lindor truffle flavor is orange and dark chocolate, but this company makes a variety of other tasty treats, including key lime truffles, cappuccino truffles, sea salt, raspberry, Irish cream, and so much more. I recommend starting with the dark chocolate orange or dark chocolate raspberry choices and going from there!

3. American Style Truffles

Godiva – One of the most popular chocolate truffle companies worldwide is Godiva. These truffles are made in the traditional American style, which means that they feature hard candy coating shells that are usually decorated beautifully. Godiva chocolate truffles come in many different flavors, which makes them a great choice if you’re looking to try something a little more unique. While these truffles can be found in some stores, it’s better to purchase them online because you can choose from so many different options. Many times throughout the year, you can save a lot when buying online, and you might even be able to get free shipping, as well.

One of the best choices from Godiva is the Happy Birthday Cake Truffle Flight. This is a fun box of six different chocolate truffle flavors to help you sample a little bit of everything. Best of all, it’s themed for birthday celebrations, so it makes a great gift for others or a treat for yourself. These truffles include flavors that are based on different types of cake, which makes them really stand out from many of the other types available from other sellers.

4. Specialty Truffles

Booja Booja – For the absolute best in the way of specialty truffles, check out Booja Booja. This is a popular company that offers truffles that suit many different dietary needs. If you’re looking for purely organic chocolates, for example, you can rest assured knowing that Booja Booja’s candies are all made from the highest quality organic ingredients available. Best of all, these truffles are also gluten-free and completely vegan, so you can chow down on delicious sweets without having to worry about negatively impacting your specific dietary needs.

Booja Booja offers many different incredible flavors, but one of the best is the Banoffee Toffee truffle. This is a tasty blend of bananas, chocolate, and toffee nut flavors that taste almost exactly like the traditional pie it’s named after. The rhubarb and vanilla chocolate truffles are also a great option, especially if you’d like to try something completely different from any other type of truffle you might find from another seller. Pick up a box of assorted Booja Booja truffles to start your tasting journey right away.

Conclusion

You’ve come a long way through your journey to truffle knowledge! By now, you should have a full understanding of everything that makes a chocolate truffle. You’ve learned all about what makes a chocolate truffle versus other types of candy, as well as the many different kinds of truffles there are available. You should know how to recognize the ingredients that go into chocolate truffles, and you’ve even been provided with a recipe for simple chocolate truffles to help you get started making them yourself. You know where to buy any type of truffle you might be looking for, and you can tell the difference between the four main types of truffles.

You’ve learned a lot!

But there’s still more to discover in the world of chocolate truffles. There’s so much more for you to learn about, whether you want to purchase truffles online, buy them in bulk, or even make tons of delicious recipes on your own from scratch. No matter how you plan to enjoy chocolate truffles from now on, you’ve got the knowledge you need to get started. Be sure to keep researching for more information about these delicious candies, and look for more articles to help guide you along your journey.

Before long, you’ll be a chocolate truffle expert... or at the VERY LEAST, a TRUFFLEADDICT like me!