Baking · serves 2

Chocolate Truffles

Two ingredients and no cooking. Twenty minutes plus chilling.

25 min Easy Vegetarian No oven needed

Ingredients

  • 300g dark chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1 cup cream
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Pinch of salt
  • Cocoa powder, chopped nuts or desiccated coconut to roll

Method

  1. Chop the chocolate finely. Big chunks won't melt evenly and you'll be tempted to apply heat, which ruins it.
  2. Heat the cream until it just steams — not boiling. Pour it over the chocolate and leave it alone for 2 minutes.
  3. Now stir from the centre outwards in small circles until it comes together glossy and smooth.
  4. Butter, vanilla and salt stirred in.
  5. Chill 3 hours until firm enough to scoop.
  6. Roll into balls with cool hands, then roll in cocoa, nuts or coconut. Keep refrigerated.

Questions people ask about Chocolate Truffles

How long does Chocolate Truffles take?

About 25 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. Most of that is active, so read the method through before you start rather than chopping as you go.

What can I use instead of chocolate in Chocolate Truffles?

Use cocoa powder plus butter, roughly 3 tbsp cocoa and 1 tbsp butter per 30g chocolate.

Can I make Chocolate Truffles ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Chocolate Truffles vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Can I make Chocolate Truffles without an oven?

That is exactly what this recipe is for. It uses a pressure cooker, a pan or the fridge instead of an oven, and the method here is written for that, not adapted from a baked version.

What do you serve with Chocolate Truffles?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

Read more on the technique

If you liked this