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The Flavor Bender Recipes All Dessert Recipes Candy and Confectionery Peppermint Chocolate Truffles

Peppermint Chocolate Truffles

5 hrs
Intermediate
Candy and Confectionery
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Author: Dini K.
Posted: 12/9/2020
Updated: 12/9/2020
Peppermint Chocolate Truffle Social Media

These peppermint chocolate truffles are melt in your mouth creamy, delicious, refreshing, and easy to make. And they’re perfect for gift giving too!

How to make classic peppermint chocolate truffles that are perfect for the holidays!

Peppermint chocolate truffles on a small white plate

Peppermint and chocolate are my favorite flavor combination ever. As a kid, I loved eating After Eights (and still do!).

I previously shared a detailed guide on making classic chocolate truffles. So I won’t go into detail here about the base recipe.

Overhead view of peppermint chocolate truffles, topped with crushed candy cane

What you need to make chocolate peppermint truffles

Couverture chocolate

I use chocolate with a cocoa content of 55 – 70% for these peppermint truffles. Higher the cocoa content, the more bittersweet your truffle will be. Here I used a 55% chocolate from Callebaut callets, which is couverture chocolate chips. You can also use good quality chocolate like Lindt.

Callebaut couverture chocolate

Heavy cream

Heavy cream or whipping cream with 35% fat is essential to make the chocolate ganache for these truffles. If you prefer, you can use coconut cream instead (not coconut milk), but it will of course add coconut flavor to the truffles.

Butter

I use a little bit of unsalted butter because it adds a lovely buttery texture to the ganache. You can use salted butter too, but you will need to adjust the salt level to compensate.

Peppermint extract

This is where much of the flavor for these decadent peppermint chocolate truffles comes from. I have used peppermint extract and peppermint emulsions with comparable flavor results. So you can use whichever you have at home, or is easier to find.

Options for peppermint extract or peppermint emulsion

Salt

Salt brings out the flavor of chocolate. So it’s a crucial ingredient. You don’t want the truffles to be salty of course, so you will only be adding a pinch.

How to make peppermint chocolate truffles

Since these truffles will be made into balls, you can use one of two methods to do so.

  1. Use a small cookie scoop (or melon baller) to scoop out ganache portions for the truffles, OR
  2. Pipe the ganache into truffle portions.

Making the chocolate ganache

Making the ganache is very easy.

  1. Chop the chocolate and place it in a large bowl.
  2. Heat the cream, along with the salt, in a small saucepan until the cream is simmering.
  3. Pour the cream over the chocolate. Cover for 1 minute.
  4. Whisk until the chocolate and cream are emulsified (smooth).
  5. Add the softened butter and peppermint extract and mix them in.
  6. Allow the chocolate ganache to cool down (refrigerate if you’re using a cookie scoop to shape; or cool until you get a pipeable consistency for piped ganache).
Chocolate callets in a bowl
Emulsifying the chocolate and cream mixure
Hot cream poured over the chocolate
Chocolate ganache in a bowl
Butter added to the chocolate ganache
The peppermint ganache mixture in a bowl

Shaping the peppermint truffles

Using a small cookie scoop / melon baller

Cover the chocolate ganache with plastic wrap (making sure it touches the whole ganache surface), and let it set. You can refrigerate it, but it needs to be soft enough to scoop balls.

Scoop portions of the chocolate ganache and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Roll each portion into a ball and allow it to harden on the baking sheet. If the weather is warm, you can let the truffles set in the fridge.

Ganache mixture covered with plastic wrap
The ganache that has cooled down and set
Using a small cookie scoop to portion the chocolate truffles
portioned and rolled chocolate truffles
Piping the ganache for truffles

Stir the ganache occasionally to prevent a skin from forming on top. Allow the ganache to cool until thick but still pipeable.

Transfer the ganache into a piping bag with a round piping tip (at least 1/2 inch). Pipe equal amounts of the ganache on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Allow the ganache to slightly harden, and roll each portion to shape them into balls. Place the peppermint chocolate truffles back on the baking sheet and let the surface harden.

If the weather is warm, you can let them sit in the fridge instead.

The ganache thickened enough to be piped
Peppermint ganache in a piping bag
Piped ganache for chocolate truffles
Forming the piped ganache into balls

Coating the peppermint chocolate truffles with chocolate

The first step for coating or dipping peppermint truffles in chocolate is to temper the chocolate.

Remember to use couverture chocolate. You can use white chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Use this guide to learn how to temper chocolate.

If you’re not comfortable tempering chocolate, then you have two other options,

  1. Use chocolate candy melts that do not require tempering. However these don’t have the same “snap” as regular chocolate.
  2. Skip the chocolate altogether, and coat the truffles with cocoa powder instead. This is easier and hassle free.
Cocoa powder coated truffles on a white plate
Dipping peppermint chocolate truffles

Using a dipping fork or a regular fork, dip the peppermint truffle in the melted chocolate. Tap the fork against bowl to let the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.

Transfer the truffle onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Repeat with all the truffles, and then transfer them to the fridge to let the chocolate harden.

Bourbon Gingerbread Truffles covered in chocolate - These are delicious and Vegan and No-bake! You can make these gluten free, with GF ginger snap cookies.
Coating truffles – Once coated, place the truffle on the fork and tap the fork against the side of the bowl to let excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.
Hand rolling to coat peppermint chocolate truffles

Place some of the tempered chocolate in your palm, or on a smooth surface. I prefer to use my hand (with gloves), as it keeps the chocolate warm too.

Place a truffle on the chocolate and roll it to coat it with a thin layer of chocolate. Then place it on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and repeat with all the truffles.

Repeat this process one more time for all the truffles (for a second coating), once the first layer is hardened.

Rolling a truffle in the palm to coat with chocolate

Decorating the chocolate truffles

You can decorate the truffles by sprinkling some crushed candy canes on top of the coated peppermint chocolate truffles, before the chocolate sets.

You can also drizzle a different type / color of melted chocolate on top as well.

The chocolate truffles topped with candy cane, on a lined tray

Final notes

It’s that time of year when chocolate and peppermint are the flavor combo of choice, but these little morsels of deliciousness are so decadent, me thinks they deserve love all year round!

These are also perfect for gifting during the holidays and for special occasions. These melt in your mouth, peppermint flavored bites are always a hit when I gift them to friends and neighbors.

I’ve provided all the different methods and techniques for coating and decorating these chocolate peppermint truffles, so choose what’s easiest for you and have fun! 🙂

A close up of the chocolate coated truffle cut in half to show the thin crisp chocolate coating
Cross section – Look at that delicious creamy center and the thin, crisp chocolate coating!

Looking for more recipes?Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.

Peppermint Chocolate Truffle Social Media
5 from 1 vote

Peppermint Chocolate Truffles Recipe

Author: Dini K.
Yield: Makes about 30 – 35 truffles (depending on the size)
Cuisine: European, French
These peppermint chocolate truffles are so easy, and melt in your mouth delicious! And they're perfect for gift giving too. This step by step guide will give you all the options to make these decadent treats.
EASY – Very easy recipe. Great to do with kids as well. Coat these with cocoa powder for the simplest version.
INTERMEDIATE – If you choose to coat these truffles with chocolate, that would involve tempering chocolate. This is a more advance technique for beginners, but still do-able. See recipe notes on how to make this process easier.
US based cup, teaspoon, tablespoon measurements. Common Measurement Conversions. Weight measurements are recommended for accurate and consistent results.
There is a chill time in the recipe that can be as little as 4 hours or as long as 24 hours.
Prep: 50 minutes
Chilling time: 4 hours
Cook: 10 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Intermediate
Servings: 32 truffles
Print Rate

Ingredients:

Chocolate ganache for truffles

  • 360 g couverture chocolate 12.7 oz (55 – 70% cocoa content)
  • 210 g heavy cream ¾ cup + 2 tbsp
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • 10 mL peppermint extract 2 tsp
  • 57 g unsalted butter 4 tbsp, softened

To temper – INTERMEDIATE OPTION

  • 300 g semisweet couverture chocolate 10.6 oz (you can also use chocolate candy melts instead – see recipe notes)
  • chopped candy canes

To coat – EASIER OPTION

  • Cocoa powder I use extra brute Callebaut cocoa powder

Instructions:

Chocolate truffle base (chocolate ganache)

  • Make sure the chocolate is chopped into fairly small pieces, especially if you’re using a chocolate block. Then place the chocolate in a clean dry bowl.
  • Heat the cream and salt together in a small saucepan, until the cream starts to simmer. Do not let it boil.
  • Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate, and cover and let it sit for about 1 minute.
  • Add vanilla and use a whisk to stir the ganache mixture until emulsified (smooth).
  • Add the softened butter and whisk until melted through. The ganache should be shiny and smooth.
  • Cover the surface with plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap is in contact with the whole surface of the chocolate ganache. This is to prevent a skin from forming on top.
  • Allow the chocolate ganache to chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours until set. The cooling process will be faster if you transfer the ganache into a large, flat dish.
  • Once the ganache is set, it’s ready to be shaped into truffles.

Shaping the truffles

  • Use a small cookie scoop (#60, 2 tsp volume) to portion the ganache mixture. You can also use a regular spoon or a melon baller instead.
  • Place each portion on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Once the ganache is portioned, roll each portion into a smooth ball between your palms. Do this quickly as the chocolate will melt in your hands. Use gloves if you prefer.
  • Once shaped, the truffles are ready to be coated. However, if the truffles are too soft, put them back in the fridge to let them harden just a little bit.

Coating truffles with tempered chocolate (INTERMEDIATE OPTION)

  • Temper chocolate using this guide.
  • Maintain the tempered chocolate temperature while coating the truffles to prevent the chocolate from thickening too much and losing the temper.
  • Wearing gloves for this process will prevent this from being too messy and it’s also more sanitary. Or you can also use a clean, dry surface instead of your palms.
  • Take a small amount of the tempered chocolate into your palm, and then place a truffle on top. Roll the truffle on your palm so that it's evenly coated with the tempered chocolate. Place the coated truffle on the parchment paper lined baking sheet. Repeat with all of the truffles.
  • Once the chocolate coating is set, do a second coating of tempered chocolate on the truffles.
  • Before the second coating sets, sprinkle a little crushed candy canes on top. Then allow the second chocolate coating to set.
  • The chocolate truffles are now ready to be served.

Coating the truffles (EASIER OPTION)

  • Roll each truffle in cocoa powder, so that your peppermint truffles have a light coating of cocoa powder.
  • Once coated, the truffles are ready to be served.

Tips & Tricks

Notes on using Candy melts
Instead of couverture chocolate, you can use chocolate candy melts to coat your truffles. Candy melts do not require tempering so they are easier to handle. They do not have the same “snap” as couverture chocolate, but they are still a great option.  
Notes on using other types of chocolate
You can also use tempered white chocolate or bittersweet chocolate to coat your chocolate peppermint truffles instead. 
Notes on dairy free / vegan truffles
If you want to make dairy free chocolate truffles, replace the heavy cream with coconut cream. Most bittersweet chocolate is naturally dairy free, so you can use that. 
To compensate for the bitterness of bittersweet chocolate, replace 3 – 4 tbsp of the coconut cream with corn syrup / golden syrup, or honey.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1uncoated truffleCalories: 36kcal (2%)Carbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1g (2%)Fat: 4g (6%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Cholesterol: 13mg (4%)Sodium: 39mg (2%)Potassium: 5mgSugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 141IU (3%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 5mg (1%)

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

Course:Candy & Confectionery, Chocolate desserts, Desserts
Cuisine:European, French
Keyword:Candy, Candy & Confectionery, Chocolate, Chocolate ganache, Chocolate truffles
Did you make this?Tag me on Instagram!I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @TheFlavorBender or leave me a comment & rating below.
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Hi! I’m Dini, a third culture kid by upbringing and a food-geek by nature. I was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in New Zealand and lived in Australia, and then the US, before moving to Canada in 2019! My food is a reflection of those amazing experiences!

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