Juicy Orange Chocolate Christmas Truffles Recipe
These Juicy Orange Chocolate Christmas Truffles combine the deep richness of 70% dark chocolate with a bright hint of fresh orange zest. Coated in chocolate sprinkles, these festive treats are silky smooth, easy to make, and perfect for holiday gifting or enjoying as a decadent dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 20 truffles 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-bake, chilling
- Cuisine: Christmas, European-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Truffles
- 7 oz dark chocolate (Lindt 70% cacao, chopped)
- 7 tbsp cold heavy cream
- 1 tsp freshly grated orange zest
Coating
- 1/3 cup chocolate sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare Mis-en-Place and Infuse Cream: Finely chop the dark chocolate and grate the orange zest, then set aside. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place chocolate sprinkles in a shallow bowl. In a small saucepan, combine the cold heavy cream with the fresh orange zest, gently heating over medium heat until small bubbles appear around the edges without boiling.
- Create the Ganache: Remove the cream from heat immediately after simmering. Add chopped dark chocolate to the hot cream and let it rest undisturbed for 2-3 minutes to melt. Gently stir from the center outward until smooth and silky to form a rich ganache.
- Chill the Ganache: Pour the ganache into a shallow dish or small baking pan. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm yet pliable for rolling.
- Form and Coat Truffles: Use a small spoon or mini ice cream scoop to portion out the ganache. Quickly roll into smooth balls between your palms, then immediately toss and press each truffle in chocolate sprinkles until fully coated.
- Final Chill and Storage: Place the coated truffles on the parchment-lined tray. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set the coating and firm up the truffles. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
- Use high-quality dark chocolate for the best flavor and texture.
- Avoid boiling the cream to prevent scorching the flavor.
- Chill the ganache thoroughly to make rolling easier.
- Roll truffles quickly as the ganache can soften from hand heat.
- Store truffles refrigerated and consume within 7 days for optimal freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 truffle (approx. 15g)
- Calories: 90 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: chocolate truffles, orange zest, Christmas desserts, holiday treats, chocolate ganache
