Easy Valentine’s Day Chocolate Truffles Recipe

Create an easy Valentine treat to delight your sweetheart with just 5 basic ingredients.
These homemade chocolate truffles say, “You’re special to me,” without being complicated.

Chocolate desserts are at the top of our must-have list for Valentine’s Day. This truffle recipe delivers velvety chocolate bliss that satisfies every time.

With only a handful of ingredients and a few basic steps, you’ll be on your way to hero status in the love department!

Customize this easy chocolate dessert with unique flavor add-ins, WOW-able textures, edible decorations, or for specialty diets, too. 

Create Unique Flavor Profiles

Traditional – substitute butter for the coconut oil. We like the smooth, (hardly noticeable) light flavor of coconut. However, butter may be preferred if any hint of coconut is not wanted.

Milk chocolate – reduce the bittersweet chocolate to 1/2 cup and increase the semi-sweet chocolate to 1 1/2 cups.

Dark chocolate – reduce the semi-sweet chocolate to 1/2 cup and increase the bittersweet chocolate to 1 1/2 cups.

Intensify the chocolate flavor by adding 1 teaspoon instant espresso to the melted chocolate.

Add Flavorings: (Stir in with chocolate.)

• 2-3 drops of essential oils like peppermint, orange, or cinnamon
• 2-3 tablespoons of flavored liqueur
• 1-2 teaspoons of extracts like hazelnut, coconut, or cherry

Create WOW-able Truffle Textures

• For the most smooth, creamy texture, use plain unsweetened cocoa powder.
• For distinct texture, roll in crushed nuts, peppermints, pretzels, shredded coconut, or toffee—you’ll want to chew instead of letting it melt in your mouth.
• Create a shell by rolling in melted chocolate—just be sure to freeze the truffles before applying a chocolate coating so they don’t melt in the process.

Edible Decorations for Valentine’s Day Desserts

What’s Valentine’s Day without a heart shaped themed treats?!

We use Wiltons Edible Accents Pink Hearts for our example in this recipe as shown in the photo. (Found them at Michaels.)

We like these because they are not crunchy or noticeable when eaten—they are tasteless and feathery light in texture so they don’t interfere with the silkiness of the truffle. 

Gold glitter flakes or gold hearts, stars, or any edible sprinkles can be used to create your own unique gift.

How to make chocolate truffles for Specialty Diets:

Gluten-Free – our recipe ingredients are naturally gluten-free, but if you are making them in a kitchen that could pose cross-contamination, be sure to wash all surfaces, mixing bowls, pans, and utensils.

Dairy-Free – substitute coconut cream for the heavy cream.

Vegan – substitute coconut cream for the heavy cream and use vegan chocolate chips (see below).

KETO [Low-Carb] – use Keto-friendly chocolate chips (see below).

Paleo – substitute coconut cream for the heavy cream and use paleo-friendly chocolate chips (see below).

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Chocolate Truffle Recipe TIPS:

» Selecting quality chocolate is important because there are so few ingredients and it’s all about the chocolate, right?! Here are a few quality chocolate brands to consider:

• Ghirardelli chocolate baking bars are available in milk, dark, and white chocolate in most grocery store baking sections. It melts easily and makes a delicious truffle. We’ve used Ghirardelli for chocolate covered strawberries too.
• Enjoy Life Baking Chocolate is an excellent option for anyone following a vegan or Paleo protocol or have allergy concerns. You can print a coupon for in-store purchase if you submit your email address here. 
• Lilly’s Sweets are also vegan and can help you tackle the KETO challenge with their line of chocolate bars. Note: When using the dark chocolate chips, remove from heat as soon as the chocolate begins to melt and continue stirring. Mixture will not be as smooth, but will roll just fine. 
• Ultimately, if there’s a brand you already know you love, use that.

A melon baller is the easiest way to scoop the chocolate into semi-rounded balls. If you don’t have a melon baller, you can use a regular teaspoon to scoop out bite-size amounts of chocolate and form the balls by rolling the chocolate between your palms. The truffles don’t need to be perfectly smooth. In fact, they’re not supposed to be.

4 Easy Steps to Making Chocolate Truffles

1. Mix heavy cream and coconut oil in a small pot over med-low heat about 5 minutes or until it begins to bubble. Remove from heat and add the chocolate, vanilla, and salt. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 3 minutes.
2. Refrigerate at least two hours, or until mixture is firm to the touch. Use a melon baller to create balls of chocolate about the size of a quarter.
3. Roll each ball in your hands to round and smooth, but don’t worry about trying to make them perfectly round.
4. Coat by rolling and pressing lightly to help chunkier coatings to adhere.

How to Store Homemade Chocolate Truffles

Store chocolate truffles in the fridge for up to 3 months in an air-tight container (you don’t want them tainted by odd refrigerator odors). Remove from the fridge 1 hour before serving (colder truffles take longer to melt on the tongue). 

Store truffles at room temperature for 2-3 weeks in an air-tight container. If stored at room temperature, choose a cooler part of the room so the truffles aren’t too soft to enjoy.

Freeze prepared truffles for up to 6 months in an air-tight container, just wait to apply any coatings until closer to the time they’ll be eaten.

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Double Chocolate Truffles

Silky smooth chocolate truffles for a decadent bite-size Valentine's Day dessert.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Chilling Time2 hrs

Total Time15 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French, Healthy

Servings: 15

Author: Judy Purcell

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ▢ 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• ▢ 1/3 cup coconut oil
• ▢ 1 cup bittersweet chocolate , about 5.5 oz chopped or in chips
• ▢ 1 cup semisweet chocolate , about 5.5 oz chopped or in chips
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract , or other flavorings
• ▢ Pinch Sea salt

Optional Coatings:

• ▢ unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ chopped or crushed nuts
• ▢ coconut flakes
• ▢ crushed peppermint candies
• ▢ crushed pretzels
• ▢ toffee bits
• ▢ colorful sprinkles
• ▢ white chocolate (freeze truffles before dipping)
• ▢ milk chocolate (freeze truffles before dipping)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Stir 1/3 cup heavy cream and 1/3 cup coconut oil in a small pot over med-low heat about 5 minutes or until it begins to bubble. Remove from heat and add 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate, 1 cup bittersweet chocolate, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and salt. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Pour into a shallow bowl and refrigerate at least two hours, or until mixture is firm to the touch.
• Prepare desired toppings and place in separate bowls. Once the chocolate is firm, use a melon baller or a small cookie scoop to create balls of chocolate about the size of a quarter. Roll each ball in your hands to round and smooth, but don't worry about trying to make them perfectly round.
• Roll each truffle ball in desired coating, pressing lightly to help chunkier coatings to adhere, and arrange in an air tight container to store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving for a silkier texture.

Notes

• If you don’t have a melon baller, you can use a regular teaspoon to scoop out bite-size amounts of chocolate and form the balls by rolling the chocolate between your palms. 
• If the chocolate is too hard to scoop, allow to sit at room temperature until it is soft enough to easily roll and shape.
• Store chocolate truffles in the fridge for up to 3 months in an air-tight container (you don’t them tainted by odd refrigerator odors) Remove from the fridge 1 hour before serving (colder truffles take longer to melt on the tongue). 
• Store truffles at room temperature for up to 2 weeks in an air-tight container. If stored at room temperature, choose a cooler part of the room so the truffles aren’t too soft to enjoy.
• Freeze prepared truffles for up to 6 months in an air-tight container, just wait to apply any coatings until closer to the time they’ll be eaten.

Specialty Diet Variations:

• Gluten-Free – our recipe ingredients are naturally gluten-free, but if you are making them in a kitchen that could pose cross-contamination, be sure to wash all surfaces, mixing bowls, pans, and utensils.
• Dairy-Free – substitute coconut cream for the heavy cream and Enjoy Life brand chocolate chips.
• Vegan – substitute coconut cream for the heavy cream and use Enjoy Life or Lilly's Sweets brand chocolate chips.
• KETO [Low-Carb] – use Lilly's Sweets brand chocolate chips. When using the dark chocolate chips, remove from heat as soon as the chocolate begins to melt and continue stirring. Mixture will not be as smooth, but will roll just fine. 
• Paleo – substitute coconut cream for the heavy cream and use Enjoy Life brand chocolate chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1.5mg

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More Valentine’s Day Celebration Ideas

• Scampi-Style Steak and Scallops

• Grill Steak & Shrimp for Two

• Amazing Crab Leg Dinner at Home

• Cheesecake Strawberries with Chocolate Accents