Chocolate Frangelico Truffles
The timing was right for making these exquisite Chocolate Frangelico Truffles, as the hubby was scrounging for Oreos in the pantry. I needed a refresher on how to temper chocolate since I hadn’t made these decadent bonbons since 2011!
Chocolate Frangelico Truffles
Next to chocolate chip cookies, I think truffles (especially these chocolate Frangelico truffles) and fudge come in second and third as family favorite treats. Have you ever made truffles? They’re pretty darn easy.
I often roll them in cocoa powder to avoid the challenge of dipping them in melted chocolate. Chopped nuts and coconut are other delicious coatings for what is basically a chilled ball of ganache!
For these dreamy truffles, hot cream infused with some Frangelico, a hazelnut liqueur, was poured over chopped semisweet chocolate. Once the chocolate melted, the mixture was stirred until smooth and chilled before rolling into balls. I left the ganache balls in the refrigerator overnight and saved the chocolate tempering until the next morning.
How to Temper Chocolate
Though it was nearly autumn, our temperatures were the hottest of the year. Not ideal for working with chocolate.
I adjusted the air conditioning and extended the refrigerating time. All you need to temper chocolate is some quality chocolate, a double boiler (just a pan of simmering water and a heatproof bowl that fits the pan), and a good candy thermometer.
Details are in the recipe, but tempering chocolate involves melting two-thirds of the chocolate, adding the remaining third of the unmelted chocolate, cooling then reheating the chocolate. All of these steps require the chocolate reaching precise temperatures. Pros can do it by sight and feel, but I’m no pro!!
Due to our sultry day, there were a few too many fingerprints for my perfectionist nature, but Bill and son, Tom, couldn’t stop raving about these chocolate Frangelico truffles. Tom ate 3 before having a cupcake for dessert!
I also had some Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Melts as a backup. If you don’t want to deal with tempering chocolate, using melts is a terrific option.
I learned this tempering technique when I was in the Daring Bakers group. Here are the temperatures for each of the 3 varieties of chocolate:
Tempering Ranges:
Celsius
Dark: 45°C – 50°C > 27°C > 32°C
Milk: 45°C > 27°C > 30°C
White: 45°C > 27°C > 29°C
Fahrenheit
Dark: 113°F – 122°F > 80.6°F > 89.6°F
Milk: 113°F > 80.6°F > 86°F
White: 113°F > 80.6°F > 84.2°F
Tips for Tempering Chocolate:
You’ll want to read through the recipe to see how to temper chocolate, but here are some additional tips. Note that you can also use chocolate melts to dip your truffles if you want a shortcut!
- Make sure that your bowl fits snugly into the saucepan so that there’s no chance of steam forming droplets that may fall into your chocolate. If water gets into your chocolate it will seize!
- Use a rubber spatula to gently stir the chocolate so that it melts evenly.
- Wooden spoons can retain moisture so it’s best to use a rubber spatula while tempering.
- Remember, don’t let any water get into your chocolate at any stage of the tempering process!
- If you still have a few un-melted bits of chocolate, put the bowl back over the simmering water, stirring gently and watching the thermometer constantly.
- It’s imperative to keep an eye on the temperature so that it doesn’t go over its working temperature.
- If you’re using the chocolate to dip a lot of truffles, the chocolate will be sitting off the heat for a while it will naturally start to thicken as it cools. To keep it at an ideal viscosity for even coating, put the bowl over steam for 30 sec – 1 min every 10 – 15 mins, just do not let the temperature go over the working temperature!
- Having the chocolate in a warmed glass bowl and wrapped in a hot kitchen towel can also help keep the chocolate at its working temperature for longer.
- It is also easier to keep the heat if you work with larger amounts of chocolate rather than small amounts. Any leftover chocolate can be kept to be used later and then re-tempered.
- Unless you’ve been working with chocolate for a while and have developed a feel for the tempering process and can tell the chocolate’s temperature by touching it to your lower lip like a pro, it’s imperative that you use a thermometer to determine the temperature, as going a few degrees either way can ruin the temper.
- If at any stage you do make a mistake with the tempering process you can simply start again from the beginning. Or grab the bag of chocolate melts!
- Any chocolate left over after making your molded or dipped chocolate can be stored away in a cool place and then re-tempered before using it again. There’s no need to ever waste good chocolate!
- The temperatures in my recipe are for semisweet chocolate. See above for the milk and white chocolate ranges.
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Chocolate Frangelico Truffles Recipe
These homemade Chocolate Frangelico Truffles are a decadent confection that's perfect for gifting.
Ingredients
Ganache:
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Frangelico
For Tempered Chocolate:
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped, divided (5+ ounces will be melted, a little less than 3 ounces will be for seeding)
Instructions
- To make the ganache, place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
- Heat heavy cream in the microwave (I use a Pyrex measuring cup) until hot and almost boiling. Add Frangelico and mix to combine.
- Pour hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for a few minutes. Whisk until smooth.
- Let cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Scoop rounds onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Chill until tempered chocolate is ready (I left them to chill overnight).
- To temper chocolate, place about ⅔ of the chocolate in a heatproof bowl (a little more than 5 ounces).
- Set aside ⅓ of the chocolate pieces (a little less than 3 ounces).
Place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl does not touch the water) - Using a rubber spatula, gently stir the chocolate so that it melts evenly.
- Once it’s melted, keep an eye on the thermometer, as soon as it reaches 45°C / 113°F remove from heat.
- Add small amounts of the remaining ⅓ un-melted chocolate (seeds) and stir in to melt.
- Continue to add small additions of chocolate until you’ve brought the chocolate down to 27°C/80.6°F (You can bring the dark chocolate down to between 80°F and 82°F).
- Put it back on the double boiler and bring the temperature back up until it reaches its working temperature of the chocolate 89.6°F.
- The chocolate is now tempered and ready to use.
- Dip your truffle balls into the tempered chocolate and place them on a parchment-lined sheet until the coating hardens.
Notes
If you don't want to temper chocolate, you can use Ghirardelli chocolate melts to coat the truffles.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1 truffleAmount Per Serving: Calories: 108Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g
18 Comments on “Chocolate Frangelico Truffles”
These truffles are incredible! The hazelnut flavor pairs so well with the rich chocolate!
These truffles turned out perfect! They were just the decadent treat I was looking for!
These are so delicious and tasty! I can’t wait to make these again!
I love chocolate truffles! These look sooooo good! Pinned! Thanks for sharing your recipe with us at the #HomeMattersParty linky.
I love anything chocolate and anything Frangelico – these truffles look incredible!
I simply love Truffles Liz and Frangelico rates as a personal favorite so these have me craving a bite right now!
I love truffles, LOVE frangelico, love chocolate, I love everything in this recipe Liz! Truffles are so easy to make, you’re right. I began buying tempered chocolate… the horror I know, haha, but so easy! Great instructions for the real deal my friend!
Liz, you are killing me. I have no restraint when I see a good chocolate truffle. I never tried tempering chocolate. Pinned!
I have had some bad experiences when melting chocolate. They went all curdly on me. This post sure comes in handy for reference! Love your truffles. They would be great as gifts!
Girl, you’re amazing! I learned so much w/this one post!! xo ~ally
Beautiful job of tempering chocolate. Have to admit that I often don’t (temper) and have found lots of way to “fake it.” In any event, your truffles look divine.
Chocolat is an absolute favorite movie that I can watch over and over – maybe because of all the luscious candies, LOL. Your truffles are perfect, and the lessons about tempering chocolate are always a good reminder. Love these Liz!
Kudos to you for tempering on a hot day! Those truffles look fantastic! Here’s a tip I learned in culinary school if you don’t have coating chocolate. Use 10% of the weight of the chocolate in neutral oil. Melt together, and voila, homemade coating chocolate! Also, I love the movie Chocolat. Thanks for reminding me. 🙂
I love tempering chocolate. It is such a meditative process for me. I love the Frangelico in your bonbons. Stunning work, Liz
Great job!!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Love
I love truffles these are perfect for the holiday coming up!
While I’m not up to the challenge of tempering chocolate… I’m always happy to eat truffles:@)
The chocolate coating looks so shiny and beautiful. Thanks for the tempering tips too, Liz.