Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Christmas Bombs
- Cook Time: 155 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz high-quality dark chocolate (60% cocoa or higher), finely chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup hazelnut chocolate spread (such as Nutella)
- 1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch of sea salt
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (for coating)
- Optional: Festive sprinkles or edible gold dust for decoration
Instructions
- Place the finely chopped dark chocolate and the hazelnut spread in a medium-sized heat-proof glass bowl. Set this aside while you prepare the liquid component.
- In a small saucepan, heat the heavy whipping cream over medium heat. Bring it just to a simmer, but do not let it reach a rolling boil. You should see small bubbles forming around the edges of the pan.
- Pour the hot cream directly over the chopped chocolate and hazelnut spread. Let it sit undisturbed for about 5 minutes. This allows the heat to melt the chocolate evenly. After 5 minutes, whisk gently starting from the center until the mixture is completely smooth and glossy.
- Stir in the vanilla extract, the pinch of sea salt, and half of the finely chopped toasted hazelnuts. The salt helps to enhance the deep cocoa flavors, while the hazelnuts add a wonderful surprise crunch inside the truffle.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface of the ganache to prevent a skin from forming. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until the mixture is firm enough to handle and roll into balls.
- Using a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon, portion out the chilled ganache. Roll the portions between your palms to form smooth, round balls about 1 inch in diameter. Work quickly so the heat from your hands doesn’t melt the chocolate too much.
- Roll each truffle bomb in a bowl of cocoa powder until fully coated. For a more festive look, you can also roll some in the remaining chopped hazelnuts or add a few holiday sprinkles. Place the finished truffles on a parchment-lined tray.