Silky, creamy, blueberry chocolate truffles are an easy and elegant homemade treat and/or gift.
No celebration is complete without chocolate, and homemade chocolate truffles make for an easy and elegant treat. There is something undeniably gratifying about offering a homemade gift that is also thankfully easy to make and that's what these chocolate blueberry truffles are.
Silky, creamy and studded with tiny bits of chopped dried blueberries, they can be served in individual paper cups or packed in cellophane bags tied with a ribbon to gift. The truffles can also be made ahead of time and keep well for weeks in the refrigerator making them a great make-ahead recipe.
The inspiration for the additions of blueberries came from an incredible flourless chocolate cake I’d recently eaten at a local patisserie. The cake was a rich torte with a thick, fudge-like interior similar to a dense souffle that came with the unexpected surprise of tiny little blueberries in each silky bite. The combination of the rich, dark chocolate and blueberries was memorable and I was eager to recreate it in truffle form.
Chocolate truffles start with ganache. Ganache is simply an emulsion of chocolate and cream to which flavorings are added. It is the ratio of cream to chocolate that determines the consistency of the ganache and what it is used for. An equal ratio of chocolate to cream (by weight) is considered a ganache of medium consistency, 2 parts chocolate to 1 part cream is considered a ganache of firm consistency, and soft ganaches have more than 50 percent cream.
For the centers of these truffles, I made a medium-hard ganache - utilizing more chocolate than cream to produce a somewhat dense filling that would firm up just enough to hold its shape for rolling truffles.
Heavy cream is heated with finely chopped dried blueberries and a touch of honey. The hot cream and blueberries are then poured over the finely chopped chocolate, and left to sit for a minute to start melting and bring down the temperature of the mixture to allow for better emulsification. After the resting period they are gently stirred together in a slow, circular motion from the inside of the bowl towards the edges until silky and smooth and very soft butter is incorporated to the mixture to increase the butterfat percentage and add richness to the filling. The result is rich and intense with chocolate flavor.
Chocolate Blueberry Truffles Recipe
Chocolate truffles flavored with blueberries and a touch of honey.
Ingredients
- 8 oz (225g) dark chocolate (at least 60% cocoa solids)
- ¼ tsp fleur de sel
- ½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons (150 ml) heavy cream (double cream) (35-40% butterfat)
- ½ cup (92g) finely chopped dried blueberries
- 1 Tablespoon (15ml) honey
- 2 Tablespoons (28 grams) softened unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (it’s important that the butter be very soft)
- Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder, for rolling
Instructions
- Chop the chocolate as finely as possible to allow it to melt quickly and easily. Place the chopped chocolate and fleur de sel in a medium bowl and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, finely chopped dried blueberries and honey and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.
- Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let stand undisturbed for about 1 minute to begin melting the chocolate. Using a spatula, gently stir the mixture from the center outwards mix until all of the hot cream is incorporated and the ganache is homogenous.
- Whisk in the soft butter one piece at a time until incorporated. The ganache should be slightly thick and shiny. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the ganache until set, about 2 to 3 hours. As it cools, it will firm and thicken; it should be firm, but soft enough to scoop out and roll into balls.
- Remove the truffle mixture from the refrigerator and using a melon baller or small scoop, scoop up a scant tablespoonful of ganache for each truffle. Roll each portion into a round in the palm of your hand and place onto a parchment lined sheet. Put the formed truffles in the fridge for about 15 minutes or until firm.
- Sift enough cacao powder to coat the bottom of a shallow plate or pie pan. Toss each truffle in the cocoa powder so that it is well coated, then carefully toss the truffles between your hands to shake off the excess or roll the truffles around in a sieve to shake off the extra cocoa.
- The truffles can be served immediately or can be stored tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Serve the truffles at room temperature.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
24Amount Per Serving: Calories: 7Cholesterol: 1mgCarbohydrates: 1gSugar: 1g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Laura @ A Little Zaftig says
Sylvie, I found your website through a comment on mine and just wanted to tell you how delighted I am to have discovered it. It is absolutely beautiful, and your photography is lovely. I'm adding you to my Blog Love links. I'll see you over at Honest Cooking.
Maris (In Good Taste) says
Those truffles are perfect for any and all celebrations!
EA-The Spicy RD says
These look absolutely delicious and so pretty too! I've had lavender on my mind and I'm thinking a lavender truffle experimentation with your recipe might be in order 🙂
Natalie says
Chocolate truffles make me go crazy. I've been hoping to make some with lavender. Thanks for the recipe!
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets says
This virtual shower you guys threw was just so sweet. It really made me smile to follow it on Twitter as it unfolded :). Gorgeous truffles, I am really itching to know your secret to the warm, rich quality of light in all your photos.
Lisa says
Is there an acceptable substitute for fleur de sel? I purchased all the other ingredients needed but will not have time to hunt this salt down. Thanks!
Sylvie says
You can use any fine sea salt you'd like, just don't use regular table salt, that would make it too salty. If you don't have any sea salt you can leave the salt out completely, it is just there to accentuate the chocolate flavor, it's not a crucial ingredient for the success of the recipe.
Lisa says
Thank you for the quick response! I cannot wait to try these.
Amelia from Z Tasty Life says
Oh, Amanda is so lucky! wonderful explanation the different consistencies...
wow. the photos. they are sooo real.
Trish says
My oh my. These sound amazing. Berries and chocolate are a match made in heaven. Love the idea of a 'virtual' baby shower. What a lucky mommy-to-be!
Cristina, from Buenos Aires to Paris says
If I were not so allergic to chocolate, I would "devour" those truffles...they look indecently good! ;D
Bobbie says
I admire your photos here and on Digital Food Photography, The truffles look absolutely sinful!