Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles

Skip the fancy chocolate shop and create your own luxurious truffles right in your kitchen! These chocolate hazelnut truffles combine smooth dark chocolate with rich hazelnut butter for an irresistible treat that rivals any store-bought version.

Perfect for gift-giving or treating yourself, these truffles need just 7 simple ingredients and some patience while they chill. Each bite reveals a whole hazelnut surprise center, making them even more special than your average truffle.

New to chocolate work? Check out our guide to Types of Chocolate and learn how to perfectly melt chocolate at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• These truffles have the perfect texture – a snappy chocolate coating gives way to a creamy center, with a crunchy hazelnut surprise waiting inside. It’s a delightful mix of textures in every bite.
• The recipe uses simple ingredients but yields impressive results. There’s no tempering chocolate or complicated techniques required – just melting, mixing, and rolling.
• They’re perfect for making ahead – in fact, they need time to chill, making them ideal for preparing a day before you need them. They also keep well, so they’re great for holiday gift-giving.
• You can customize the coating to your taste, switching between chopped hazelnuts, cocoa powder, or even chocolate sprinkles for variety.

Ingredients

• Dark Chocolate: Use high-quality dark chocolate with 70% cacao content for the best results. Quality chocolate makes a huge difference in truffles since it’s the main ingredient.
• Heavy Cream: Creates the rich, smooth ganache base. Using fresh cream ensures your truffles have the right consistency and mouthfeel.
• Hazelnut Butter: Adds a rich, nutty flavor that perfectly complements the dark chocolate. Make sure to use smooth hazelnut butter for the best texture.
• Honey: Just a touch adds subtle sweetness and helps create a smoother texture in the finished truffles.
• Hazelnuts: You’ll need whole roasted hazelnuts for the centers and extra for chopping to coat the outside. The mix of whole and chopped nuts adds wonderful texture contrast.
• Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract to enhance the chocolate flavor and add depth to your truffles.

Substitutions and Additions

• Chocolate: While dark chocolate is recommended, you could use milk chocolate for a sweeter truffle. Semi-sweet chocolate works well too.
• Nut Butter: Peanut butter can substitute for hazelnut butter if needed, though it will change the flavor profile.
• Coating Options: Try rolling your truffles in cocoa powder, chocolate sprinkles, or finely chopped almonds for variety.

Instructions

Place chocolate, cream, sugar, and honey in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth

Remove from heat and mix in hazelnut butter and vanilla until well combined

Refrigerate mixture for 2 hours or until firm enough to handle

Set aside 16 whole hazelnuts and finely chop the remaining nuts

Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the chilled mixture and flatten in your palm.

Place a whole hazelnut in the center of each disc and roll into a ball

Roll each truffle in chopped hazelnuts to coat

Chill for an additional 30 minutes before serving

Recipe Tips

• Keep your hands cool while rolling the truffles – run them under cold water and dry well between every few truffles
• If the mixture gets too soft while rolling, return it to the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to firm up
• Use a small cookie scoop or melon baller for consistent truffle sizes
• Toast your hazelnuts before chopping to enhance their flavor

Serving Suggestions

These truffles are elegant enough to serve on their own for a sophisticated dessert. Present them on a beautiful platter or add them to a dessert charcuterie board for a stunning presentation.

For a cozy winter treat, serve these alongside hot coffee or espresso. They also pair beautifully with dessert wines or port for an after-dinner indulgence.

Storage & Reheating

Store your truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving for the best texture.

These truffles can be frozen for up to 3 months. Place them in a freezer-safe container with wax paper between layers. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Recipe FAQ

Can I make these truffles ahead of time? Yes! These truffles actually benefit from being made ahead. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, making them perfect for holiday gift-giving or party prep.

Why did my chocolate mixture separate? This usually happens if the chocolate gets too hot while melting. Keep the heat low and stir frequently. If it does separate, try whisking in a tablespoon of warm cream to bring it back together.

Do I need to temper the chocolate? No, this recipe doesn’t require tempering. The truffles get their structure from chilling rather than tempered chocolate.

Can I use other nuts for the centers? While hazelnuts are traditional, you could experiment with whole almonds or macadamia nuts. Just make sure to use roasted nuts for the best flavor.

Yield: 16 truffles

Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooling time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Make your own chocolate truffles with this simple recipe and add hazelnuts or your favorite nuts for added flavor.

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Ingredients

• 5 oz. dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 1/2 c. heavy cream
• 3 T. sugar
• 1 T. honey
• 1/2 c. smooth hazelnut butter
• 1 t. pure vanilla extract
• 6 oz. roasted hazelnuts, divided

Instructions

1. Place a medium saucepan over low heat. Add dark chocolate, heavy cream, sugar, and honey. Stirring frequently, allow the chocolate to melt.  
2. Once all the chocolate has melted, remove from heat and stir in the hazelnut butter and vanilla extract.
3. Transfer the saucepan into the refrigerator and allow to cool for at least 2 hours or until completely hardened. 
4. Reserve 16 hazelnuts and chop the remaining nuts, taking care to to chop them too finely.  Add the chopped hazelnuts to a shallow bowl.
5. Once the chocolate mixture is completely cold and set, scoop out about a tablespoon and flatten in the palm of your hand. Place one hazelnut into the center of the disc and roll the mixture around the hazelnut, forming a ball. Roll the truffle into the chopped hazelnuts.
6. Repeat this process until you have rolled all 16 truffles. Place in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes before serving. 

Notes

Keep your hands cool while rolling the truffles - run them under cold water and dry well between every few truffles

If the mixture gets too soft while rolling, return it to the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to firm up

Use a small cookie scoop or melon baller for consistent truffle sizes

Toast your hazelnuts before chopping to enhance their flavor

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 203Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 2gSugar: 9gProtein: 3g