How to make classic peppermint chocolate truffles that are perfect for the holidays! Peppermint and chocolate are my favorite flavor combination ever. As a kid, I loved eating After Eights (and still do!). I previously shared a detailed guide on making classic chocolate truffles. So I won’t go into detail here about the base recipe.
What you need to make chocolate peppermint truffles
Couverture chocolate
I use chocolate with a cocoa content of 55 – 70% for these peppermint truffles. Higher the cocoa content, the more bittersweet your truffle will be. Here I used a 55% chocolate from Callebaut callets, which is couverture chocolate chips. You can also use good quality chocolate like Lindt.
Heavy cream
Heavy cream or whipping cream with 35% fat is essential to make the chocolate ganache for these truffles. If you prefer, you can use coconut cream instead (not coconut milk), but it will of course add coconut flavor to the truffles.
Butter
I use a little bit of unsalted butter because it adds a lovely buttery texture to the ganache. You can use salted butter too, but you will need to adjust the salt level to compensate.
Peppermint extract
This is where much of the flavor for these decadent peppermint chocolate truffles comes from. I have used peppermint extract and peppermint emulsions with comparable flavor results. So you can use whichever you have at home, or is easier to find.
Salt
Salt brings out the flavor of chocolate. So it’s a crucial ingredient. You don’t want the truffles to be salty of course, so you will only be adding a pinch.
How to make peppermint chocolate truffles
Since these truffles will be made into balls, you can use one of two methods to do so.
Making the chocolate ganache
Making the ganache is very easy.
Shaping the peppermint truffles
Cover the chocolate ganache with plastic wrap (making sure it touches the whole ganache surface), and let it set. You can refrigerate it, but it needs to be soft enough to scoop balls. Scoop portions of the chocolate ganache and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Roll each portion into a ball and allow it to harden on the baking sheet. If the weather is warm, you can let the truffles set in the fridge. Stir the ganache occasionally to prevent a skin from forming on top. Allow the ganache to cool until thick but still pipeable. Transfer the ganache into a piping bag with a round piping tip (at least 1/2 inch). Pipe equal amounts of the ganache on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Allow the ganache to slightly harden, and roll each portion to shape them into balls. Place the peppermint chocolate truffles back on the baking sheet and let the surface harden. If the weather is warm, you can let them sit in the fridge instead.
Coating the peppermint chocolate truffles with chocolate
The first step for coating or dipping peppermint truffles in chocolate is to temper the chocolate. Remember to use couverture chocolate. You can use white chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Use this guide to learn how to temper chocolate. If you’re not comfortable tempering chocolate, then you have two other options, Using a dipping fork or a regular fork, dip the peppermint truffle in the melted chocolate. Tap the fork against bowl to let the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Transfer the truffle onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Repeat with all the truffles, and then transfer them to the fridge to let the chocolate harden. Place some of the tempered chocolate in your palm, or on a smooth surface. I prefer to use my hand (with gloves), as it keeps the chocolate warm too. Place a truffle on the chocolate and roll it to coat it with a thin layer of chocolate. Then place it on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and repeat with all the truffles. Repeat this process one more time for all the truffles (for a second coating), once the first layer is hardened.
Decorating the chocolate truffles
You can decorate the truffles by sprinkling some crushed candy canes on top of the coated peppermint chocolate truffles, before the chocolate sets. You can also drizzle a different type / color of melted chocolate on top as well.
Final notes
It’s that time of year when chocolate and peppermint are the flavor combo of choice, but these little morsels of deliciousness are so decadent, me thinks they deserve love all year round! These are also perfect for gifting during the holidays and for special occasions. These melt in your mouth, peppermint flavored bites are always a hit when I gift them to friends and neighbors. I’ve provided all the different methods and techniques for coating and decorating these chocolate peppermint truffles, so choose what’s easiest for you and have fun! 🙂
