Chocolate Orange Truffles (Recipe Inspired by THE PULL OF THE STARS)

A new door into the World of Desserts has opened for me, thanks to Chocolate Orange Truffles.

Say it with me: “Homemade chocolate.”

Sounds daunting, right? Like, sure, maybe you could do it, but only if you had way more time on your hands. Or, if you were a character in a Hallmark movie fleeing to Europe after a bad breakup.

WRONG.

Get ready to be amazed, Tartlets. Making Chocolate Orange Truffles is way easier than I ever thought candy-making could be.

I’m not gonna lie – it was hard to come up with a book-inspired recipe for The Pull of the Stars. Mostly because I’ve never had less of an urge to eat after reading this story.

If you saw my book review, you’ll understand why. Gah.

But, Tartlets, I dug deep. Main character Julia receives Belgian chocolates and an orange from her brother as a birthday treat, and her appreciation of these simple pleasures-turned-luxuries in her war- and disease-ridden world is incredibly moving.

These homemade truffles are an homage to Julia, and I decided to combine the two flavors because I adore chocolate and orange together.

Some of you may remember that I’m not a huge fan of chocolate.

However, over the past few years, Mr Tart and I have embraced “chocolate o’clock”: when we take a 5-minute break to nibble on a piece of chocolate for a much-needed sugar boost and/or sanity check.

As a result, I’ve tried a lot of different chocolates lately, and now my cocoa-covered thoughts go a little more like this:

Artisan chocolate from a fancy schmancy chocolatier? Pretty damn good.

Homemade chocolate from a mom-and-pop sweet shop? Even better.

Chocolate made from scratch in my own kitchen? THE BEST.

These Chocolate Orange Truffles are technically brigadeiros, a traditional Brazilian candy.

I’ve seen them on Food Network shows for a little while, but I’ve always been skeptical about trying them because they require shockingly few ingredients.

But try them, I did, and one bite quickly won me over.

These chocolates are GOOD. Bursting with rich, deep cocoa flavor and and bright citrus notes. Creamy and soft, with just a bit of chew.

Each decadent morsel is two or three bites, tops, which means just a few ingredients results in a good-sized batch of sweets. Perfect for feeding a crowd (or just yourself if you’re really craving chocolate).

Also, these truffles are freakin’ adorable, all nestled in their mini muffin liners and rolled in pretty toppings.

I love any dessert that doesn’t require overly fussy decoration, and it’s so easy (and fun!) to fancy up these chocolates.

Sprinkles and sanding sugar add a nice, crunchy texture to the creamy truffles, and a dusting of cocoa powder really gives the them a classic, European flair.

I’m pretty sure Chocolate  Orange Truffles are going to be my go-to hostess gifts from now on. And my holiday desserts. And my Sunday night snack…. do you see where I’m going with this?

Chocolate Orange Truffles

Homemade chocolate truffles are easier to make than you think! These brigadeiros are made with just a few ingredients and are bursting with rich chocolate flavor and a hint of orange.

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Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Brazilian

Servings 24 truffles

Ingredients

  

TRUFFLE INGREDIENTS

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• zest from one orange (about 1 tbsp)
• a pinch of salt
• 1 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder

SUGGESTED TRUFFLE TOPPINGS

• 2 tbsp cocoa powder (may need more)
• 1/3 cup sprinkles (may need more)
• 1/3 cup sanding sugar (may need more)

Instructions

 

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

• Spray a 9x5 baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
• Combine the butter, pinch of salt, and orange zest in a medium pot. Place over medium-low heat and stir gently until butter is melted.
• Whisk the condensed milk and 2/3 cup cocoa powder into the pot until completely combined; mixture will resemble brownie batter.
• Keep heat on medium-low. Use a spatula to stir gently but CONSTANTLY (seriously, CONSTANTLY --don't let the chocolate burn on the bottom) until mixture has thickened and is pulling away from the sides of the pot, about 8-10 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat. Use the spatula to turn out the truffle mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth into a thin, even(ish) layer. You want this to cool quickly, not look pretty.
• Refrigerate the truffle mixture for around 4 hours, or until you're ready to scoop and form the truffles.

DECORATING INSTRUCTIONS

• Assemble little bowls with your desired toppings -- the extra cocoa powder, sprinkles, or sanding sugar mentioned up above; you could also use chopped nuts, toasted coconut, or coookie crumbles. Be creative!
• Remove the cold truffle mixture from the fridge. Scoop out a scant tablespoon of the mixture and roll between your hands to form a smooth ball.
• Roll the truffle in your toppings and place on a platter or a muffin liner until ready to serve. Keep refrigerated if not being served right away.

Notes

Chocolate Orange Truffles is an adapted version of this recipe.

Keyword Brigadeiros, Candy, Homemade chocolate, sweetened condensed milk