This holiday season you can have your champagne and chocolate truffles too! Champagne Truffles are a rich chocolate truffle, dancing with creamy chocolate and sparkling wine or champagne.
Lightly spray or butter a loaf pan or an 8x8 inch pan, then line with parchment paper -- this is one recipe that you will have the best results with if you use parchment paper. Leave some hanging over the sides, so you can easily lift it out. The preference is an 8x8 pan.
Place a medium glass bowl in a medium saucepan over a couple inches of simmering water (not boiling) and do not let the bowl touch the water -- you are creating a double boiler.
Add the chocolate, heavy cream and salt, stirring until the mixture is mostly melted and smooth. Remove from heat once just a few chocolate pieces remain, continue stirring until combined and all chocolate is melted.
Add the butter and whisk until smooth. Then pour in the champagne or your favorite sparkling wine (*see notes for variations). Whisk until combined and smooth.
Pour into prepared pan and refrigerate uncovered for a minimum of 8 hours; preferably 20-24 hours.
Once your holiday chocolate truffles have set up (they will still be soft, but that’s how you want them), you can either scoop and roll them in cocoa powder like a traditional truffle, or you can slice them and coat them in cocoa powder, for a pretty presentation.
Use the sides of parchment and carefully remove the chocolate truffle block from the pan, setting on a cutting board.
Dip a long knife in hot water, then dry with paper towels (repeating for each slice) and slice the ganache block in half. Pulling the knife straight out without lifting.
Then slice each half in half, and again into ¼s so you have a total of 8 “bars”.
Slice in half lengthwise, then again in half (see images on how to slice). If you used the loaf pan, pull off one section at a time and if desired for smaller pieces, slice again in half.
Sift cocoa powder in a medium shallow bowl. Place a truffle or three in the bowl, and carefully roll in cocoa powder, keeping the top uncoated if adding gold leaf.
Carefully place pieces of gold leaf on top of the truffles. Or brush with a little edible glitter instead. Play around with your decorations. Silver dragees would also be beautiful!
Notes
You can also use a small cookie scoop and scoop this truffle batter, rolling quickly into balls. I recommend using gloves as the mixture is soft and will soften with the heat of your hands.
Variations
Milk Chocolate Champagne Truffles | Use a high quality milk chocolate in place of the dark chocolate. Use a mixture of dark, bittersweet and milk chocolate.
Snowball Truffles | Instead of rolling the chocolate truffles in cocoa powder, roll instead in sifted powdered sugar.
Baileys Chocolate Truffles | Replace the champagne with equal amounts of Bailey’s or your favorite liquor, Kahlua and even Eggnog Liquor would be delicious here.
Rum or Brandy Chocolate Truffles | The same as above, replace the champagne with your favorite rum or brandy.
DOUBLING | this recipe doubles beautifully, make in 2 8x8 pans or, make in one 9x13 or quarter sheet pan. Don't forget to add parchment.
Storage
Champagne Truffles keep best in the refrigerator in an airtight container, up to 1 week.
When ready to serve, remove chocolate truffles and place on serving dish allowing to come to room temperature (about 30 minutes) before serving. Though I am not sure anyone would spit it out if they ate it straight from the fridge.
Decorating OptionsCan I substitute the champagne? Of course! If you still want to make a boozy truffle, then add your favorite sparkling wine to the truffles, I used Prosecco since I like the flavor better. You may also substitute the champagne for non-alcoholic sparkling beverages, but be careful of the flavors, you want something that is pleasant. You might try non-alcoholic wine or sparkling wine.
Serving Suggestions
Champagne Truffles are a bit easier to serve if placed ahead of time in mini baking cups; these gold & silver foil baking cups add to the gourmet elegance of the truffle experience!
These gourmet holiday truffles would also be beautiful as a decoration on a pretty holiday dessert. Try them on this Triple Chocolate Torte, or these Mini French Silk pies.
Don't forget to serve with a glass of your favorite sparkling wine or champagne! These would be gorgeous on a holiday charcuterie board!