Chocolate Orange Truffles Recipe: Easy, Homemade, No-Bake

Learn how to make chocolate orange truffles the easy way with simple ingredients. This chocolate orange truffles recipe may be made with dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate. These delectable morsels make decadent treats any time of the year, but it’s especially fun to make these around Christmas or Valentine’s Day. Also known as chocolate orange balls, you can box up a few with some white chocolate raspberry truffles and dark chocolate raspberry truffles for a lovely, homemade gift idea. Making no-bake orange truffles is a great activity in the kitchen that kids can join in with as well. Ready for the best recipe for orange chocolate truffles? Let’s get started!

My Chocolate Orange Truffles Backstory

My love for truffle-making happened when I was a young mom. A friend from my high school days would come over to visit and we would experiment with fun recipes during my boys’ naptime. One of the experiments was a truffle recipe we had discovered. Most of the ingredients were easy to find, and the result was delicious. We made enough to give away and still had some left over for ourselves.

I have always been fond of the combination of fruit flavors with chocolate, and my dad is a big fan of the chocolate orange jelly sticks you can find in many chocolate shops. I decided to combine my enjoyment of truffle-making with the orange chocolate flavors my dad loves. I also refined the dipping process by not requiring the use of a double boiler for melting the dipping chocolate. This is the result. See what you think!

Equipment for Chocolate Orange Truffles

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The first time I made chocolate truffles, my truffle-making friend brought a little gadget that I still use for truffle making today. It’s a little scooper, size 100 (pictured above), that is the standard size used for scooping the balls of chocolate truffle filling.  It’s not essential for truffle making, but it sure makes the shaping process easier, and the truffles all turn out the same size. Whenever I use this scooper, I think of my friend and those long-ago days of making chocolate truffles during precious afternoon nap time.

Here are some other items you will want to have on hand for your truffle-making experience.

1 medium-sized heavy-gauge saucepan

1 cookie sheet (depending upon how closely you space the truffles, you may need another cookie sheet)

Plastic wrap

Aluminum foil

1 heat-resistant mixing bowl that will fit over a saucepan or a double boiler

Ingredients for Chocolate Orange Truffles

Most of these ingredients for these chocolate orange truffles are easy to find at any grocery store. Most stores carry at least one brand of orange marmalade. If you are unable to find a supply of orange marmalade, you could always order some. If you have some rhubarb, you could make homemade rhubarb orange jam (some people call it rhubarb orange marmalade) adn use it as a substitute for the orange marmalade in the orange truffle recipe. The flavor will be slightly different, but the tangy orange taste will still be there.

1 and 1/2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk chocolate or white chocolate)

2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons orange marmalade (or orange rhubarb jam)

1/4 teaspoon orange extract (optional)

For coating the outside:

1 cup chocolate chips or chocolate bars broken into small chunks (semi-sweet, milk chocolate or white chocolate)

2 teaspoons shortening (I use butter flavored Crisco)

Directions for Orange Chocolate Truffles

Here are the easy steps. Have fun!

In heavy-gauge saucepan, combine chocolate chips, heavy cream, and butter. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.

Stir in orange marmalade. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 20 minutes.

Line a baking sheet with foil. Using the 100-sized scooper, drop scoops of the mixture onto the foil-lined baking sheet. If the mixture is too soft, stick the pan back in the freezer for 5 more minutes. (You do not want to have the mixture harden too much or it will be difficult to scoop.)

No scooper? No problem! You could also drop teaspoonsful of the mixture onto the baking sheet, then shape into balls. Freeze until firm (about an hour).

While truffles are freezing, heat water in a saucepan. Place a mixing bowl over the hot (not boiling) water. Melt the chocolate chips and shortening, stirring until smooth.

Drop frozen truffles, one at a time, into the melted coating. Stir quickly to coat. Remove with a fork or spoon, shaking off excess coating.

Place coated truffles on the cookie sheet. Decorate with an optional topping like grated orange zest, finely chopped nuts, or a contrasting color of chocolate drizzle.

Chill coated chocolate truffles in the refrigerator until set. Store the chocolate orange truffles in the refrigerator. This recipe makes about 2 dozen truffles.

Common Truffle Questions

Which chocolate is best for truffles?

For chocolate truffles, many people prefer a high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content. It provides a rich and intense chocolate flavor. Experimenting with different brands can help you find the one that suits your taste best. For this homemade chocolate orange truffle recipe, the type of chocolate you use is a matter of taste. You can use white chocolate, dark chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or even milk chocolate. When my husband was sampling the results of this chocolate orange truffle recipe, he actually preferred the white chocolate orange truffle version. This was surprising, because he is usually not a fan of white chocolate. If you wanted variety, you could make some of each kind. You could use white chocolate mixed with orange marmalade for the truffle filling, then coat it with white chocolate if you wanted more of an orange creamsicle flavor.

How do you melt chocolate for dipping?

To melt chocolate for dipping, use a gentle heat method to avoid burning. Break the chocolate into small, uniform pieces (as with the chocolate chips in this recipe) for even melting. You can melt it using a double boiler or microwave. For the double boiler method, as shown in the recipe photos, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Adding shortening, as in this recipe, improves the smoothness. Although you can melt chocolate in the microwave for dipping, using short bursts, stirring between each, to prevent overheating, that is not the preferred method for this orange chocolate truffle recipe. You would be having to continually reheat the melted chocolate until all of the truffles were coated in chocolate. 

Do truffles need to be refrigerated?

Yes, white chocolate truffles store best in the refrigerator, at least the homemade variety. However, if the chocolate coating is too thick, chilled white chocolate raspberry truffles may be difficult to bite into. When you are coating the white chocolate truffles with melted chocolate, try to make sure the melted chocolate is not too thick. You could always set the covered container of white chocolate truffles out on a counter for a few hours, then see what you think of the difference.

Are truffles in chocolate truffles?

The traditional French truffles that are unearthed from the ground are not an ingredient in white chocolate truffles. The truffles from the ground have a more savory flavor. They are often used to add flavor to main dishes and side dishes, not desserts.

Why are chocolate truffles so expensive?

Shaping the truffles takes time. Also, good quality ingredients can be expensive. For this orange chocolate truffle recipe, you could cut costs by making your own own orange rhubarb jam or orange marmalade, but not everyone has the time to do that. Many people consider handmade chocolate truffles to be a work of art.

How do you know how much orange extract to use?

A good rule is to start with 1/4 teaspoon, then add more to taste. You can always add more, but once you add too much, you can’t take it away. This rule is good for any extract you are using to flavor truffles. In this recipe, using the orange marmalade by itself without the added orange extract will give a very mild orange flavor. The amount of extract you use is a matter of preference, but start small.

How long do homemade chocolate truffles last?

Chocolate truffles last about 3-4 days at room temperature. They last longer when they are refrigerated, about 2 weeks. Chocolate truffles may also be frozen up to 3 months, but you would want the truffles to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then come to room temperature before eating. If you want your truffles to last for a couple of weeks, but find that they are too difficult to bite into when eaten straight from the refrigerator, try selecting a few truffles from the refrigerator and letting those truffles come to room temperature before enjoying them.

How do you make white chocolate drizzle?

Use the same ingredients called for in the melted white chocolate coating for the truffles: 1 cup of white chocolate chips mixed with 2 teaspoons of shortening. When the white chocolate mixture has melted, use a spoon to drizzle the white chocolate over the truffles. It’s also wonderful drizzled over scones.

How do you eat a chocolate truffle?

Chocolate truffles are best when enjoyed at room temperature. They may be nibbled on delicately or consumed in a couple of bites. You could also pop the entire thing into your mouth, but it would be a generous mouthful. If the chocolate coating starts to melt in your hand while eating. you could always use the tines of a fork to hold the truffle while you take small bites.

What is inside a chocolate truffle?

Chocolate truffle fillings vary. Common ingredients for the inside of truffles include chocolate, butter, and cream, which form a rich ganache. Many different ingredients may be used for flavoring, including extracts. In the case of this recipe, orange marmalade was used to give the chocolate truffle an orange flavor with orange extract as an option for an additional punch of flavor.

Is it OK to freeze chocolate truffles?

Chocolate truffles may be frozen for up to 3 months. Before enjoying white chocolate truffles that have been in the freezer, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. Before serving, let them come to room temperature, then enjoy every delicious bite.

How do you dip truffles in chocolate?

As previously noted, you can use a double boiler or a heat-resistant bowl over hot water to melt the chocolate for dipping. Gently drop frozen truffles into the melted chocolate, quickly swirling around with a fork or spoon. A fork works well for letting excess white chocolate drip off back into the bowl of melted chocolate.

How do you roll truffles without melting them?

You need to work quickly to roll the frozen truffles around in the melted chocolate. Using a fork or spoon, swirl the frozen truffle around in the melted chocolate, coating the truffle. Speedily lift the truffle out of the warm chocolate, let the excess drip off, then place the truffle back on the foil-lined baking sheet.

What size scoop is best for truffles?

The scoop size that is generally used for making chocolate truffles is a size 100. That size is about 3/4 tablespoon capacity. It’s just the right tool for making these bite-sized gems.

How do you make perfectly round truffles?

The secret is using a size 100 scoop. You can also shape the truffles by hand after scooping, but work quickly so the chocolate doesn’t melt. You can run your hands under cold water beforehand so the chocolate won’t melt as quickly.

What do you do if a truffle is too soft?

Return the truffle to a freezer. Check after 30 minutes. If the truffle is still too soft, keep adding more time in the freezer until the desired firmness is reached.

Why is my truffle mix not setting?

Patience when mixing the chocolate, butter, and cream is important. If you heat the mixture too quickly, it will not become thick and creamy. Mix and stir on the low heat setting, then be sure to chill the mixture in the freezer for the recommended time before attempting to scoop and shape the mixture into balls.

What goes well with white chocolate?

White chocolate pairs well with fruits like strawberries, oranges, raspberries, or apricots. It also complements flavors such as vanilla, coconut, and citrus. Additionally, you can experiment with nuts like macadamia or almonds for a delightful combination. The orange filling in these orange chocolate truffles recipe is a popular combination.

More Food Inspiration

Thinking of making this white chocolate raspberry truffle recipe? Maybe you are inspired to make an entire homemade candy gift basket with dark chocolate peppermint bark, peanut butter fudge, chocolate scotcheroos, and milk chocolate toffee. Whether you are making a treat or making a meal, it’s always nice to have a plan. If you’re looking for a way to get more organized with your food planning efforts, I’ve got something for you. Free, editable meal planners! The templates can be used over and over, as often as you need them. You can make as many duplicates as you like, and you’ll be able to save old meal plans for future reference. I hope it simplifies things for you.

Get my digital, editable, printable templates!

I hope you enjoy making chocolate orange truffles. May all of your treat-making endeavors meet with great success!

 

 

Lisa Mitchell is a wife, mom, and school librarian who likes to create and share recipes, often using fresh ingredients from her family’s small Pacific Northwest farm. To learn more about what this website has to offer, click on over to the Food page.

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