Irresistible 5-Ingredient Nutella Truffles: Your Ultimate Chocolate Hazelnut Treat
Prepare to be enchanted! These fun and incredibly easy chocolate-hazelnut truffles require just 5 simple ingredients and deliver an explosion of rich, decadent flavor. If you’re a fan of the classic combination of chocolate and hazelnuts, this recipe is about to become your new favorite obsession.
My Lingering Love Affair with Nutella
My journey into the delightful world of Nutella began years ago during a semester abroad in London. It was a simple, yet transformative experience. Almost every single morning for two glorious months, my toast was generously slathered with that irresistible chocolate-hazelnut spread. It was a true love affair, a daily ritual that brought immense joy. However, as much as I adored it, my adult waistline isn’t quite as forgiving as my college metabolism was! Nowadays, I rarely keep a jar of Nutella around the house, saving it for truly special occasions or specific recipes that call for its unique magic.
This holiday season, I found myself craving that nostalgic, comforting taste, that perfect harmony of chocolate and hazelnut. So, I decided to create a treat that would capture that essence in a luxurious, bite-sized form. These Nutella truffles were born out of that craving – a delightful indulgence for myself, and hopefully, for you too!
When I set out to make them, I got a little carried away (in the best possible way, of course!). I didn’t want just a subtle hint of that incredible flavor; I wanted the magical combination of rich chocolate and nutty hazelnuts to be front and center, bold and undeniable. And that’s precisely what these truffles deliver. They are a chocolate-hazelnut lover’s dream come true, boasting a rich, unbelievably creamy center perfectly complemented by a delightful outer crunch of finely chopped hazelnuts. Every bite is pure bliss!
The Magic Behind These Simple Truffles
What makes these Nutella truffles so incredibly special? It’s their perfect balance of simplicity and sophistication. With only five ingredients, you’ll be amazed at the depth of flavor and luxurious texture you can achieve. They look elegant and taste utterly divine, making them ideal for holiday gatherings, a thoughtful homemade gift, or simply a well-deserved treat after a long day.
The secret lies in creating a smooth, rich chocolate ganache base, then infusing it generously with Nutella. This combination forms a truffle that melts in your mouth, leaving behind a lingering taste of premium chocolate and roasted hazelnuts. Rolling them in chopped hazelnuts adds an extra layer of texture and boosts that authentic hazelnut aroma, elevating these from simple sweets to gourmet delights.
Choosing Your Ingredients: Quality Matters
While the recipe only calls for five ingredients, the quality of each plays a crucial role in the final outcome. Investing in good ingredients will truly make these truffles sing.
Baking Tip: The Best Chocolate for Melting
When melting chocolate, it’s important to start with pure, real chocolate. Look at the ingredient list and make sure it contains cocoa butter and not a substitute like palm oil. Cocoa butter will melt smoothly, creating a glossy, emulsified ganache. Ingredients like palm oil are often used in some chocolate chips and other products so they hold their shape during baking, but they don’t provide the same smooth melt or luxurious texture needed for truffles.
You can use high-quality chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bars. My favorite brands for melting and making ganache include Bakers, Guittard, Callebaut, and Ghirardelli. Remember, the higher quality chocolate you use, the richer, smoother, and more delicious your finished truffles will be!
Detailed Ingredient Breakdown:
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate: As mentioned in the baking tip, this is key. Good quality semi-sweet chocolate provides the foundational richness for your truffles. It should melt smoothly and have a good cocoa butter content for that silky texture.
- Heavy Cream: This is essential for creating the ganache. The high fat content of heavy cream (or whipping cream) emulsifies with the chocolate, creating a stable, creamy, and decadent base for your truffles.
- Butter: A small amount of unsalted butter adds extra richness, a glossy sheen, and helps create an even smoother, more luxurious mouthfeel in your truffle centers.
- Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread (Nutella): This is where the magic happens! A full cup ensures that iconic, intense chocolate-hazelnut flavor we all adore. While Nutella is the most popular choice, feel free to use your favorite brand of chocolate-hazelnut spread. Just ensure it’s a good quality one for the best flavor payoff.
- Hazelnuts (Finely Chopped): These are used for the outer coating, adding a crucial textural contrast and intensifying the hazelnut flavor. Lightly toasting them before chopping can bring out even more nutty aroma, though it’s an optional step.
Essential Tools for Crafting Your Truffles
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Having the right tools makes the process even smoother. Here are a few items that will come in handy:
- Heat-Proof Bowl: Essential for melting chocolate over a double boiler.
- Saucepan: For simmering water to create your double boiler setup.
- Spatula or Whisk: For stirring the chocolate mixture until smooth.
- Measuring Cups & Spoons: For accurate ingredient measurements.
- Cookie Scoop (Tablespoon Size): This is a game-changer for portioning out uniform truffles quickly and neatly.
- Baking Sheet Lined with Parchment Paper: For chilling the truffles without sticking.
- Air-tight Container: For proper storage of your finished truffles.
Nutella Truffles
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Ingredients
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (226 grams), chopped
- ½ cup heavy cream (125 ml)
- 2 tablespoons butter (30 grams), cubed
- 1 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread, such as Nutella (295 grams)
- Approximately 1 cup hazelnuts (142 grams), finely chopped
Instructions
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In a heat-proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, add the chopped chocolate, heavy cream, and butter. Heat until melted and combined, stirring frequently. Remove from heat when most chocolate is melted but a few small chunks remain. Continue to stir off heat until smooth.
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Stir in chocolate-hazelnut spread.
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Chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours until firm and scoop-able. You can speed this process up by placing in the freezer for 30 minutes, then transferring to the fridge.
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Use a tablespoon to scoop and portion chocolate, and roll in your hands to form a ball. Wipe hands clean in between every few truffles as needed.
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Roll in crushed hazelnuts.
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Store in the fridge until ready to serve. Truffles will keep for a week or more.
Notes
- This recipe uses almost one entire 13-oz jar of Nutella.
Recipe inspiration from Sally’s Candy Addiction.
Mastering the Truffle-Making Process: Tips for Success
Making homemade truffles might sound intimidating, but with this simple recipe and a few key tips, you’ll be a pro in no time! Let’s walk through the instructions with extra detail to ensure your Nutella truffles turn out perfectly every time.
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Melt the Chocolate Base: In a heat-proof bowl, combine your chopped semi-sweet chocolate, heavy cream, and butter. Place this bowl over a pot of simmering water (ensuring the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water). This is known as a double boiler, and it’s the gentlest way to melt chocolate, preventing it from seizing or burning. Stir frequently until the chocolate is mostly melted but a few small chunks still remain. Remove the bowl from the heat and continue stirring until the residual heat melts the remaining chocolate, creating a beautifully smooth and glossy ganache. Do not overheat the chocolate!
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Incorporate the Nutella: Once your ganache is smooth, stir in the chocolate-hazelnut spread. Mix thoroughly until the Nutella is completely combined with the chocolate mixture, resulting in a homogenous, deeply flavorful base for your truffles.
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Chill for Firmness: Transfer the mixture to a clean bowl (or simply cover the one you used) and place it in the fridge for 2-3 hours. This chilling time is crucial for the ganache to firm up enough to be scoop-able and roll-able. If you’re in a hurry, you can place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes, then move it to the fridge to continue firming up. The mixture should be firm enough to hold its shape but still pliable.
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Scoop and Roll: Once the mixture is chilled to the perfect consistency, use a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop to portion out equal amounts of the truffle mixture. Roll each portion between your palms to form smooth, round balls. Your hands will get messy! Keep a clean cloth or paper towel nearby to wipe your hands clean every few truffles as needed, as this helps prevent the mixture from sticking too much.
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Coat with Hazelnuts: Place your finely chopped hazelnuts in a shallow dish. Roll each formed truffle in the crushed hazelnuts, ensuring it’s evenly coated on all sides. Gently press the hazelnuts onto the truffle if needed to help them adhere.
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Store and Serve: Place the finished truffles in an airtight container and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Chilling helps them maintain their shape and delightful texture. These homemade Nutella truffles will keep beautifully for a week or even longer in the refrigerator, though it’s unlikely they’ll last that long once your family and friends discover them!
Creative Variations and Gifting Ideas
While these 5-ingredient Nutella truffles are perfect as is, you can always get creative with different coatings and presentations:
- Cocoa Powder: For a classic truffle look and a slightly bitter contrast to the sweet interior, roll some truffles in unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Powdered Sugar: A dusting of powdered sugar adds a delicate sweetness and a beautiful, ethereal appearance.
- Sprinkles: Make them extra festive for holidays or parties by rolling them in colorful sprinkles.
- Desiccated Coconut: For a tropical twist, roll them in finely shredded or desiccated coconut.
- Melted Chocolate Drizzle: Dip half the truffle in melted dark or white chocolate for a sophisticated finish.
- Spices: A pinch of cinnamon or chili powder stirred into the ganache can add an intriguing depth of flavor.
These homemade Nutella truffles make fantastic gifts! Arrange them in a pretty box with parchment paper, tie it with a ribbon, and you have a thoughtful, delicious present that everyone will appreciate. They’re perfect for hostess gifts, teacher appreciation, or just to show someone you care.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Easy Truffle Recipe
This recipe isn’t just about making delicious truffles; it’s about the joy of creating something incredibly decadent with minimal effort. It’s perfect for novice bakers and seasoned pros alike, offering a rewarding experience from start to finish. The combination of simple ingredients and straightforward steps means you can whip up a batch of these glorious chocolate hazelnut treats whenever a craving strikes, or when you need a quick, impressive dessert.
So, go ahead and treat yourself (and your loved ones!) to these amazing 5-ingredient Nutella truffles. They’re rich, they’re creamy, they’re crunchy, and they’re undeniably delicious. Get ready to experience the ultimate chocolate hazelnut indulgence!