Thursday, March 18, 2010

Peanut Butter Truffles


Chocolate truffles - another thing I can cross off my list of things I wanted to make! And another thing that for some reason seems scary or difficult but is actually one of the easiest things ever. Can you heat cream and peanut butter, pour it over chopped chocolate, add butter, refrigerate and then scoop into balls? Super easy and very well received. The truffles had that wonderful yielding chocolate ganache texture, mmm. I rolled most of them in chopped roasted, salted peanuts but because the truffles are so soft, I'd recommend coating them in chocolate first and then rolling them in nuts (or not).


If this sounds good, you might also like:
Chocolate Cookie Bark
Peanut Butter Fudge
Rich Chocolate Cheesecake
Marshmallow Crunch Brownie Bars

Peanut Butter Truffles
Adapted from The Sweet Melissa Baking Book

Makes about 5 dozen truffles

I'd recommend dipping the truffles in melted chocolate before rolling them in nuts.

12 ounces best quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 3/4 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
5 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 cups roasted salted peanuts, finely chopped, for rolling

1. In a small pot over medium heat, stir the heavy cream and peanut butter until the cream is steaming and tiny bubbles have formed along the edges. Do not boil. Whisk until smooth.

3. Pour the hot peanut butter cream over the chocolate to cover completely. Set aside for 5 minutes, and then whisk until smooth.

4. Whisk in the butter to the still-warm chocolate mixture until smooth.

5. Refrigerate uncovered until the truffle base is firm enough to scoop, at least 2 hours. Using a small cookie scoop, scoop out the truffle base, and form into balls by rolling them around quickly in your hands.

6. Place the chopped peanuts in a shallow soup bowl. Roll each truffle in peanuts to cover.

The truffles are best eaten at room temperature. They keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

15 comments:

The Food Librarian said...

Looks delicious! What a pretty photo too. I just want to reach in and grab one! - mary

Kristin (Book Sniffers Anonymous) said...

These look amazing. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

Sara said...

Awesome! I'd be tempted to eat them all, if I made these!

Anh said...

Truffles I have made plenty, but not peanut butter truffles! These look really yummy.

Homemade Heaven said...

Oh no, another chocolate recipe I have to make and then spend another 2 weeks sweating it all off in the gym - why do I even try? This is such a great recipe, I can hardly wait to get home and try it. Thank you!

Johanna GGG said...

I can't even remember making plain creamy truffles because I am always putting something in them - often coconut - but I love the simplicity of the recipe - though I think rolling soft mixture into balls is easier to write than do - though yours look perfect

By the way in answer to your comment about sugar and salt in scones - I think that American recipes tend to be sweeter than Australian ones but I am super sensitive at the moment as trying not to overload sylvia's young system

Beatrice said...

Wonderful photo -- and I just can't resist anything with peanut butter and chocolate...

Katrina said...

I just learned how easy truffles are in Feb. at a class and they are awesome and so versatile. Yours look de-lish. Love the whole pb/peanut idea.

grace said...

how very photogenic these little orbs are! they probably taste all right too... :)

Hannah said...

I'm not crazy about plain truffles, but these would be a different story! Love how they're just loaded with crunchy, peanut-y goodness!

Pam Walter said...

These look like more! I think I'll try these instead of my Buckeyes recipe. http://blog.sweetservices.com/sweetscandyblog/

Deborah said...

How I wish I had one (or two!) of these right now!

Anonymous said...

oooh it's things like this that make me pine for peanut butter. If my son wasn't allergic I would surely make these! oh I miss all things nut! they look gorgous!

Teanna said...

I would get in SO MUCH TROUBLE with these! Seriously! How could you do this to me! Hahah! What a brilliant idea!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

This sounds so easy and sooo delicious. Definitely on my DIY list, too!