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Chocolate bourbon truffles are a luxurious little treat—smooth, rich, and wonderfully grown-up. The warmth of Kentucky bourbon deepens the chocolate flavor without overpowering it, and the cream creates a silky, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
These truffles are perfect for gifting, celebrating a holiday, or treating yourself to something decadent. They’re easy to prepare ahead, endlessly customizable with different coatings, and beautiful on a dessert tray or after-dinner plate.
The truffles would be wonderful with chopped pistachios or hazelnuts, too.
What You’ll Like About This Recipe
Deep chocolate flavor. High-quality semisweet chocolate creates a rich, silky truffle.
A hint of bourbon. Adds warmth and complexity without being overpowering.
Make-ahead friendly. The mixture chills for hours and the finished truffles keep well.
Beautiful variety. Roll in cocoa powder, nuts, or sugar for an elegant finish.
Ingredient Notes
- Semisweet chocolate: Use a high-quality bar for the smoothest texture and deepest flavor.
- Heavy cream: Creates the velvety ganache base.
- Salt: A pinch sharpens and balances the sweetness.
- Kentucky bourbon: Adds warmth and a subtle spirited note.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances both chocolate and bourbon.
- Pecans: Finely chopped and mixed in for texture and flavor.
- Coatings: Cocoa powder, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and ground nuts each add their own finish.
Steps to Make Chocolate Bourbon Truffles With Chopped Pecans
- Melt the chocolate with the cream and salt over gentle heat, stirring until smooth.
- Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then stir in the bourbon, vanilla, and chopped pecans.
- Cover and refrigerate the mixture until firm, at least several hours.
- Scoop and quickly roll the chilled mixture into small balls.
- Chill again, then roll the truffles in your choice of coatings.
Pro Tip:
Chill the ganache thoroughly before rolling—overnight is ideal. Very cold ganache makes shaping much easier and helps the truffles hold their form.
Recipe Variations
- Extra bourbon flavor. Add an additional teaspoon of bourbon to intensify the warmth.
- Dark chocolate version. Use bittersweet chocolate for a deeper, less sweet truffle.
- No-nut option. Omit the pecans and roll the truffles in cocoa or powdered sugar.
- Liqueur twist. Replace bourbon with coffee liqueur, orange liqueur, or hazelnut liqueur.
- Coating variety. Roll in crushed cookies, toasted coconut, or sparkly sanding sugar.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve after dinner with coffee or espresso for a luxurious finish.
- Pair with a small glass of bourbon, brandy, or port.
- Add them to holiday dessert trays for a rich chocolate contrast.
- Choose decorative mini paper cups to present them for gifting.
How to Store Chocolate Bourbon Truffles
Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Keep chilled until serving.
Freezing: Freeze uncoated truffles for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, then roll in your preferred coating.
Serving: For the best texture, let the truffles sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before eating.
Chocolate Bourbon Truffles With Chopped Pecans
Ingredients
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- Pinch salt
- 2 tbsp Kentucky bourbon
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup finely chopped pecans
- cocoa powder, ground pecans, or granulated sugar, for rolling
Recommended Equipment
- Double boiler or heatproof bowl and saucepan
Instructions
- Combine chocolate, heavy cream, and salt in the top of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl over simmering water. Cook, stirring, until the mixture is smooth and the chocolate is melted.8 ounces semisweet chocolate | 2/3 cup heavy cream | Pinch salt
- Remove the bowl from the heat and let the mixture cool until just warm. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the bourbon. When the mixture has cooled to room temperature, stir in the remaining bourbon, vanilla extract, and chopped pecans.2 tbsp Kentucky bourbon | 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract | 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
- Cover and refrigerate the mixture for at least 6 hours.
- Use a small cookie scoop or teaspoon to portion the chilled chocolate mixture. Roll the portions quickly between your hands to form balls and place them on the sheet pan. Cover loosely and refrigerate the truffles for 1 to 2 hours or until firm. Roll in cocoa powder, ground pecans, or granulated sugar.cocoa powder, ground pecans, or granulated sugar
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
