Whiskey Truffles

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for details.

Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: My luscious Whiskey Truffles are decadent chocolate confections with a warming kick! These grown-up treats are a snap to make, and are perfect for Valentine’s Day and Saint Patrick’s Day! This recipe took careful testing because I wanted even non-whiskey drinkers to fall in love with it. The secret is in the ingredients. Use a good-quality bittersweet chocolate—it’s the main flavor and truly matters here. Don’t be shy with the salt either; it enhances and balances the richness of the chocolate with the smooth warmth of O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey. Feel free to double the ganache so you’ll have a stash of these elegant truffles ready for gifting or serving at a party.

• No-bake! Melt the chocolate in the microwave or on the stovetop.
• A handful of ingredients: Sophisticated flavor and luxurious texture from only seven ingredients.
• Chocolatier-quality: My Whiskey Truffles make a beautiful gift, and at about 40 cents per truffle, they’re a fraction of the cost of the $3 dollar versions at fancy chocolate shops.
• The perfect amount of cheer: These truffles have a mellow boozy flavor.
• 30 minutes to prepare: Roll the mixture into balls and pop them in the fridge to chill.

I adore good-quality chocolate candy—who doesn’t?!—but I really love making it for friends. People are so impressed when you serve elegant, decadent Whiskey Truffles, but they have no idea how easy they are to make! Be sure to check out my Nutella Truffles, Salted Caramel Chocolate Truffles, and Clotted Cream Chocolate Truffles, too.

I know a bit about whiskey, too! I’m lucky to have a family connection to the maker of one of Ireland’s finest whiskeys—O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey is made by Stafford Bonded (in my hometown of Wexford!), where my cousin, Michael Stafford, is the managing director. O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey is known for its unparalleled smoothness, which comes from being aged in bourbon casks for a minimum of three years. It’s lovely on its own, or in my Irish Whiskey Crème Brûlée, Chocolate Mousse, and Whiskey Cake with Whiskey Caramel.

Table of Contents

• What are Whiskey Truffles?
• Tools You Need
• Key Ingredients and Substitutes
• How to Make Whiskey Truffles
• Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
• Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
• FAQs
• More Candy Recipes

What are Whiskey Truffles?

Whiskey Truffles are creamy, intensely chocolate ganache confections spiked with smooth O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey and rolled in cocoa powder. These no-bake candies are easy to make, yet have a professional look. Truffles originated in France in the late 1800s, and the soft chocolate candies were named for their resemblance to the gourmet fungus. These Whiskey Truffles are ideal for dessert, gifting, Valentine’s Day, and Saint Patrick’s Day.

Tools You Need

• Microwave-safe bowl or double-boiler
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Glass measuring jug
• Silicone spatulas
• Small baking tray
• Parchment paper
• Melon baller or cookie scoop

Key Ingredients and Substitutes

Bittersweet chocolate

• Bittersweet chocolate gives the truffles a deep cocoa flavor.
• Importantly, bittersweet chocolate, with a cocoa butter content of 63 to 72%, has enough cocoa solids to give the truffles structure.
• Substitute: If you prefer, use semi-sweet chocolate to make semi-sweet chocolate truffles or use dark chocolate to make dark chocolate truffles.
  • Do not use milk chocolate, as it will make the truffles too soft to hold their shape. 

Heavy whipping cream

• Heavy whipping cream blends with the chocolate to create a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth ganache.
• Please use heavy whipping cream here, and not light cream
• Substitute: Use full-fat coconut cream for a vegan truffle.
  • You can use the same amount of half-and-half instead of heavy whipping cream, but the truffles will be softer and will need more time to set firmly.

Butter

• Butter makes the ganache silky and rich.
• Additionally, the butter helps the truffles firm up when they chill.

O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey

• O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey gives the ganache truffles a smooth, boozy flavor.
• Substitute: You can use the same amount of another type of whiskey or bourbon, or use rum instead.
• For an alcohol-free version, use strong, cooled coffee.

Vanilla extract

• Vanilla extract highlights the other ingredients and rounds out any bitter notes.
• Substitute: Use the same amount of Vanilla Bean Paste.

Salt

• Salt enhances the chocolate flavor and balances the sweetness.

Unsweetened cocoa powder

• Unsweetened cocoa powder gives the truffles a finished look and absorbs excess moisture.
• Substitutes: If you prefer, roll the truffles in Dutch-processed cocoa (it has a milder taste), or a mixture of half confectioner’s sugar and half unsweetened cocoa powder, or finely grated chocolate.

How to Make Whiskey Truffles

Make the Whiskey Ganache

1. Start the ganache: In a large, microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate, cream, and butter, then microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate has melted, about 2 to 3 minutes. (You can also use a double-boiler for this.)

2. Stir in whiskey, and chill: Stir in the whiskey, then cover the bowl, and refrigerate for 4 hours, until completely chilled and firm.

Shape the Truffles

3. Prepare the tray: Line a small tray with parchment paper.
4. Scoop and roll the ganache: Use a melon baller or a teaspoon to scoop rounded balls of the chocolate mixture, roll roughly between your palms, and drop onto the parchment paper.

5. Chill the balls: Chill for 30 minutes.

Coat the Truffles

6. Roll and coat the truffles: Roll each ball in your palm again to shape the truffle, then toss in the cocoa powder to coat. Return to the tray.

7. Re-chill if necessary: If the chocolate starts to get too soft to roll, return to the refrigerator for a few minutes before continuing.

FULL (PRINTABLE) RECIPE BELOW!

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• Use the same amount of semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate instead of bittersweet chocolate, if you prefer.
• If you want truffles with a boozier flavor (this recipe will give you a subtle whiskey flavor), increase the whiskey to ⅓ cup (2 ½ fl oz/80 ml) and decrease the heavy cream to ⅓ cup (2 ½ fl oz/80 ml).
• For additional notes of flavor, add 1 teaspoon of finely grated orange zest, or 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder, or a pinch of ground cardamom. If you want additional texture, stir in 2 tablespoons of cocoa nibs or very finely chopped toasted almonds or hazelnuts.
• If the chilled ganache is too stiff to scoop, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to soften slightly.
•  Food-grade latex gloves can help keep the ganache from melting as you roll it. This is very helpful if your hands tend to run hot.
• Don’t worry too much about rolling perfect spheres. Truffles are traditionally a little irregular to resemble actual truffles.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make-ahead tip

• You can make the truffles in advance and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.

How to store leftovers

• Store truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
• Allow truffles to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

FAQs

Why is my ganache splitting, and how do I fix it?

• Ganache can split when heated too quickly, so warm it gently in the microwave or over low heat in a double boiler.
• Importantly, don’t add the whiskey until the chocolate mixture is fully blended and smooth.
• Blend the mixture gently, as vigorous stirring could separate the ganache.
• If the ganache starts to split, stir it slowly to bring it back together, or add a spoonful of warmed cream and store.

Can I make these truffles without alcohol?

• Yes, you can make these truffles without alcohol.
• For a similar intense flavor, use cooled, strongly brewed coffee or espresso.

How do I keep the ganache from melting as I’m rolling it?

• Dust your hands with cocoa powder to keep the ganache from melting or sticking.
• To keep the ganache from melting, pop it back in the fridge to help solidify it.

More Candy Recipes

• Honeycomb Candy
• Candy Bar Fudge
• Classic English Toffee
• Pure Maple Candy
• Salted Caramel Candies

Try These Recipes!

Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs (Reese's Eggs)

Eggnog Truffles

Whiskey Balls (No-Bake)

Marshmallow Fluff Fudge