Jamie's Christmas truffles

Jamie Oliver Amazing DIY chocolate truffles recipe

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Date Published:
15/12/2008

Jamie says, "These are deconstructed chocolate truffles and if you arrange this nicely on a table, put a few cocktail sticks next to them and let people get stuck in and make their own I’m telling you, you’ll have some excited guests. It’s interesting, it’s different and to be able to make your own truffle is really quite cool, not to mention delicious. It’s worth remembering that chocolate is friends with lots of different booze so if you prefer, you can swap out the brandy here for rum, whiskey or red wine."

Makes about 50 teaspoon-sized truffles

Ingredients

  • 300ml double cream
  • A knob of unsalted butter
  • Finely grated zest from 1 clementine
  • 300g good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken into small pieces
  • A pinch sea salt
  • A splash of brandy
  • A handful of mixed nuts (Brazil nuts, toasted almonds and hazelnuts)
  • 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, to serve
  • 1 pack biscotti, to serve
  • 1 bottle of Vin Santo, to serve

Method: How to make chocolate truffles

1. Put the cream in a pan over a medium heat and let it heat up. You don’t want it boiling, just hot. As soon as tiny bubbles start to appear add the knob of butter and the clementine zest. Once the butter has melted pour this hot mixture over the chocolate pieces whisking as you go so the chocolate melts nice and slowly. If the mixture splits slightly, don’t worry, you can bring it right by adding a splash of boiling water.

2. Add a pinch of salt to the mixture; it may sound bonkers, but the smallest pinch of salt actually makes chocolate taste even more chocolatey! Stir in a splash of brandy. Once completely melted and smooth, pour your melted chocolate mixture into a nice little serving dish or bowl. Pop this in the fridge for about 2 hours to set. Christmas is a busy time so you can always do this a few days before you need it if you want. About 30 minutes before you’re ready to make your truffles pull the bowl out of the fridge and let the chocolate warm up to room temperature.

3. Put your mixed nuts into a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to bash them up quite finely. Get some little saucers or bowls and put the nuts in one and your cocoa powder in the other. Put a teacup filled with boiled water on the tray and pop a few teaspoons in there for scooping the chocolate. Get everyone around the table to spoon their own truffles out of the serving dish and roll them in cocoa powder, crushed nuts or anything else you fancy. Or, you can let them smear their truffles over a biscotti like some posh Nutella! Serve with a few glasses of your chilled Vin Santo.

Jamie Oliver

© 2008 Jamie Oliver

Taken from Jamie Cooks Christmas.


Photography © 2008 David Loftus

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Comments

  1. Could I put something else in place of the wines, brandies...etc into the mixture?
    Posted by Shamma on 03/03/2009 20:15:31
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  2. JAMIE HAS GOT IT DOWN TO A FINE ART. PERFECT TRUFFLES, WITH THE SALT BRINGING OUT THE CHOCLATE AND ROLLING IN NUTS.. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO MAKE TRUFFLES BUT HIS WAY IS THE BEST...
    Posted by zahra on 16/01/2009 03:18:50
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  3. Delicious. I followed the recipe and all went really well. I used a dash of Rum instead of the Vin Santo, which gave the truffles a great nutty and boozy flavour. I will try it today with lime and chilli powder. Go Jamie!
    Posted by Gaby on 04/01/2009 11:15:23
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  4. Where's the Christmas book Jamie, we dont want Nigella. Show is so popular, cant get a fig anywhere!
    Posted by Cathy on 21/12/2008 20:15:18
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  5. its always great to see jamie on the telly me and husband love how he makes easy meals but yet are so good in nutrients i have his new book and it great and easy to understand (ministry of food ) thank u jamie for making easy yet great tasting meals xxx
    Posted by brenda ruding mother of 4 on 20/12/2008 15:58:06
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  6. i want to make this fantastic quick easy treat for xmas but i need to know were i can buy vin santo from my local supermarket does not sell this is there anywere i can purchase this from or is there another alternative?
    Posted by jamies diy truffles on 19/12/2008 21:38:29
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  7. Jamie, Why do you advise using unsalted butter and then a few moments later add a pinch of salt to make the chocolate to make it taste even more chocolately. Would it be ok to use normal salted butter and not bother with the pinch of salt?
    Posted by confused@Xmas on 19/12/2008 21:37:33
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  8. Very good!
    Posted by Nuriya Powell on 19/12/2008 18:20:45
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  9. I watched Jamie make all his recipes last night, again he makes everything so easy and so tasty. Am going to try and make his turkey and leek pie over the next few weekends - what perfect winter comfort food. Well done Jamie - keep going mate.
    Posted by Tracy Howard on 19/12/2008 12:49:37
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  10. Well done Jamie! it is so good to see you back doing what you are best at! No F words! just good food in a relaxed and friendly programme. We had just about given up on you after watching you swearing and trying to be like Gordon Ramsay (who we detest by the way). People do not want to hear swearing in cookery programmes let alone anywhere else on the TV !! and we are not old fashioned and doddery, quite the opposite.
    Posted by Maggie on 19/12/2008 11:33:54
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  11. Scotch Bonnets are a type of chilli - quite hot ones!
    Posted by Janie on 19/12/2008 10:16:46
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  12. Just watched your program, in this credit crunch christmas,some very good ideas we can all use. Your program showed a BACK down to earth Jamie. Many thanks.
    Posted by Barry on 18/12/2008 22:09:51
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