Nutella Truffles
Mix up that holiday cookie tray with some of these Nutella Truffles!
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These Nutella Truffles taste like winning the jackpot. And how do I know what winning the jackpot tastes like? Because Laura won it…on the same day that I made these truffles! I guess I should elaborate, huh?
A new casino recently opened in Schenectady, NY (bonus points if you can spell Schenectady without looking at it). We’ve had a casino up in Saratoga for a while, but that one only has slot machines. The new one is the real deal with cards, dealers and the like. We’re not really gambling people, although we will spend a little bit here and there for fun. We’ll each bet $10 whenever we go to the Saratoga Race Course, and we’ll bet a little bit on slots whenever we end up near a casino. Once that money is gone, it’s gone. We basically view it as the cost of entertainment.
But back to this jackpot. Laura often goes out with coworkers on Thursday evenings for ‘nerd metallurgist happy hour.’ (I can only imagine what sort of conversations happen during this happy hour.) This past week, they decided to go to the new casino in Schenectady to check it out. No one really planned on playing any games or betting, but Laura decided to have a little fun before she left. She cashed in $10 and headed over to the penny slots. That’s how we roll around here. You get more entertainment bang for your buck penny at the slots.
I was in the kitchen cleaning up after putting Robbie to bed. There were some Nutella Truffles on the counter, and I was about to bite into one when I heard my phone ding. It was a text message from Laura: “This just happened” followed by this photo.
Jackpot! Laura’s always been lucky whenever she bets somewhere for the first time. She won $50 on a longshot horse at Saratoga the first time she went to the track. She won $20 at another casino. But she’s never won the jackpot…until now! $120.84. It’s not enough to retire on, but it paid for the babysitter and a dinner out this past weekend! And get this: she won that $120.84 on a 60¢ bet. That’s a 200x return on your money. I’ll take that!
But let’s talk about these Nutella Truffles for a bit. I thought I had come up with the best thing of the day, and I was excited for Laura to come home and try these…until she upstaged me by winning the freakin’ jackpot! Haha…just kidding. She can go win the jackpot every Thursday if she wants! (Of course, her luck disappears after her first time, so she’s cut herself off from betting anymore at Schenectady.) These Nutella Truffles feature a smooth texture with a deep chocolate flavor with a hint of toasted hazelnuts. Delicious!
As we head into the holiday cookie season, mix it up a bit with some of these Nutella Truffles! I still want my classic holiday cookies, but I’ll gladly mix up the cookie tray with some chocolate hazelnut truffles. Just 28 shopping days left until Christmas. So grab that shopping list…or on second thought, ditch the shopping list. Give everyone a batch of Nutella Truffles this year! And as for me? I’m sending Laura out to buy a lottery ticket. Maybe we’ll win a real jackpot! Cheers!
Nutella Truffles
Ingredients
For the Truffles
- 10 oz. semi-sweet chocolate finely chopped
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chocolate hazelnut spread i.e. Nutella
For the Chocolate Coating
- ½ cup hazelnuts
- 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 tsp canola oil
Instructions
For the Truffles
- Place chocolate in medium bowl.
- Heat heavy cream until hot, but not boiling. Pour over chocolate and let sit for 2 minutes. Using a spatula, stir mixture until well combined and chocolate has completely melted. (If necessary, place mixture in a heatproof bowl over a gently simmering saucepan of water. Heat indirectly until chocolate has fully melted.)
- Add chocolate hazelnut spread; stir until well combined.
- Pour mixture into a shallow baking pan (I used an 8”x8” brownie pan). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a small cookie scoop (or a spoon), scoop out chocolate mixture and roll into 1” balls. Place balls on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Continue until all chocolate has been rolled into balls. (Note: This step will get messy. Just own it!)
- Place cookie sheet in freezer for 15 minutes.
For the Chocolate Coating
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 9-10 minutes. While still hot, transfer the hazelnuts into a kitchen towel and rub together vigorously to remove most of the skins. (Note: The skins come off easier while hot, and the kitchen towel allows you to handle the hot hazelnuts. Don't worry if some skins remain.)
- Once cool, place the hazelnuts in a food processor or mini-chopper. Process until finely ground. Set chopped hazelnuts aside.
- Using a small bowl, add chocolate and canola oil. Using a microwave or double-burner, heat chocolate until fully melted and smooth.
- Remove truffles from freezer. Using a fork, dip each truffle into melted chocolate and then place back on parchment-lined sheet pan. Before chocolate sets, sprinkle chopped hazelnuts on top of each truffle.
- Refrigerate truffles for at least 30 minutes before serving. (Store any leftover truffles in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 7 days.)
That is quite the return 😉 !! I’d be happy with that! You know what else I’d be happy with? These truffles! Seriously – Nutella Truffles? These sound dreamy. I would love to make a batch of these for gifting during the holidays but, then again, I know I’d be tempted to keep for myself, lol. Pinned! Have a wonderful week, David!
It sure is quite the return! I mean we’re not going to retire on Laura’s winnings, but I’ll gladly take that any night of the week! 🙂 And, yes, you do have to make a batch of these truffles sometime during the holidays. They’re perfect for adding to a cookie tray! (But you also have to make sure to taste them first, too…baker’s rule!) Thanks, Dawn!
Congratulations to Laura! I won bingo once at a basketball game forever ago and I still smile every time I think about it. As for these truffles, I LOOOOOVE Nutella way more than I should and the only way I can justify having it in the house is if I’m baking it into something immediately. Your truffles are for sure happening just as fast as I can pick up a jar of the good stuff 🙂
Hey, bingo at a basketball game is legit! What did you win? Similarly (sorta), I caught a fly ball at a Charleston Rainbows (our minor league team back when I was a kid) game, and I thought I was the coolest kid on the block! 🙂 It doesn’t take much! So if you love Nutella, then you just have to make a batch of truffles sometime during the holidays. It’s a requirement! Santa says so!
Congrats on the win! How fun…
And who doesn’t love Nutella! Especially wrapped up in chocolate. These are a perfect holiday treat.
These truffles really are perfect for the holidays! They look great when scattered amongst cookies on a cookie tray…if they make it that far. 🙂 Thanks, Marissa!
Nutella truffles look and sound amazing! Nutella always reminds me of when we were somewhere in Europe where they sold what looked like gallon-sized drums of Nutella. My kids, of course, wanted one, but settled for a photo with one. I do love making truffles, and I love that this recipe is easy and has just a few ingredients. Thanks!
Yes! I have totally seen those gallon-sized (or even larger!?) containers of Nutella in Europe. And I always wonder if I can sneak one into my bag to bring back home. Haha! These truffles are super easy to make (perhaps a bit messy, but that’s ok)…and they’re also super easy to eat! 🙂 Thanks, Laura!!
Congrats on this winning, guys! Laura should continue going to this casino until the day her luck disappeares (or until she’s banned from entering the building by the administration). I’m not a gambler either, but we’ve been to a casino in Niagara Falls a few times. We have the same approach – only a limited amount of money to spend (like 10-15$). Also, we prefer cheaper machines too. I mean, winning anything having just 10-15 dollars is so unlikely so I prefer to at least spend 10 minutes rather than one:) Also, these hazelnut truffles are insanely delicious. Perfect for celebrating holidays and jackpots. So if you have any money left, please make a dozen if this for me, and ship (You can send Laura as well if she promises to win some money for us) 🙂
See, that’s the thing, Ben. Laura always has luck on her first visit to the casino…but then never again. So she’s cut herself off from betting any more at the Schenectady casino. Haha! And I agree with you about the cheap machines. It’s way too easy to lose all of your money at the expensive ones. Why not just enjoy the experience of losing instead? Hah! You know what, thought? That’s a good idea about sending Laura up your way. There’s bound to be a casino that she hasn’t visited, so that means her luck will hold! And I’ll send some of these truffles up with her, too. Thanks, Ben!!
Yummy! I love truffles! And those look so delicious!
Why thank you so much, Joanne! These truffles really are quite delicious…and perfect for the holidays! 🙂
Congratulations to Laura on her win. Can you believe Christmas is this close?These truffles sound perfect for the holidays.
I know! I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner already. I know it’s kinda cliche to say, but I swear every year just gets faster and faster. Oh well, embrace the season with some chocolate and Nutella! That’s my philosophy! 🙂 Thanks, Dawn!
It’s always good to receive a win like that. Well done Laura! And then to be able not to stick it all back in the machine and actually bring home the money so you both can share something from the winnings, bravo!
The only thing David. Why didn’t you keep all the money for an even more magnificent dinner and pay the babysitter with these delicious truffles instead? LOL
Yeah, I was so surprised when I got that text from Laura about the jackpot. I was like, “wait…is that you!?” Ah, but I like the way you think, Neil! I’m pretty sure the babysitter wouldn’t have minded getting paid in these truffles. Haha!! Heck, I’d watch Robbie for an evening alone if I had a plate of these Nutella truffles sitting next to me. 🙂
WOW….Congrats to Laura, that is a great win. I am absolutely loving these Nutella truffles. I just bought a jar of Nutella this past weekend for my son who is addicted to the stuff…and I would love to try it in this recipe ( if I can just pry the jar out of his hands that is)😉
We absolutely love Nutella around here, too! I often just put a bit on a piece of toast, but I decided to go all in this time with these truffles…and they turned out so well! 🙂 You should make a batch of these for your son as a surprise. Thanks so much, Ashika!!
Hi David!!!!! I hope you have been well, I’ve been crazy busy but I’m so happy to be back and check out your drool-worthy recipes. I’ve always wanted to make truffles, they seem simple enough but I’ve just never had the pleasure. Sadly I’m not a huge nutella fan but I surly don’t hate it. I am also not a big fan of gambling but I do love going to casinos, they are so much fun and theres always something going on. Yay!! Laura won the jackpot 🙂 She’s one lucky woman.
Mary!!! You’re back! I’m not gonna lie. I’ve missed you! 🙂 So these truffles really are super easy to make, but I totally understand about Nutella. We love it here, but you could easily use peanut butter and chopped peanuts instead. They’re kindof a mess to make, but so totally worth it in the end! We’re not the gambling types either, but we do like to play just a little bit if we end up at a casino or the horse races…and wouldn’t you know it, but Laura won the “jackpot”! Haha! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope your crazy schedule means the business is taking off! Just don’t forget about us little guys when you get famous, ok? 😉
Oh Nutella, why do you taste so good?! I had a Nutella donut recently & was in sweet tooth heaven. I’m sure these truffles are delicious!
Woot woot, Go Laura! It’s always exciting to win any kind of money, and like you said, that’s a pretty sweet rate of return. My husband and I are the same way with gambling.. I could walk through a casino and have no desire to gamble, but if I ever wind up putting a few bucks down to bet, I’ll get into it.
Nutella really is so good! 🙂 We typically like to put a shmear (yes, a shmear) on toasted wheat bread, but I decided to go all in this time and make truffles. Fun and delicious…and Santa approved! Thanks so much, Nicole!
Oh my goodness! I sure could do some serious damage to a plate of these! I haven’t brought Nutella into the house in so long as I don’t trust myself around it and Lil Shashi doesn’t care for it – so…yeah… a spoon + nutella + me… yeah… it won’t be pretty! But these are such a fantastic idea! And – you say a casino opened up near y’all…now I’ve gotta rethink us coming up there – I’m not a huge gambler either, but $10 would be an easy and fun spend – and I might stop by y’alls place and grab some of these beauts as well!
Wait, Lil Shashi doesn’t like Nutella? I think she might be the only person in the world! Haha! 🙂 These truffles turned out quite well, and I had to send the leftovers with Laura to work…I knew I couldn’t trust myself around them! And I’ll gladly keep a platter of these truffles on hand in case you make your way up here, my friend! Cheers!
That’s a great return! I’m hoping that when I make these nutella truffles, I’ll will the big lottery drawing! Wouldn’t that be something??? 🙂
That is absolutely true, Kathy! And now Laura can say she hit the jackpot…literally. 🙂 I’m thinking the Nutella Truffles are definitely the driving force behind this win, although I bet Laura would disagree with me. Haha! Thanks so much, my friend. I hope you had a great weekend!
A nutella shop opened up near me, and I have not been able to get down there. Now I don’t have to!
Yes! I read about that Nutella shop a couple months ago. That would be pretty insane! Of course, now you can just sit in your jammies at home and pop truffles all day long instead. #win
These truffles sound amazing David! Love everything with Nutella :D. My parents just came back from a holiday in Switzerland and brought some amazing Truffles from there..I have been snacking on them ever since..And now that they are over..I am having major Truffle withdrawals 😛 So I am going to go and make these in a jiffy!! Also, I wish more casinos open up in your locality and Laura can keep winning with her first time Lady luck charm 🙂
Oh my gosh, European truffles are amazing, Deepika! I haven’t had the chance to visit Switzerland yet, but I’m pretty much certain that I would love to snack on some Swiss truffles! 🙂 These truffles turned out quite well (albeit a bit messy to roll), and they’re perfect for holiday entertaining! Thanks so much, my friend, and I hope you had a wonderful weekend!