'There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate truffles.' 
It goes without saying that I agree with Mr, Mrs or Ms Anonymous, who was made famous for that deliciously witty quotation. Certainly in the lead up to the festive season, I'm like a little squirrel, busy checking my larder to make sure that I have plentiful stocks of fine quality chocolate and locally grown hazelnuts.
If you have any spare time on Christmas Eve and just a few ingredients to play with, here's my favourite recipe for Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles. It's a recipe resurrected from the Good Things archives of December 2011 and I thought it was high time that more than five of my readers had the opportunity to enjoy it. ❤❤❤
I've been making these truffles for more than 30 years and they're always hugely popular with family and friends. In all honesty, I don't think Christmas would be Christmas if I didn't make them. My recipe is adapted from one torn from a magazine (most likely AWW) about 30 years ago. I usually double the batch and make a tray of man-sized truffles, too. These little morsels can be whipped up ever so quickly, almost as fast as they will be devoured! CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT TRUFFLES 1/2 cup thickened cream 125g good quality dark chocolate buttons or chocolate broken into pieces 15g unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 teaspoon brandy or rum 1/2 cup roasted hazelnuts, whizzed or coarsely chopped 1/2 cup rice crumbs* Heat the cream and chocolate in a saucepan over a low heat until the chocolate melts. Stir in the butter and rum and mix in well. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until cold. This is important, the mixture should be cold, not lukewarm when you work with it. Once chilled, beat the ganache with an electric mixer until soft peaks form (don't overbeat!). Refrigerate the ganache again until it is firm. Using a melon baller, shape the ganache into truffle balls. Roll in the combined chopped roasted hazelnuts and rice crumb mixture. Pop the truffles onto a tray lined with baking paper. Sprinkle any remaining nut mixture over the top to coat well. Refrigerate until ready to serve. You can pop the truffles into little patty cases before serving. Or pile them up in a pretty compote bowl. Makes plenty! *Available from health food stores. If rice crumbs are not available, use crushed rice bubbles cereal instead. 
Tell me dear readers, is there a treat that you make or enjoy eating every single Christmas? Do share your favourites with me xo
42 Comments
23/12/2011 11:01:27 pm
Merry Christmas Lizzy! May your holiday be full of fun and good food! :)
Lizzy
24/12/2011 07:57:23 am
Lorraine, merry Christmas to you and Mr NQN too! Season's eatings xo These look lovely and I shall have to make some. I made rum and raisin truffles for my Tuesday night Christmas with close friends. It sounds horrible (to me) but they were absolutely delicious. I hope your first Christmas lunch at your home home is really wonderful, which I have no doubt that it will be! Merry Christmas xx
Lizzy
24/12/2011 04:41:13 pm
Thanks so much Carolyn! Do try this recipe. Rum and raisin, delicious! One of my fave flavour combis. Merry Christmas xox 25/12/2011 10:30:52 am
Hmmm, seems simple enough. I've just been told we have an electric beater so I might give this a whirl sometime. Could I use light cream do you think - make "diet truffles"?
Lizzy
25/12/2011 10:40:29 am
They are simple, Mel... I think light cream might be ok... give it a whirl and let me know xo
Lizzy
25/12/2011 09:18:28 pm
Hey there, love your truffles! Thanks for all your support too, glad I found you and your blog.
Lizzy
1/12/2014 05:23:27 pm
Joy, yes they are... you use rice crumbs in the mix.
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:16:27 am
You know what, Krista? Me too : ) 1/12/2014 11:25:17 pm
Lizzy, you make the best stuff ever. I haven't even begun to make my Christmas gifties yet. I'd better get on the stick and get into the kitchen.
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:16:49 am
Aw Maureen, your stuff is even more delicious, I know! 2/12/2014 09:13:19 am
My family only requests two baked goods from me, cseresznye pite and Szamár füle. I bake a plethora of other Canadian goodies and hand them out almost as quickly as I bake them. I'm hoping to have time this year. Truffles are a lovely, handmade gift.
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:17:13 am
Ooooh Eva, tell me about Szamár füle... please xox
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:17:34 am
Deena, that is so very kind, thank you xo 2/12/2014 10:25:03 am
i think i would have a hard time not eating them all myself!
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:18:00 am
Yes, Elizabeth, agreed, they are rather moreish!
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:18:25 am
Hi John, I do tend to favour the hazelnuts... love the flavour : ) 2/12/2014 02:18:51 pm
G'day These look absolutely delicious Lizzy and there is nothing like making edible pressies made with love! Sharing!
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:18:49 am
Made with love, absolutely Joanne xo
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:19:08 am
Cheers lovely Mandy, you too xo 2/12/2014 09:46:58 pm
Hahaha, that's very funny! Why would I go to the trouble of making these AMAZING looking truffles - just to give them away??!! Only joking of course ... My Xmas go-to recipe is a stuffing with pine nuts, currants and sage which I've adapted from whatever mag I tore it out of to stuffing muffins! Much easier to eat - and I've been told not to bother turning up on Xmas day if I don't have a large batch with me :D
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:19:44 am
Red, that sounds really, really interesting!
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:20:09 am
They sure are, Rosa, many thanks. 3/12/2014 07:00:16 am
Spare time on Christmas Eve? Not in this house. I do love your truffles and I can understand you making them for 30 years because my mother would make truffles every Christmas (no time to make them on Christmas Eve though) and she would wrap them up in cellophane and give them to me to distribute to the neighbours as gifts xx
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:20:41 am
How lovely, Charlie. You just reminded me, I need to get some cellophane bags xox
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:21:02 am
Thank you, Adri, you too x 3/12/2014 01:11:44 pm
I know where I need to be next Christmas eve.... Hangin out in your kitchen. Yarm! These choc nut truffles looks super delightful. I always whip up a batch of shortbread as gifts for my colleagues, but this year, no cooking for me, I will be in Penang, Malaysia feasting on... ummm... crunchy peanut satays, pork dishes and something gross, like a spider. LOL!
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:21:29 am
Oh my goodness, Anna, so you will... how delicious! xo
Lizzy
4/12/2014 07:21:54 am
Hi Elizabeth... these are sooooooooo easy to make, do try them sooner xo 6/12/2014 08:02:42 pm
Love chocolate truffles! I do something similar (rum balls) for Christmas presents as well, it's the perfect small gift. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Photo Jay Cranon, The Canberra Times
Hello. I'm Liz, a writer, cook and traveller based in Canberra, Australia.
Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes, postcards and morsels from my adventures, conversations with cookery writers and chefs, and news on food and cooking.  Search by topicNB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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