The best chocolate orange truffles (copycat Lindor truffles!)
on May 06, 2020, Updated Nov 23, 2022
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Need a last-minute gift? These chocolate orange truffles are ridiculously easy to make, but taste just as good as anything you can buy.
Sometimes, when I want to give a last-minute gift, I turn to food.
Usually I go for chocolate bark, which I love ‘personalising’ for whoever I’m giving it to. Like this mango & pistachio version, which was a roaring success. Or this Easter chocolate bark, which can actually be adapted to suit any occasion.
Why I think these are the best chocolate truffles
- They taste really ‘orange-y’. Ever had a flavoured chocolate only to be disappointed when you can hardly taste the flavour? The orange flavour in these contrasts perfectly with the buttery dark chocolate.
- You bite into a hard milk chocolate coating – yum. But then inside there’s a soft, rich and creamy truffle. Fan of those yummy orange Lindt balls? They’re a bit like those! Yum (did I say that already?).
- They look kind of cool. Like little chocolate ‘kisses’ rather than perfectly round truffles. Perfect to package in a glass jar or gift bag or box and give as a gift.
These are ‘kind’ of like the orange flavour Lindor truffles we all know and love. Not exactly, but near enough, and just as delicious!
What ingredients you need
You only need 6 simple ingredients to make these.
- chocolate (of course!): Both dark and milk. Dark for the squidgy inside and milk for the outside shell.
- butter: Just a bit. For a buttery, silky texture.
- cream: This forms the basis of the truffle centre. Mmmm.
- brown sugar: As if they weren’t sweet enough 😉
- an orange: Both the zest and the juice for a super orange-y flavour.
- a pinch of salt: Makes all the difference!
How to make them
These orange truffles are super easy to make in four simple steps.
Step 1: Put broken dark chocolate, orange zest and a bit of butter in a bowl.
Step 2: Heat up cream and sugar. Pour it over the chocolate mixture in the bowl. Let the heat from the cream and sugar melt the chocolate for a few minutes.
Step 3: Stir in a bit of salt and orange juice (= more yummy orange flavour), then pop in the fridge for at least a few hours to set.
Step 4: Melt milk chocolate. Form small balls of truffle mixture, then dip them into the chocolate. Let set on a baking tray. Sprinkle with cocoa if you like.
Rustic or classic truffle shapes… both are yummy!
Don’t be surprised if the truffle mixture is quite soft. The consistency varies a bit according to what kind of chocolate you use.
The end result can be very rustic looking.
But sprinkle a little cocoa over the top of the finished truffles when the chocolate is still wet and you’ll be amazed how classy the truffles look.
If you prefer a classic round truffle shape, leave the truffle mixture in the fridge overnight and it should become firm enough to roll into neat balls.
Ways to adapt them
Hard to believe, but you might be able to make these truffles even yummier!
- For those who like to live dangerously, replace a tablespoon of the orange juice with a tablespoon of Grand Marnier!
- Instead of sprinkling cocoa over the top of the truffles, shave some little pieces of orange peel with a peeler and pile them on top.
- Try using white chocolate for the inside instead. Add just half the amount of cream though.
- Try different flavours. Skip the orange and add 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder instead. Or 1 teaspoon peppermint extract. Or finely chopped nuts. Use caramel sauce instead of brown sugar and add 1/2 teaspoon more salt for caramel truffles. Or how about finely chopped cherries and a tablespoon of cherry liqueur? (now you’re talking)
These easy truffles make perfect gifts!
I think you’ll be pleased with these truffles no matter what. This is one delicious truffle, and definitely worthy of giving as a gift.
They make perfect Mother’s or Father’s Day gifts, Christmas or birthday gifts, or after dinner treats.
If I want to give my truffles as a gift, I sometimes package them up by piling them into the corner of a large see-through food bag such as a roasting bag (of all things!).
This works for any kind of food gift, including the ones below!
Love chocolate orange desserts? You’ll also love this really good, really simple chocolate orange cake!
More easy chocolate food gift ideas
- These addictive peanut butter cheerio bars make a great gift. Make them with your kids, then package them up in a nice box.
- I love these super easy chocolate lollipops. Another easy one to make with the kids!
- These are the easiest homemade chocolate biscuits AKA chocolate pretzels! They also make fantastic gifts.
- This list of 11 easy homemade chocolate ideas has some great ideas, too, especially for Christmas!
- If you’ve never made chocolate bark, you have to try it. It’s ridiculously easy!
- All the above too much effort? Make chocolate rocks! All you need is chocolate and nuts. Dried fruit optional!
Love the chocolate orange combo? You just have to try this perfect chocolate orange cake. Fudgy, moist, rich and decadent, but not overly sweet 🙂
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, LET ME KNOW HOW YOU GET ON BY LEAVING A COMMENT AND RATING BELOW… AND DON’T FORGET TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE ALL MY NEW RECIPES BY EMAIL!
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST AND YOUTUBE.
The best chocolate orange truffles
Ingredients
- 4 ounces dark chocolate, I used 70% cocoa content
- 2 tablespoons butter, chopped into pieces
- ½ cup heavy/double cream
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 orange, the juice of half, the zest of the whole
- 9 ounces milk chocolate
- a little cocoa powder to decorate
Instructions
- Break up the dark chocolate and put it in the bowl with the butter and orange zest.
- Heat the cream and sugar together on a low to medium heat until it almost comes to the boil.
- Pour the cream and sugar mixture over the chocolate and butter and leave it to stand for a couple of minutes to allow the chocolate and butter to melt.
- Stir the mixture until smooth, add a pinch of salt and the orange juice, then stir well again. Cover and put in the fridge for a few hours (or even overnight) to firm up.
- When the mixture is firm, break up two thirds of the milk chocolate into a bowl and melt it in the microwave in 30-second spurts (alternatively, melt it over a bowl over a pan of simmering hot water, without allowing the bowl to touch the water). When the chocolate is melted, add the last third of chocolate* and allow it to melt into the rest, then give it a good stir.
- Scoop up teaspoonsful of truffle mixture, roll or pat them into a rough ball, then dip them into the melted milk chocolate on the spoon. Quickly tip them out onto a sheet of baking paper to set. Sprinkle immediately with a little cocoa powder.
Notes
Recipe credit
Recipe based on perfect chocolate truffles (Guardian life and style section).The easiest way to ‘temper’ the chocolate
We add the last third of the milk chocolate to the already-melted chocolate as a quick and easy way to ‘temper’ it (to keep it shiny rather than matt and potentially crumbly).How to package the truffles
Try packaging the truffles by piling them into the corner of a meat roasting bag
and tying the top with a nice piece of ribbon. They look beautiful and are perfect to give as a gift like this!
There is just nothing better than a homemade gift! I’m sure your friend must have loved these truffles, and all the care that went into making them. Chocolate and orange is such a lovely combination <3
Chocolate and orange do go well, don’t they? Thanks, Allie!
C’est un cadeau délicieux que tu as fait! Avec ces types de cadeaux tout le monde gagne! Les truffes sont l’air si bonnes que j’aimerais inventé l’ordinateur avec l’écran qu’on puis mettre la main dedans!! Orange & chocolat, j’adore!
Quel bel ordinateur celui-la serait! Quand tu l’inventes, tu dois m’en envoies un aussi!! Je suis tres contente que tu aimes les truffes, Eva!
Oh Helen, what a thoughtful gift to give your good friend, desserts of all kinds are more work for me, but I am really starting to enjoy them as people love dessert gifts, great satisfaction right away. These are beautiful and elegant all at the same time. What a good friend!
I haven’t been so much of a dessert-maker either, Cheri, until now, but I’m starting to try a few things. I hope you carry on making more desserts … your last one with the strawberries was gorgeous!
I don’t know anyone who would refuse a gift to these truffles!
🙂
I may just have to make these for my husband for Father’s Day. They look delicious! Great idea for a thoughtful (and tasty) gift.
I don’t think you would regret it, Pam … they really were delicious … and your child would definitely be able to help. Let me know how they go if you do make them. 🙂
Yum – these orange-chocolate truffles do sound pretty divine! A wonderful gift for any occasion {P.S.-my birthday is in September 😉 } And that wedding cake that Deb made is so fantastic – love the strawberry “people”!
Isn’t the cake amazing, Shashi? I loved it, of course! And so glad you like the choccies, too … I’ll get my next meat roasting bag ready for September 😉
I’m pretty bad at remembering birthdays and special occasions too. I used to be the type of person who would go out of their way to make homemade cards to buy thoughtful gifts, but I guess I’m just lazy these days, ha! I LOVE orange and chocolate together! Around Christmas there is this orange flavored chocolate that you hit on something and it breaks into orange wedges, I usually eat it all in one day 🙂
You mean a chocolate orange, Isadora! We used to get one of those every year for Christmas when I was a child … and I used to have to try very hard indeed not to eat it all in one day. lol! The flavour of these chocolates was just like that!
Oh my goodness. I know a few little people who would devour these. Um, and maybe one larger person (like myself). I bet that tastes just pops in your mouth.
Love it. Pinning!
So glad you approve, Melanie, and thanks for pinning, too! 🙂
I would love to receive these as a gift! They sound delicious!
Thanks, Natalie! 🙂
Greetings from Niagara Falls!
It probably sounds crazy, but I love how your orange truffle balls are different sizes.
Something in my brain tells me I can eat 4 of the smaller ones to one big one (not that the big ones don’t get eaten.)
I think, the different sizes scream homemade to me….you know…made with love =)
I like your philosophy, Laura! You’re in Niagara Falls? Wow, that is definitely on my travel bucket list! Have fun! 🙂