How to Make A Chocolate Truffle Christmas Tree
This Christmas, why not try something a little different in the kitchen? Instead of (or in addition to) your usual cut-out sugar cookies, why not make a festive chocolate truffle tree?
Making a chocolate truffle tree is a fun project and makes a great centerpiece for your Christmas table or buffet.
Don’t you just love a chocolate shop?
We visit our favorite chocolate shops in Estes Park, Colorado each summer on our family vacation.
Imagine my family with eyes glazed over as we try to decide which chocolate we want today. (or even just this hour!)
I started to make these chocolate candy balls years ago each Christmas in an attempt to bring some of this chocolate joy into the house. And it worked!
Creating a chocolate truffle Christmas tree was an expansion of the recipe and soon became a tradition.
Every once in a while, there would be a year when I did not get the truffle tree made.
Uh oh…did I hear about it!
I’m back into the truffle tree mode and am excited to share it with you!
The full recipe is at the bottom of this post.
What is a Chocolate Truffle?
A chocolate truffle is a chocolate confection that usually consists of a chocolate ganache center coated in chocolate powder, cocoa powder, or nuts. The truffle was first created in France in the early 20th century and has since become a popular dessert around the world.
Chocolate truffles are typically made with a dark chocolate ganache, but can also be made with milk chocolate or white chocolate. The ganache is then rolled into balls and coated in the desired coating. Chocolate truffles are often served as an after-dinner dessert or given as a gift.
Here is my version of this decadent treat!
How to Make a Chocolate Truffle Christmas Tree
Let me tell you a little secret…
These candy balls are very easy to make!
Cream cheese, chocolate chips, strawberry (or raspberry) preserves and vanilla cookie wafers are magic when combined together!
Cream cheese is the most magical of the ingredients. Just beat until fluffy with an electric mixer.
Add the melted chocolate chips.
Next, come the vanilla cookies finely chopped up.
Form into 1-inch balls.
Dipping the Chocolate Balls
I’ll be honest…I make a huge mess when I dip the chocolate balls into melted almond bark.
After some years of trying different methods, this is what works for me.
Plop a chocolate ball into the bowl of melted almond bark and swirl around till covered.
Lift from the bowl with a fork and let the excess chocolate drip off.
Then, take a spatula and wipe anymore excess from the bottom.
Let the truffle cool before piping melted white almond bark decoratively over the top.
By this point, I am usually in a hurry to eat one and so go with the “Jackson Pollack” look!
Make the Truffle Tree
This is also SO easy!
Brush melted chocolate almond bark onto a 12 inch styrofoam cone.
Give it a nice thick coat and, when cool, it actually looks like bark!
Press wooden toothpicks into the base of the cone. Place a candy ball onto the toothpick.
Position the first row about 3/4″ up from the base and 1 1/2″ apart from each other.
Continue adding toothpicks and candy balls until you reach the top!
Add a festive bow on the top! (Wired ribbon works best.)
I like to use toothpicks to add fresh cranberries into the gaps between chocolate balls.
They look like ornaments on a Christmas tree!
Garnish with more fresh cranberries at the base and admire your work!
Chocolate Truffle Christmas Tree
Ingredients
Truffle Candy Balls
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
- 1 1/2 cup vanilla wafer crumbs (about 42 cookies)
- 1/2 cup strawberry or raspberry preserves
- 24 ounces chocolate almond bark
- 4 ounces vanilla almond bark
Chocolate Truffle Christmas Tree
- 12 inch styrofoam cone
- 1 box wooden toothpicks
- 4 ounces chocolate almond bark
- 2 dozen Truffle Candy Balls
- 1 yard wired ribbon
- 6 inches florist wire
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Beat the cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until incoporated and fluffy. Add the melted chocolate and beat until smooth. Stir in the vanilla cookie crumbs and the preserves. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or until firm
- Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Melt the almond bark in the microwave by heating for 3 to 4 minutes stirring at 1-minute intervals.
- Submerge each ball into the chocolate coating with a fork and let the excess coating drip off. Place the balls on a wax paper-lined bake sheet. Chill for 10 minutes or until the coating hardens.
- Microwave the vanilla almond bark in the microwave on high for 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Spoon the coating into a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag and seal. Snip a tiny hole in one corner of the bag and gently squeeze to drizzle the melted almond bark over the balls.
- Keep balls refrigerated.
Chocolate Truffle Christmas Tree
- Melt the almond bark in the microwave stirring at 1-minute intervals.
- Brush the melted almond bark on the cone evenly.
- Let dry at room temperature.
- Place the covered cone on a serving plate or platter. Starting 1/2 inch from the base of the cone, insert wood toothpicks in a row around the cone bout 1 1/2" apart. Leave about 1/2" of the toothpick sticking out.
- Press the chocolate candy balls onto the wood picks. Continue adding toothpicks and candy balls until you reach the top of the tree. Place toothpicks in bare spots between candy balls and press on fresh cranberries.
- Create a festive bow and attach to the top of the cone with florist wire.
- Watch your guests go crazy with chocolate truffle joy!
Christmas is just around the corner, and we all know what that means: time to indulge in treats!
So gather up your friends and family and get ready to have some fun – the holidays wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of DIY chocolate-making!
Cheers!
Don’t Forget to Pin It!
These are amazing and HIGHLY addictive. Worth the time and effort – your family and friends will love you for making these this holiday season!
Thank you, Brian! I appreciate that!
I am so impressed Missy, you even made your own truffles, WOWZA!
I can only imagine how yummy this is. Best that I do not live close. :)))
Sometimes I do venture deep into the kitchen and sometimes it is a success! LOL! This time, it worked! Thanks for reading and commenting, Wendy!
Wow I can see why your family would miss this delicious treat! And it’s so pretty! I definitely want to try it!
Thank you so much Kylie! It is a fun tradition that my family loves!
Oh my goodness, Missy! I love your beautiful Chocolate Truffle Christmas Tree! It looks delicious and too pretty to eat!
Thank you, Kristy! That is so nice of you! I made extra so I can replenish the tree as we eat the truffles. And we are eating them fast!
What a fabulous truffle tree and you made the truffles!!! Outstanding Missy! If I have time, I am going to give this a try – then I too may be getting in trouble every Christmas if I don’t make it hahaha!!!
You have been warned, Crystal! LOL! Thanks, my friend!
Missy, I cannot wait to try making this truffle tree! It is so beautiful and I love that it’s chocolate (my favorite!). I’m surprised how easy it is to make and assemble! Pinned to save it. Oh, and we love Estes Park too, we usually try to make a trip to Colorado in late Fall. Avon is another favorite place! Because of our move this year we weren’t able to squeeze in a trip but hopefully next year!
Thank you, Cindy! I have never been to Avon but have heard wonderful things about it. Our annual trip to Estes Park is my favorite time to unwind and “just be!” Thanks for being a part of this blog share. So much fun!
Missy this is stunning! And your homemade truffles oh my gosh!!! I’d love for you to share at my weekly link party! https://www.ourtinynest.com/2022/12/07/weekly-wednesday-link-party-325/
Thank you so much! And, I will definitely link up next Wednesday! Thank you for the invitation and for letting me know about your link party! So much fun!
OMG Missy! I love this so much! It’s so pretty to look at and I can only imagine it tastes great too! Now I just need to find ingredients to convert it to gluten and dairy-free so I can eat it! What a great family tradition this is!
Thank you so much, Donna! Let me know if you come up with the ingredients you need to convert it. I would be very interested!