Chocolate Cherry Bourbon Truffle Balls
These festive truffle balls combine rich dark chocolate, juicy cherries, and a hint of bourbon for a decadent, crowd-pleasing dessert. Easy to make and perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 20-24 truffle balls 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped or chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 20–24 whole maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry
- 3 tbsp bourbon
- 2 tbsp cherry preserves or jam (optional)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 4 oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate, melted (optional, for dipping)
- Extra maraschino cherries for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Place maraschino cherries in a small bowl and pour bourbon over them. Let soak for at least 20 minutes (up to 2 hours for stronger flavor). Pat dry with paper towels.
- Add chopped dark chocolate to a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, heat heavy cream over medium-low until it just begins to simmer. Pour hot cream over chocolate and let sit for 2 minutes. Stir gently until smooth.
- Add softened butter and powdered sugar to the chocolate mixture, whisking until fully incorporated. If using cherry preserves, add now. The mixture should be thick and shiny.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour, or until firm enough to scoop. (Or freeze for about 20 minutes, watching closely.)
- Scoop 1 tablespoon portions of the chilled mixture. Flatten slightly, place a soaked cherry in the center, then wrap chocolate around the cherry and roll gently to seal. Place on lined baking sheet.
- Roll each ball in cocoa powder for a classic finish. If dipping, melt semi-sweet chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl (30 seconds at a time, stirring until smooth). Dip each ball, let excess drip off, and return to baking sheet.
- Refrigerate truffle balls for 30 minutes to set. Top with extra maraschino cherry, if desired.
- Let truffles sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving for best texture.
Notes
For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free chocolate and check preserves. For dairy-free, substitute coconut cream and vegan butter. Bourbon can be swapped for rum, brandy, or omitted for a kid-friendly version. If mixture is too soft to roll, chill longer; if too stiff, let sit at room temp. Truffles taste even better the next day as flavors deepen.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 truffle ball
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 15
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Keywords: chocolate truffles, cherry bourbon truffles, holiday dessert, easy truffle recipe, festive treats, Christmas cookies, homemade candy