These Honey Bourbon Truffles are boozy little bite-sized morsels of chocolate. Perfect for parties, gift giving, and simple after dinner desserts.
This post was originally published on January 16, 2015. The recipe has been retested several times over the years and was updated with all new content, photos, and updated recipe most recently on December 13, 2024.
We've always been a huge fan of the honey bourbon flavor combo. Take these slow cooker honey bourbon meatballs that are a popular reader favorite recipe. Or these honey bourbon chicken wings that are perfect for Game Day or weeknight family dinners.
So why not extend the tasty flavor duo to desserts, too?
That's where these Chocolate Honey Bourbon Truffles come in. They are SO GOOD!
We first made these back in 2015 for the neighborhood Bunco group. And We've been making them at least once a year – usually around the holidays – ever since.
If you're looking for a boozy chocolate truffle recipe to try, We think you'll love this one!
[feast_advanced_jump_to]❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
If you're looking for an indulgent, elegant, and simple-to-make dessert to wow your guests this holiday season, honey bourbon chocolate truffles are a perfect choice.
- Gift-giving – Perfect for gifting or entertaining during the holidays
- Sophisticated yet simple– This is an elegant treat that combines chocolate, honey, and bourbon flavors. Yet it's simple to make with minimal equipment and effort
- Customizable – We use a simple chocolate ganache glaze and drizzle. Feel free to add your own coatings like cocoa powder, crushed nuts, or sprinkles.
- Simple – This is a recipe that is simple to make, but We've also included step-by-step photos below to help you out.
🍫 Ingredient notes
- Chocolate – This recipe uses a mix of both dark chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips for the truffle center. Then for the coating, use a high-quality semi-sweet chocolate for a rich, smooth texture.
- Heavy cream – Adds a creamy consistency to the ganache base.
- Bourbon – Choose a bourbon with warm, caramel notes to complement the chocolate.
- Honey – This provides a subtle, natural sweetness and balances the bourbon's intensity.
- Butter – A little bit of unsalted butter adds to the rich creaminess of these truffles.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
You'll find a full list of ingredient measurements and more detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are some step-by-step photos to help you make these simple chocolate truffles!
- Melt butter and heavy cream together in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and the dark chocolate chips, and stir until melted and smooth.
- Pour in the bourbon and the honey and stir together.
- Pour into a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Once the mixture has hardened enough to scoop out, use a spoon or small cookie scoop to scoop out 1-inch balls.
- Place them onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. They don't need to be perfectly round at this point. You simply want them scooped out so they harden more.
- Return to the refrigerator and chill for another 30 minutes.
- Melt the chopped chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, simply until smooth.
- Take the truffles out of the refrigerator and roll into smooth balls in the palms of your hands.
- Use two forks to carefully dip each truffle ball into the melted chocolate. If adding sprinkles or other decorations, do this before the chocolate hardens. Or you could drizzle any remaining chocolate over the tops of the coated truffles, as we did for the truffles in these photos.
- Place onto either a new parchment paper-lined baking sheet or return back to the other sheet. Repeat with remaining chocolate truffles and melted chocolate.
- Refrigerate again, this time for at least one hour. Keep chilled until you are ready to eat.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
What can We use instead of bourbon?yes, you can replace bourbon with rum, whiskey, or a non-alcoholic option like orange juice for a different flavor profile.
Can We make these truffles ahead of time?Absolutely! They can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the fridge.
Can We freeze the truffles?Yes, they freeze well. Place the truffles on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
🍽 Serving ideas
These honey bourbon truffles are such a treat to serve anytime, but we especially love serving them at the holidays. Here are some serving ideas:
- Great gifts – Present these truffles in decorative gift boxes for holiday gifting.
- Dessert plate – Serve them on a dessert platter alongside coffee, tea, or after-dinner drinks.
- Holiday treats – Pair them with holiday-themed cocktails or sparkling wine for festive gatherings.
- Tasty decorations – Use them as edible place settings by placing one truffle in a small wrapper at each guest's seat.
🍷 Wine pairings
Don't be afraid to pair boozy chocolates with wine! Here are two wine pairings that would go beautifully with these honey bourbon truffles:
- Port – a rich, sweet port enhances the dark chocolate and bourbon flavors beautifully.
- Sparkling brut rosé – Its crisp acidity and berry notes complement the truffles' richness and honey sweetness.
Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
- Saucepan
- Baking sheet
- Microwave-safe bowls
- Two forks
- Parchment paper
More truffle recipes
No Bake Oreo TrufflesDid you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you truly loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Honey Bourbon Truffles
By Marlynn Schotland Prep Time: 20 mins Chill time: 2 hrs Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Servings: 30 truffles
These honey bourbon truffles are a tasty holiday treat and make great food gifts!
Ingredients
For the filling:
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 4 Tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, a little more than 1 cup
- 6 ounces dark chocolate chips, a little more than 1 cup
- ¼ cup bourbon
- ¼ cup honey, see Notes for suggestions
For the coating:
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
Instructions
- Combine cream and butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until the butter melts. Remove from heat.
- Add dark chocolate chips & semisweet chocolate chips, and stir until melted and smooth.
- Mix in bourbon & honey, then pour into a bowl. Cover and freeze simply until almost firm, about 30 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out filling using a small cookie scoop or spoon, about 1-inch in diameter each, and drop onto the sheet. Cover and freeze until almost firm, about 30 minutes.
- Roll each chocolate ball between your palms into a smooth ball.
- Prep another baking sheet with parchment paper.
- To make the coating: melt the chopped semisweet chocolate in a microwave in 30 second increments, blending until smooth. Immediately and gently drop 1 truffle ball into the chocolate to coat. Place onto prepared wax paper. Repeat with the remaining truffles.
- For decorations, sprinkle them on each truffle before the chocolate hardens. Or, you can drizzle additional melted chocolate over each truffle in a pattern, as we did for the truffle photos in this post.
- Refrigerate, uncovered, until firm, at least one hour.
Notes
Makes about 24-36 truffles, depending on the size you make the truffles. The batch photographed here turned out to be 35 truffles total. Chocolate: We use chocolate chips for the center filling because We find they hold their shape well after being melted and chilled. Then We use chopped chocolate baking bars for the coating because We find they melt easily and create a smoother coating than melted chocolate chips. You can use your own preference and go with all chocolate chips or all chopped chocolate bars instead, if you wish. Bourbon: we've tested this recipe multiple times of the years, and the general consensus is that 1/4 cup of bourbon is the right amount to result in a chocolate truffle that has a nice bourbon flavor. For a more subtle bourbon flavor, we recommend using 2 Tablespoons instead. The exact type of bourbon you use will also affect the flavor of these truffles. We have used Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, or Freeland Spirits bourbon. Chill time: because of the alcohol content, the truffles may need more time to chill and set. You can always chill in the freezer to speed up chilling time. Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.Nutrition
Calories: 166 kcal, Carbohydrates: 14 g, Protein: 2 g, Fat: 11 g, Saturated Fat: 7 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g, Trans Fat: 0.1 g, Cholesterol: 7 mg, Sodium: 4 mg, Potassium: 143 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 10 g, Vitamin A: 87 IU, Vitamin C: 0.03 mg, Calcium: 17 mg, Iron: 2 mgNutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.