Description
Delight in these irresistibly smooth salted caramel truffles, a perfect blend of rich caramel and decadent dark chocolate coating. These truffles offer a luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth experience with a subtle hint of sea salt to enhance the sweetness, ideal for gifting or indulging at any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Caramel Base
- 1 cup granulated sugar (ensure it’s fresh for the best flavor)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
- ½ cup heavy cream (or coconut cream as an alternative)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt (for flavor)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (consider using homemade for extra flair)
Coating
- 8 ounces dark chocolate (for coating; can substitute with milk chocolate)
- Additional sea salt or cocoa powder (for sprinkling or rolling)
Instructions
- Caramelize the Sugar: In a saucepan over medium heat, gently stir granulated sugar until it melts completely and transforms into a golden amber color, which should take about 8-10 minutes. Be careful to prevent burning.
- Add Butter: Stir in the room temperature unsalted butter until fully melted and incorporated into the caramelized sugar, creating a smooth mixture.
- Incorporate Cream: Slowly pour in the heavy cream while continuously stirring to combine thoroughly, ensuring a silky caramel base.
- Flavor the Caramel: Mix in sea salt and vanilla extract into the caramel mixture, then let it cool slightly to thicken before handling.
- Form Caramel Balls: Scoop the slightly cooled caramel into small balls using a spoon or scoop, then place them in the freezer for at least 2 hours to firm up.
- Melt the Chocolate: Use a double boiler or microwave in short intervals (stirring every 30 seconds) to melt the dark chocolate until smooth and fluid for dipping.
- Coat the Caramel: Dip each firm caramel ball into the melted chocolate, ensuring each is completely covered for a perfect outer shell.
- Finishing Touches: Before the chocolate sets, sprinkle the truffles with a little sea salt or roll them in cocoa powder for added flavor and texture.
- Set the Truffles: Allow the coated truffles to cool at room temperature until the chocolate hardens, then store appropriately for serving.
Notes
- Use fresh granulated sugar to achieve the best caramel flavor and texture.
- Substitute heavy cream with coconut cream for a dairy-free version.
- Ensure the caramel is cool enough to scoop but not too cold before freezing to maintain a smooth texture.
- Work quickly when dipping truffles to prevent the chocolate from hardening before coating.
- Store truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep fresh up to one week.
