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Chocolate Penguin Truffles with White Chocolate Amaretto Raisin Ganache

December 17, 2014 This post may contain affiliate links.

Today I’m going to share two different ways to decorate these Chocolate Penguin Truffles with White Chocolate Amaretto Raisin Ganache. One is easy, the other a bit more challenging. Both were made as part of a sponsored post for California Raisins.

Today I'm going to share two different ways to decorate these Chocolate Penguin Truffles with White Chocolate Amaretto Raisin Ganache. One is easy, the other a bit more challenging. Both were made as part of a sponsored post for California Raisins.

For those of you who follow Hungry Happenings on a regular basis, you are probably seeing a pattern. I tend to grab hold of an idea and run with it in a lot of different directions. This is my third egg shaped chocolate truffle turned into an animal. I couldn’t resist.

Each time I’ve made one, I’ve tried something new. Today’s truffles started out with a tiny little dried fruit, the raisin. I paired California Golden Raisins with Amaretto, white chocolate and cinnamon to make a truly spectacular ganache filling for in my truffles. If you are a raisin fan, you will absolutely love the filling in these chocolates.

Chocolate Penguin Truffles with White Chocolate Amaretto Raisin Ganache decorated two ways. This version is decorated using luster dust, candy eyes, and candy coated sunflower seeds. https://hungryhappenings.com/

The flavor of raisin really shines in these truffles, as do the bellies on the penguins pictured above. As I was decorating my penguins, I couldn’t decide which design to do for the blog post. This one is really simple. Each penguin has a white luster dust belly, two candy eyes, and chocolate sunflower seed beak and feet. The come together quickly and easily.

Chocolate Penguin Truffles with White Chocolate Amaretto Raisin Ganache decorated two ways. Stop by to check out the easy version too. https://hungryhappenings.com/

But, these penguins, decorated with modeling chocolate, are just so darn cute. I had to share, even if I’m one of the few people who would go to this much effort to dress up a chocolate truffle.

I think they would be absolutely adorable as place settings on a Christmas table.

A whole colony of Chocolate Penguin Truffles with White Chocolate Amaretto Raisin Ganache https://hungryhappenings.com/

Can you imagine having an entire colony of penguins on the table this Christmas? This recipe makes 40 truffles, so you could certainly have a large showing.

Now this recipe is very adult, as it’s made with Amaretto. To make a kid friendly version, you could use orange or apple juice instead.

Two ways to decorate Chocolate Penguin Truffles with White Chocolate Amaretto Raisin Ganache https://hungryhappenings.com/

Print
Amaretto Raisin Truffles - Chocolate Penguin Truffles
Prep Time
2 hrs
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 20 mins
 

Chocolate truffles filled with white chocolate amaretto raisin ganache are decorated with modeling chocolate to look like cute little penguins for Christmas.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: christmas desserts, penguin desserts
Servings: 40
Author: Beth
Ingredients
Ganache filling-
  • 1 cup California Golden Raisins
  • 1/2 cup Amaretto plus 1 1/2 tablespoons
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 16 ounces white chocolate
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Eggs-
  • 30 ounces semi-sweet chocolate melted and tempered*
  • or dark confectionery coating melted (Dark Cocoa Candy Melts)
  • *For detailed information about working with pure chocolate or confectionery coating see my Chocolate Making Tips page.
Decorations-
  • white luster dust
  • 80 candy eyes
  • 120 orange candy coated sunflower seeds
  • white non-pareils
  • OR - modeling chocolate recipe and coloring instructions here
Instructions
  1. Combine the raisins, Amaretto, and cinnamon in a small saucepan.
  2. Set over medium heat. Bring to a boil.
  3. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid evaporates and the raisins become coated in a thick glaze.
  4. Pour white chocolate into bowl of food processor and pulse until you have small pieces.
  5. Add the hot raisins to the chocolate and pulse until it is well blended. It will be very thick and chunky at this point.
  6. Heat heavy whipping cream in a saucepan over medium heat, just until bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan.
  7. Pour the hot cream over the white chocolate. Place the lid on the food processor and let it sit for 2 minutes.
  8. Pulse until creamy and smooth. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons Amaretto and pulse to combine.
  9. Create chocolate shells in egg molds.
  10. Allow chocolate to set at room temperature for 10 minutes then refrigerate for 10 minutes.
  11. Fill with Amaretto Raisin Ganache
  12. Let set for 4 hours at room temperature
  13. Cover ganache with thin layer of chocolate.
  14. Refrigerate for 10 minutes until set.
  15. Un-mold and decorate.
  16. Brush on an oval of white luster dust.
  17. Attach two candy eyes, 1 orange candy coated sunflower seed beak and 2 feet using chocolate.
  18. Spoon a heaping teaspoonful of chocolate onto a piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle white non-pareils around the edge.
  19. Set one penguin truffle in the center of the chocolate.
  20. Sprinkle on more non-pareils to cover entire surface of chocolate.
  21. Hold penguin in place until it can stand upright on it's own.
  22. Alternatively, decorate penguins using modeling chocolate.

How to Make Chocolate Penguin Truffles

Amaretto soaked golden raisins

Combine the California Golden Raisins, Amaretto, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Set over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid evaporates and the raisins become coated in a thick glaze.

White Chocolate Amaretto Raisin Ganache Filling for Chocolate Truffles | https://hungryhappenings.com/

Put white chocolate in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times. Then add the hot raisins and pulse until it is well blended. It will be very thick and chunky at this point.

Heat the heavy whipping cream in a saucepan over medium heat, just until bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan.

Pour the hot cream over the white chocolate. Place the lid on the food processor and let it sit for 2 minutes. Pulse until creamy and smooth. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons Amaretto and pulse to combine.

How to make chocolate filled eggs using polycarbonate candy molds | https://hungryhappenings.com/

So, the next step is to make the chocolate egg shells and fill them with the amaretto raisin ganache.

Being I’ve done similar tutorials for my Turkey Truffles and my Christmas Mice Truffles, I didn’t want to recreate it again here. I did however, take some pictures of how I actually make my chocolate shells. In the other tutorials I show how to use hobby grade egg molds, paint them with the chocolate, fill them, then close them with more chocolate.

Here, you can see that I use a polycarbonate candy mold, fill it with chocolate from my tempering machine, turn it over allowing the excess chocolate to fall back into my machine, scrape off the excess chocolate using a bench scraper, allow the candy to set then fill the shells with ganache. These eggs, pictured above, are actually being filled with peanut butter fudge. The day I made these Amaretto Raisin Truffles, I took pictures of the shells being created then got distracted and forgot to snap pictures of the eggs being filled with ganache or closed with chocolate. Oops!

The next step is to allow the ganache filling to set then to cover it with a layer of chocolate. For this raisin ganache, I suggest filling the chocolate shells, then letting it sit at room temperature for about 4 hours before covering them with chocolate.I created a video showing how to create chocolates using polycarbonate molds, if you’d like to watch it.

If you haven’t made any egg shaped truffles yet and would like to see the step-by-step instructions on how to create the chocolate shells using hobby grade molds (the type you can buy at the craft store,) check out either the Turkey Truffle or the Christmas Mice Truffle tutorials.

How to decorate Chocolate Penguin Truffles using luster dust | https://hungryhappenings.com/

To decorate the penguins the simple way, brush some white luster dust over the chocolate egg creating the belly. Use a cotton swab or your finger, to brush away some of the luster dust, creating two wings.

Attach two candy eyes, 1 orange sunflower seed beak and 2 orange sunflower seed feet using chocolate.

To get your penguins to stand up, you’ll need a base. Pour a spoonful of chocolate onto a piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle white non-pareils around the edge of the chocolate puddle. Allow the chocolate to set up a bit then set a penguin in the middle, holding it in place until the chocolate sets and the penguin stays upright.

How to decorate Chocolate Penguin Truffles using modeling chocolate | https://hungryhappenings.com/

To decorate your penguins using modeling chocolate, you’ll need white, orange, and dark chocolate plus red to make the hats or ear muffs.

Roll out some white, and cut out one 1 inch round circle for the belly, two small circles for the eyes. I used a medium round plunger cutter to cut the eyes.

Roll out some dark chocolate and cut two tear shaped wings, and two small pupils (using a #3 pastry tip.)

Roll out some orange and cut a beak and two tear drop shaped feet. To make my beaks, I used a square plunger cutter, then cut the squares in half.

Attach all the modeling chocolate pieces by brushing the backside lightly with water and pressing them onto the chocolate truffle.

Shape a Santa hat or ear muffs using red and white modeling chocolate. My hat was made by sculpting a red cone, attaching a small white ball to the tip and wrapping a thin white band around the bottom. To attach my hat, I made an indentation in the bottom of the hat so it would fit snuggly over the top of the egg. I used chocolate to glue the hat to the chocolate egg. The ear muffs are simply a strip of red shaped over the top of the egg with two round white balls attached to either end. I pushed the end of a paint brush into the balls to make them look fluffy.

Chocolate Penguin Truffles with White Chocolate Amaretto Raisin Ganache | https://hungryhappenings.com/

Either way you decorate them, they look pretty sweet.

You could also pipe on chocolate decorations for a third option.

Store your truffles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 10 days.

I was compensated by California Raisins to create and share this recipe with you. All opinions expressed here are my own.


Items used to make this project that are available on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales)

  

Buy a copy of Candy Clay Creations

If you’d like to have the ultimate guide to working with Candy Clay (modeling chocolate) be sure to get your printed or e-book copy of Candy Clay Creations. This 102 page book is filled with tips and tricks for making and working with candy clay along with 17 step-by-step tutorials for decorating cupcakes, cookies, and more using candy clay. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to make festively decorated treats.

Be sure to check out all my fun Christmas Recipes!

More Holiday Chocolates

from Hungry Happenings

Handmade Christmas Chocolates

Triple Chocolate Truffle Christmas Mice

Handmade Holiday Chocolates

Chocolate Turkey Truffles filled with Pumpkin Ganache

Handmade Christmas Chocolates

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Pops

 

Handmade Christmas Chocolates

Chocolate Gingerbread Truffles

 

Handmade Chocolates

Artisan Style Peanut Butter Fudge Filled Chocolates

Video Tutorial

Filed Under: Christmas Recipes, Homemade Candy Tagged With: animal themed food, Chocolate, Modeling-Chocolate, penguin, truffles, white chocolate, Winter

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sharon Perry

    September 15, 2019 at 7:47 pm

    Hello! Beth!!! I wanted to make the center of my mummies with a white chocolate truffle, you already sent me a recipe, however, Amaretto Raisin Truffles really sound soooo good! I am not sure if everyone likes raisins. What do you think? Could I make them without the raisins or could I add amaretto to the white chocolate truffle recipe you already shared?
    Thanking you in advance for your help. Give Truffles a big hug from me!

    Reply
    • Beth

      September 15, 2019 at 7:50 pm

      Hi Sharon,
      Yes, you can absolutely make this without the raisins. They are definitely a love it or hate it food! This ganache will be amazing in your mummies. Have fun!

      Reply
  2. beth

    December 24, 2014 at 2:34 pm

    Thank so much:)

    Reply
  3. Sugartown Sweets

    December 19, 2014 at 3:55 am

    I am loving every single one of your egg shaped treats..each one cuter than the last! You are the edible Christmas crafts Queen! I'm a raisin lover and I know these have to taste awesome. Cute, cute, cute!

    Reply
    • beth

      December 24, 2014 at 5:40 pm

      I love raisins too and this ganache is really amazing. I will definitely be making it again.

      Reply
  4. Michelle Nahom

    December 19, 2014 at 3:29 am

    These are so creative! You are so talented! Thanks for sharing them with us at Foodie Fridays! Sharing!

    Reply
    • beth

      December 24, 2014 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks, Michelle. I'm happy to share:)

      Reply
  5. Heather Kinnaird

    December 19, 2014 at 1:42 am

    these are just the cutest

    Reply
    • beth

      December 24, 2014 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks, Heather.

      Reply
  6. Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff

    December 17, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    Those are the most adorable penguins yet!!! You have truly gone above and beyond … cute and delicious! Love 'em 🙂

    Reply
    • beth

      December 17, 2014 at 7:05 pm

      Thanks, Brenda. I thought they were pretty cute too. I'm glad you agree!

      Reply
  7. Lisa@hooplapalooza

    December 17, 2014 at 5:35 pm

    this is now my favorite christmas treat you've made. keep 'em coming and i'll add them to my 100+ favorite christmas treats you've made…

    Reply
    • beth

      December 17, 2014 at 6:24 pm

      LOL! I've been really cranking out the treats this year. I'm glad you like them all!

      Reply
  8. The Partiologist

    December 17, 2014 at 4:37 pm

    Your little penguins have such personality, the kind I would love to meet! And the recipe is so unique with the added raisins.

    Reply
    • beth

      December 17, 2014 at 6:23 pm

      I'd love to meet these cuties too! They look like pretty nice penguins, don't you think?

      Reply

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