Chocolate Peppermint Truffles

The holidays and peppermint go hand in hand for me.  I can remember, as a child, that I could hardly wait for the candy canes to be available in the stores.  So, yes, I am a long-time fan of anything with peppermint...can you imagine my excitement when a local ice creamery made peppermint ice cream, only to be made and sold during the holidays!?

Well, here is another item that is only available during the holidays....Chocolate Peppermint Truffles aka Candy Cane Peppermint Truffles that I saw on Kim's blog, Liv Life.  This has to be the easiest recipe around.  In a hour or two you can have some tasty chocolate peppermint morsels.

Chocolate Peppermint Truffles

adapted from Liv Life

1 box Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's
1 package reduced fat cream cheese  (not fat free), cut into small pieces
1/4 cup crushed candy canes or peppermint rounds (plus additional for sprinkling)
1 pound dark chocolate chips/morsels
1/8-1/4 tsp peppermint extract (I added just a dash of this as we are peppermint lovers!  Taste test first!)

Place the Joe Joe's in a food processor and process until crumbly.  Add the pieces of cream cheese and crushed candy cane and process until mixture comes together, being careful not to over-process.   Shape into 1-inch balls and place into the freezer for at least an hour (the balls are much easier to dip in chocolate when they frozen, or at least very cold - they stay together better and the chocolate sets up faster).

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler keeping an eye on it and stir occasionally until smooth.  Using two forks, dip the truffle into the chocolate.  Roll it around until covered and lift it out  using a fork.  Allow the excess chocolate to drip...I sometimes run the bottom of the fork on the edge of the bowl to remove and excess.  Place the ball on a piece of parchment or waxed paper and sprinkle it immediately with the remaining crushed candy canes.  Allow the chocolate to set.  

Truffles will last a few days if kept in a covered container in the refrigerator.

PRINTABLE RECIPE

They made cute little gifts, too!