Gifts from the kitchen are a pleasure for both the giver and receiver. At least in my world. With the bustle of the holidays in full force, I find solace in my kitchen late at night. Lucy goes to bed and I pull out my mixing bowls. These past few weeks, my kitchen has been dripping in chocolate. Stacks of semi-sweet, unsweetened, and white chocolate crowd out our usual over-abundance of fruits and vegetables. Because it is Christmas and because most of these chocolate treats go out my door, this is all well and good.
As I mentioned last week, Ryan and I are hosting a cookie exchange on Saturday. A batch of these holiday truffles will serve as the perfect sweet bite to greet my guests when they walk through the door. Even better, I’m boxing a second batch of these truffles up to give away as small gifts. A good book along with a box of these holiday truffles? I think I might have Santa beat.
These truffles celebrate the flavors of the season. I have had the privilege to work with McCormick over the past nine months, and I’m now quite attached to my collection of spices and extracts. Cinnamon and nutmeg add that quintessential Christmas spice and a dash of pure vanilla extract reminds me of how my grandmother smelled every Thanksgiving to New Year. They come together remarkably easy (especially on a cold day…baking with chocolate is so much easier in the winter than the summer!) and they’ll make you friends, I promise. If you don’t care for spice, feel free to omit the cinnamon and nutmeg and add a 1/2 teaspoon of pure peppermint extract. Another delicious variety of these holiday truffles.
And oh, did I mention today is my birthday? I don’t know if I could have had a better year…I can’t wait for the ones to come.
Holiday Truffles
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon McCormick cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon McCormick nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon McCormick cloves
Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Set aside. Bring cream and butter just to boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour liquid over chocolate in bowl. Allow to stand for two minutes before stirring until chocolate melts. Add vanilla and spices, stir well.
Refrigerator for 90 minutes, or until truffle mixture is firm enough to handle.
Shape truffles into one inch balls using a cookie scoop or melon baller. Place on parchment paper lined tray. Roll truffles into round balls using hands (if truffles begin to soften too much, return to refrigerator or freezer for 15 to 20 minutes or until firm). Sprinkle balls with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Store truffles in air-tight container in refrigerator.
Makes 2 dozen truffles
Happy happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a good year for you indeed, hahaha. Sweet Lucy is the best proof. And cookie exchange sounds like a great idea. I so envy Americans, you guys are so openminded and like to share. I’ll try to organise something like it when I am back in Berlin.
Happy birthday!!! These truffles look divine – perfect for a cookie exchange! 🙂
Happy Birthday! For sure your daughter is the most special gift! what a beautiful year this has been, and here’s to countless more ahead!
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Such a wonderful treat to be celebrating with your little one. She’s such a gem. And gosh she is totally looking like Ryan… at least in that first picture of the two of you. Adorable.
Happy Birthday, sweet sweet friend! I hope it’s a magical day full of sweet Lucy smiles and time spent with family. xo
Happy Birthday!!! Such sweet faces you both have! These truffles are the perfect way to celebrate!
These truffles look amazing. Definitely a good holiday gift 🙂
Happy Birthday!!!! Lucy is such a happy baby!
Homemade food gifts are def. amazing, and I can just imagine that everyone will be so thrilled to receive these gorgeous and delicious truffles!
Oh, Happy, Happy, Birthday lovely. I hope you have a splendid spin around the sun this year. So delighted to see pics of both you and Lucy in your ‘food’ post today 🙂 bonus!! What a sweetheart…these truffles look delightful and I agree, the spices add wonderful flavour — enjoy the cookie exchange; sounds like great fun to me! xo.
Happy Birthday 🙂 These look so so tasty!
Happy Birthday! It’s been truffle season round our home too! In fact I’ll be rolling tonight for my husband’s coworkers.
Happy Birthday, Monet! Have such a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends 🙂
Happy happy birthday Monet!!! I hope that you have a wonderful day and are doing something to celebrate : )
These truffles look so delicious – I love all the spices in them! And I totally agree with you – giving and receiving gifts from the kitchen is the best!
Happy birthday–hope it’s a great one! Truffles are definitely one of my favorite holiday treats. I’m always surprised that more people don’t make them, especially since they’re so easy. These sound delicious!
Happy birthday!!
I am loving the look of these truffles. I don’t think I could trust myself around them
Happy Birthday!! Love all of the recipes you post. And your beautiful little Lucy is absolutely adorable!!!
Happy happy birthday, Monet! I can’t believe how old Lucy is looking all of a sudden– so crazy how fast they grow! I hope you had a wonderful birthday with your loved ones!
Happy happy birthday Monet, hope you have a wonderful day celebrating with your sweet loved ones:)
These truffles look amazing, love all the spices in here! They sound perfect for handing out at a holiday cookie exchange:)
These truffles sound wonderful with all of these spices. I wish I could come to your cookie exchange.
Happy Birthday Monet:) What a yummy treat for your guests…and more to take home, how lovely! Gorgeous photos! Such a cute daughter:) and so is the birthday gal:D
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! These sweet treats are such a lovely gift. You have more self control than I…I suspect I would gobble every one of these up before Saturday 🙂
Happy, happy birthday, my sweet friend!!! Your truffles look amazing…certain to be a hit at the cookie exchange 🙂
Happy Birthday =)
Those look so yummy, they would not last a second near me!
{Teffy’s Perks} X
Happy belated birthday!!! I love homemade treats like these.
Happy Birthday! Lovely treat to start off your bday celebration 🙂
Happy birthday! I hope you had a great day 🙂
Thanks for the wonderful recipe. Spices and chocolate go so well together!
Happy Birthday! Yummy truffles…spicy and chocolaty! Perfect for the Season 🙂 ela
These truffles look amazing!! So chocolatey!!! YUM 🙂
happy belated dear friend. truffles with spices sounds delicious. I made some for the holiday party this past weekend and they surely were all gone.
Happy belated Birthday Monet!! I hope you had the most wonderful of days!
p.s: these truffles look fantastic, I gotta try this recipe ; )
A very happy birthday Monet-and thanks for the sweet photos 😉
Enjoy your cookie exchange-I agree that it’s fun to bake and giveaway-I don’t want too many goodies in the kitchen, it’s that sweet tooth thing, so many treats this time of year 😉
I like the look of your truffles-great gift idea!
Happiest of Birthdays to you!!! Wishing you so much love and happiness and jolly times today. 🙂 XO
Happy belated birthday, Monet! I hope it was a wonderful one. And how amazing do these truffles look? I agree that gifts from the kitchen are some of the best!
Aww happy birthday my dear! I hope you ate quite a few of these to celebrate!! You deserve it. 🙂
These truffles look so good! I’ve actually never made truffles before, so I need to give them a try. I have to say, you and your little girl are so cute together! She is the most adorable girl! I’m loving her hair, too. I’ve been suffering from baby fever lately and she’s not helping! Haha.
Happy birthday to you! I hope you have a great day. And thanks so much for visiting my blog and commenting 🙂
Hope your birthday was as sweet as these truffles, dear Monet! Lucy is just getting cuter by the day, I’m glad she’s giving you time in the evening to play with chocolate 🙂 Enjoy your party this weekend, your guests are so lucky!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You have the prettiest hair! sheesh.
Happy Birthday! You’ve had a terrific year since your last birthday! And I hope the next one is even better. These truffles are terrific. We love to give (and receive!) food gifts. These are perfect. Thanks.
Happy happy birthday! These truffles look AMAZING. I’m inviting myself over to your cookie exchange. 😉
Happy birthday! I wish in these hectic days I could have been there to help you make your sweet treats. Those photos are adorable and truffles look amazing. Your cookie exchange sounds like a great time too-have fun!
Happy Birthday! Hope it was a beautiful day!
Every year, I think about hosting a cookie exchange and never do…here you are, with a little baby and doing all this! Much kudos to you. And Lucy has grown so much – such a cutie!
Happy birthday! You make truffles almost exactly as I do, except I’ve never added cloves to the mix (will have to give it a spin). Hope you have a great holiday!
Belated birthday wishes and early holiday wishes!!!
Happy, happy birthday! 🙂 (Yesterday haha!) And these truffles look amazing!
I hope you had a happy birthday, Monet! Spent in the company of that sweet girl, I don’t know how it could have been anything but! Wishing you all a very merry Christmas… your first with Lucy, how exciting! These truffles are gorgeous, and I love the cozy spices you added.
How cute are you two?? Lucy looks so much like you in both pictures – a pair of pretty ladies! I hope you had a wonderful birthday full of fun, friends, family, and delicious food 🙂
As for these truffles: pure chocolate decadence! Peter and I love giving truffles for gifts, but didn’t end up doing so this year. Maybe next year 🙂
Happy birthday! Your truffles look delicious. 🙂 I love handing them out to friends and family for the holidays!
Happy Birthday! What a fantastic year for your family. I hope you plan on eating a lot of truffles to celebrate 🙂
Happy belated Birthday!! You have had a fantastic year and I think these truffles are the perfect way to celebrate. Merry Christmas!!