Hazelnut Oreo Truffles

I have a section on the Recipe page of this blog for Cake Balls & Truffles but I’m just realizing that I’ve only posted one recipe per year over the last few years.

One recipe per year! Boozy S’mores Truffels in 2016,  Brigadeiros in 2015,  Dulce de Leche Cake Balls in 2014,  Dark Chocolate Nutella Cherry Truffles in 2013. And the year before that I had none (zero!) I was really surprised to see this because I feel like I’m always rolling truffles or oreo balls or cake balls, but I guess I didn’t get to chronicle everything. I’ve been called Queen of Cake Balls more than once and I feel like I have to relinquish that title.

I’ll settle for Princess of Oreo Truffles. Because now we have these Hazelnut Oreo Truffles.

I made these Hazelnut Oreo Truffles twice in the last month to bring to parties, and everyone thought that I must have spent hours making them. They’re so creamy and rich, with the texture perfectly offset by the crunch from crushed Oreos and toasted hazelnuts, that they taste like they are the product of hard work.

The truth is that it took more effort to wrap each truffle individually (I made these for one of my girl friend’s bachelorette party as party favors) than to actually whip them up.

I royally accepted all compliments thrown my way, and didn’t admit that these are wonderfully easy, no-bake treats. I didn’t say that Oreo balls have been around for a long time (my first blurry recipe is in my archives from six years ago) but these taste different (better) because of the addition of nuts. The fluffiness inside is a result of using whipped cream cheese. And of course the addition of Nutella makes everything better.

The first time I made them, I used milk chocolate to coat the truffles. I was kind of in a rush and  haphazardly dipped each truffle in the melted chocolate. This resulted in a coating that was thick and rustic looking, made more colorful by a mixture of toppings. Exactly my kind of dessert.

The second time I made them, I used dark chocolate and added a teaspoon of coconut oil when I melted the chocolate. Instead of dipping each truffle in the bowl of melted chocolate, I balanced each truffle on the blade of a knife, used a spoon to cover it in chocolate, then used another knife to slide it back to the wax paper-lined cookie sheet. This resulted in a coating that was smooth and glossy, made even prettier by sprinkles. Exactly my kind of dessert.

By dessert, I also mean the perfect late night snack to eat while watching the latest episode of The Leftovers and Silicon Valley. Two contrasting shows that I equally love, like milk and dark chocolate. (Except I like milk chocolate better.)

Yield: 26 truffles

Hazelnut Oreo Truffles

Prep Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

24 Oreo cookies
1/2 cup Nutella
8 oz whipped cream cheese
1 cup roasted hazelnuts
10 oz milk chocolate (or dark chocolate)
1 teaspoon coconut oil (optional)
sprinkles or crushed oreos for topping

Directions

  1. Crush the Oreos. I just placed them in a large ziploc bag, then whacked away with a rolling pin. (You can use a food processor if you prefer, but I like the stress relief I get by crushing them manually.)
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine crushed Oreos, Nutella, and whipped cream cheese. Blend well and fold in hazelnuts.
  3. Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, portion out balls on to a wax-paper lined cookie sheet. You can also use a heaping tablespoon and roll out balls with your hands. (I used a cookie scoop and ended up with 26 truffles, about golf ball sized.) Transfer balls to freezer and freeze for 15 minutes.
  4. In a microwave-safe bowl, add chocolate (and coconut oil, if using). Heat for one minute and stir, and continue heating in 30 second increments until melted and smooth.
  5. Dip each truffle in the melted chocolate and transfer back to the wax paper. Immediately after dipping each truffle, top with crushed oreos or sprinkles.
  6.  Chill in fridge or freezer until chocolate hardens, and keep chilled until ready to serve.

I’m not sure when I can post another oreo truffle recipe because honestly, it’ll be hard to top this. But I’ll keep rolling dessert balls and thinking of new recipes for you! That is my responsibility as your princess (of oreo truffles).

Be well, and please make these soon.