Two Versatile Homemade Chocolates for Gifting

Written by Cheri of Kitchen Simplicity

I always love making homemade edible gifts to give to people over the holidays. I do, however, try to keep them simple so that they’re not an added stress to an already busy holiday season, so that you can make your loved ones feel special and still be able to actually spend time with them.

Homemade chocolates are a perfect gift to make because not only do they store well in the freezer (if someone is already overloaded with goodies) but they are extremely easy to make and do not require a candy thermometer.

You can get the kids involved too, giving them a fun project on those cold days when you’re all stuck inside. I’m sure they’d be proud to give a batch to their grandma knowing that they had a hand in making them (Grandma will like that too).

I share two of my favorite homemade chocolate recipes below, which are both easy and versatile. For each, I’ve provided a basic recipe along with some of my tried and true flavor combination as well as ways that you can adapt it to make it your own.

Chocolate Bark

Chocolate bark is very versatile. Not only are there oodles of chocolate combinations to choose from but there are a plethora of add-ins as well. You can definitely let your imagination run wild with this one.

If you want something that’s easy to do with kids and doesn’t make a mess, this is your golden ticket. All you do is melt, mix, spread and chill. Done! After it hardens the kids can have fun breaking the large chocolate chunk into smaller pieces.

Bonus: The fact that you can pack these full of nuts and dried fruit makes these a healthier chocolate option.

Basic Bark Recipe

You can use more then one chocolate when making bark. Simply use 8 ounces of one chocolate to spread and drizzle on 4 ounces of the second choice just before popping in the fridge.

  • 12 oz chocolate
  • 1 1/2 cups add-ins (nuts, dried fruit, candy)
  1. Melt chocolate. Stir in add-ins. Spread onto parchment lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until solid.
  2. Break into large pieces to serve. Store in the fridge or freezer.

Makes: 16 servings

Salted Dark Chocolate Almond Bark

This is a great recipe if you like a sweet and salty combination. The use of dark chocolate makes this more palatable for those who don’t normally have a sweet tooth, but feel free to use a sweeter chocolate.

  • 12 ounces dark chocolate
  • 1 1/2 cup whole almonds
  • sea salt, for sprinkling

Follow directions above with the addition of sprinkling the bark lightly with salt before refrigerating.

Truffles

Truffles are so decadent and silky that people will feel that you have slaved over them (which will make them feel extra special). They don’t need to know how easy they actually are to make.

This is a another recipe that lends itself well to adaptation. Depending on the chocolate, flavoring and coatings you choose, the combinations are endless.

Tip: To make forming easier I like to use a melon baller to scoop. This way I get a uniform size and shape.

Basic Truffle Recipe

This recipe makes a firm and silky truffle. Make sure to form the truffles while still pliable. If you wait too long they will be too firm to form.

  • 6 oz chocolate
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon extract (or 2 tablespoons alcohol)
  • nuts, cocoa powder, icing sugar, to coat
  1. Melt together chocolate, butter and cream in a double boiler (or very slowly in the microwave, stirring often). Stir until smooth.
  2. Stir in salt and flavoring. Allow to cool to room temperature before covering with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm enough to handle (about 2 hours) no longer.
  3. Coat your hands in cocoa powder or icing sugar, as the truffles will be quite sticky. Roll into 1 inch balls and toss with desired coating. Refrigerate overnight to set fully.
  4. Store in the fridge for up to one week. Freeze for longer storage.

Makes: 24

Dark Chocolate Rum Truffles

Be careful because these are addictive!

  • 6 oz dark chocolate
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon rum extract (or 2 tablespoons rum)
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  1. Follow directions above, mixing cocoa powder and cinnamon together before coating.

Will you be making any homemade chocolates this year or just eating them?! What flavor combinations would you like to try?

Photos by Cheri Neufeld

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

24 Comments

  1. My 4 year old and I love making bark! Our favorite combination here is white chocolate and dark chocolate melted with crushed candy canes stirred in (he really loves crushing the candy canes!). I haven’t tried making truffles before but this year I think my mini-chef and I will have to!

  2. These look great – but where’s the recipe for those lemon truffles up top? I don’t know why, but those are really calling to me this morning! 🙂

  3. Delicious, Cheri! We make bark every year – I make batches for gift giving and eating, and each of my boys make their own version for their friends and teachers. They choose three add-ins each, and go to work on their creations. It’s a fun project for us all, and the boys love making gifts.

  4. I’ve always wanted to make truffles! Thanks for the recipe. you reminded me that it’s nearing the holidays which means lots of peppermint bark, toffee, and cookies!

  5. I love chocolate and both these recipes look great and easy. LOVE THAT! What is the truffle in the top picture with the lemons? Those looks scrumptious. Is there a recipe?

  6. Great looking recipes! I love dark chocolate and really love giving homemade gifts for the holidays. This combines the two so nicely. Congrats for making Food News Journals Top Blogs!

  7. I was actually just thinking about what I wanted to give as holiday gifts this year. As a personal chef, I like to give a homemade treat to my clients for the holiday season. Thanks for the recipes.

  8. What great pictures! Beautiful.
    I love giving edible gifts too. If for no other reason that it gives me an excuse to bake 🙂
    How did you make the lemon truffles at the top of this post? They are gorgeous.

    1. Thanks Caitlin! There is a link to the White Chocolate Lemon Truffles at the end of the post, right below the “Print This Recipe” button.

      1. Hii ..thx for the awesome recipes..therez no link for white lemon truffles… Kindly provide it here.. It not below the print recipe button..

        1. Hi Niti, As the post is over 8 years old, not all of the sites linked to stay alive, and we clean out broken links. The site linked to no longer is active.

  9. I’m excited by this post. we don’t have thanks giving dinner to think about so i’m focussing on christmas foods. We’re so lucky to receive chocolate rum balls from a friend every year. Her’s are so amazing. Now i’m going to surprise her with the white chocolate lemon ones. Lets see how i do! cheers kari

  10. Hey, if i was to make choc truffles to put in a nicely decorated jar as xmas pressies when do you think would be best time to make them? thanks x