Hazelnut Chocolate Cake Truffles
Cake truffles are a not only delicious, but they’re a lovely way to use up leftover cake. This recipe for hazelnut chocolate cake truffles is made with chocolate cake and roasted hazelnuts. They are perfect for gifting over the festive period or at any other time.
To celebrate chocolate log blog’s third birthday and to give to CT as a Valentine’s gift, what could be more appropriate than chocolate truffles? As it happened, I received my chocolate competition win in time for the big day, so I featured that instead of the truffles.
Hazelnut Chocolate Cake Truffles
This excellent hazelnut sherry cake was so large that it lasted us a whole week. By day eight, I had one slice left and it was starting to look a little dry. Just right for turning into cake truffles.
Normally, when I make cake truffles, I crumble the cake and beat it into the butter and salt. However, because this version contains hazelnuts, you need to blitz the cake along with the nuts. Unless, of course, you’re using ready ground hazelnuts.
As I used a cake that already contained chunks of hazelnuts, I used more cake and omitted the hazelnuts.
If I had any, I’d use Frangelico or some other hazelnut liqueur, but rum is a pretty good substitute. If you’d rather not use alcohol, then hazelnut syrup or coffee work well. It depends on how sweet, or not, you like your truffles to be.
Decorate as you see fit. I like the idea of a caramelised hazelnut or half hazelnut for sophistication. As you can see though, I topped the cake truffles you can see in these images with love hearts.
The truffles have a good chocolate shells which has just the right crispness about them. They crack in a most satisfying way to release the treasure within. They have a heady hazelnut flavour with a smooth mouthfeel punctuated by granular pieces of hazelnut which give a good contrast. The ganache itself was, in CTs words “authentic, not some generic paste”.
CT was delighted to receive this bounty. Here’s what he said in between mouthfuls.
“From the ridiculous to the sublime with the fizzy love heart, which is frankly a pink stained toothed kiddy sweet to a truly delicious, sophisticated, nutty, delectable truffle. Two ends of the spectrum of sweets, represented – from utterly artificial to something hand crafted and made with care and love. It’s artisan chocolate, but fun.”
The following day, CT said rather despondently “very sorry to see the end of those cake truffles”.
Top Tip
If you don’t fancy making truffles out of your leftover cake, how about leftover cake trifle?
Other Chocolate Truffle Recipes You Might Like
- Gingerbread chocolate truffles (vegan)
- Goat’s cheese chocolate truffles
- Peanut butter oat truffles (vegan)
- Sesame truffles (dairy free)
- St Clement’s cake truffles
- Whisky truffles
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make these hazelnut chocolate cake truffles, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If you’d like more recipes to deal with leftovers, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious and nutritious, of course.
Choclette x
Hazelnut Chocolate Cake Truffles. PIN IT.
Hazelnut Chocolate Cake Truffles
Ingredients
- 15 g unsalted butter (½ oz) softened
- 30 g icing sugar (1oz)
- 120 g leftover chocolate cake (4oz)
- 25 g hazelnuts roasted and skinned
- 2-3 tsp rum or use hazelnut liqueur, hazelnut syrup or coffee
- 100 g dark chocolate (I used G&B cooks 72%)
Instructions
- Cream the butter with the icing sugar until light and fluffy.15 g unsalted butter, 30 g icing sugar
- Blitz the cake leftovers in a small food processor or coffee grinder along with the hazelnuts.120 g leftover chocolate cake, 25 g hazelnuts
- Beat the crumbs into the creamed mixture until well incorporated.
- Add the rum, liqueur or syrup and mix to combine2-3 tsp rum
- Take a teaspoonful of the mixture and roll it into a ball between the palms of your hands. Repeat with the remaining truffle mixture.
- Place the balls in the fridge for half an hour or the freezer for fifteen minutes.
- Meanwhile melt the chocolate in a bowl suspended over a pan over hot water.100 g dark chocolate
- Remove the cake balls from the fridge or freezer and dip them into the melted chocolate. A small fork is useful for this.
- Place decorations on the tops and leave in a cool place to set.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
I’m submitting these hazelnut chocolate cake truffles with Caroline and Ros’s Alpha Bakes. It’s hosted this month by The More than Occasional Baker and L is for Love!
Ha ha love CT’s comments!! Great idea for using up left over cake n& any xmas liqueurs too.
I’ve made chocolate truffles before but never cake truffles – they might have to go on the list! A lot like cake pops I guess but without the hassle of trying to get them to stay on the sticks! Thanks for entering Alphabakes – the round-up is now on Ros’s blog. Hope to see you in March!
Thanks Caroline, I’ve made chocolate truffles too and they are always delicious, but cake truffles are surprisingly good too. Am over to have a look at the round-up now.
Wow, what an inspiring recipe – will never look at dry cake in the same way!
Craftilicious x
Thank you – there’s always a good use for cake 😉
I have found my dream blog -a blog about chocolate! Wow! Thank you for your comment on my blog, much appreciated 🙂
These look fab, love the lovehearts decoration! So nostalgic 🙂
Thank you for leaving such a lovely comment. And amazing how much nostalgia can be wrapped up in a little bit of sugar.
What a lovely treat! And a great use of leftover cake (which sadly is a bit of a myth in our house- but I could just make a bigger cake to make these right?!)
Kate – you’ve got it in one girl 😉
ooh these look luscious…love the sweet heart decoration…
Thank you Debby
I’m never 100% sure what I think about cake truffles, but these do look seriously good. Plus I’d hate to see any cake go to waste and this is the perfect way to use up slightly dry leftovers. If we ever have any in our house I’ll give these a go!
Do try home made cake truffles before you give up on them – they taste an awful lot more appealing than they sound, especially if covered in chocolate 😉
These look so pretty…and I bet they’re pretty tasty too!
CC, these were very tasty indeed – not that I got much of a look in!
V cute truffles!
Thank you MCB
I like Dave’s comment of lushballs! LOL. Cake truffles are on my faves these look cute as I have a thing for love hearts also!
You’re right Dave’s lushballs will have to be the new name.
These look extremely lush…I’ll certainly be following in future and thank you again for visiting my blog and leaving such a kind comment-much appreciated indeed!!
Thank you for your lovely comment and thanks very much for following too 🙂
What a GREAT idea, I LOVE cake truffles and often make them with stale cake! But these look so elegant and with a big LURVE factor too!
Karen
Thanks Karen – the things we do for “lurve”!
Absolutely loving the ‘love heart’ sweetie decoration. Total perfection ;0)
Thanks Chele – I was quite charmed too 😉
What a delicious way of refreshing some leftover cake. Love the added hazelnut flavours. I always think they go so well with chocolate
Thanks Katie. I’m a fan of chocolate and hazelnut too 🙂
I love the idea of using leftover cake for truffles! I’ve had so many left-over chocolate cakes lying about in my fridge (getting more dry by the day) and eventually I can’t force myself to eat another bite! But truffles…now that’s something I could handle 🙂
You are the perfect candidate to make cake truffles and should be able to come up with all sorts of inventive recipes with ALL that left over cake 😉
The perfect Valentine’s Day gift! I remember those fizzy lollies from childhood, nice to see them in a grown-up context! 🙂
Well sort of grown-up. I think that’s what CT felt was so funny – kid meets adult and it was a very strange sensation!
I meant to say the truffles are wonderful too!
Thank you Jude 🙂
It’s so reassuring to read that you didn’t take a note of exactly what you did! That is what often happens to me as I cook by instinct most of the time rather than by specific measurements.
Love the lovehearts on top, brilliant!
I very rarely use recipes for cooking, usually it’s only if I’m trying something new to impress guests. It does make it difficult though, when people ask for a recipe you’ve made.
They look lovely, I keep meaning to make truffles!
Oh yes C, do give them a go – surely you have some left over cake sometimes.
What a marvelous idea ! So cute especially those hearts! Very creative as always! 🙂
Thank you, you’re very kind.
Lushballs! They look brilliant and taste the same as well I should think. I took to eating left over Lovehearts and maltesers together (Got a bit addictive)and I reckon it’s a joyous taste sensation 🙂
Dave, the thought of love hearts and maltesers being a joyous sensation had me giggling for some time.
What a creative way to use up the rest of your cake. The love hearts add a fun touch, perfect for valentine’s day. Happy Birthday to your blog!
Thank you Jo
What a fantastic entry to AlphaBakes – thank you!! L is definitely for Love. I used a lot of love hearts this year as well. These truffles look divine and I love CT’s comments 🙂
Thanks Ros. CT has a certain, err, way with words!
Ooooo very cute… a good use for left over cake!! I like the love hearts on top too!
Thanks Laura. You mean you have left over cake too?
They are so cute. We had a great time eating the love hearts from our gingerbread house, there is something delightful about childhood sweets 😉 Jude x
It’s all that nostalgia Jude. First time I’d had love hearts since I was a child and it was fun.
At first I thought you had little labels on them and that they must have been bought but when I saw how you did it I thought it was very clever – and I love your creativity in reimagining your last slice of cake – sometimes the last slice is just not too attractive when a cake sits around for a while (as can happen here too) but truffles always look great – love yours
Thank you Johanna. Your comment put a smile on my face – perhaps I could go into business 😉
These look fabulous! And I’m sure they were delicious. I’ve always wanted to attempt making my own truffles. Great idea for Valentines!
Thank you Clare. Cake truffles are a good way to start – they taste really good and are a lot easier than ganache truffles.
They are so brilliant! I love Love Hearts but I’m not convinced they’d taste great with the chocolate. They do look bloody brilliant though x
Dom, no the combination didn’t really do it for me either, but they looked good and seemed the right sort of thing to do for Feb 14th.
These look great and inventive. I made truffle for the first time yesterday, I had a small disaster with the ganache splitting, but managed to rescue it. I bet these tasted great.
Thank you James. Ganache can be so temperamental – I’ve had it split on me on numerous occasions and then other times it works fine. Well done for rescuing it.