Gingerbread Pecan Date Truffles

Form Truffles

Optional: Toast pecans at 350°F (180°C) for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and browned.

Add all gingerbread truffles ingredients into a food processor and pulse to combine, then let the machine run until the mixture forms a dough. It should hold together easily when pressed.

Use a cookie scoop to portion the mixture (I used a 2-tsp scoop), then roll into balls with your hands.

Transfer to a plate or tray and freeze for 10-15 minutes, until firm.

Melt Chocolate

Tempered Chocolate Coating:

Coarsely chop chocolate of choice. (I used 300g milk chocolate and 300g white chocolate, but you can use any chocolate(s) you prefer. Just be sure to temper at least 300g of chocolate* at a time for best results.)

Add ⅔ of chopped chocolate to a heat-safe bowl. Melt over a double boiler of gently simmering water, stirring regularly. Make sure the bottom of the bowl isn’t touching the water because the chocolate will get too hot.

Heat milk chocolate until temperature reaches 113°F(45°C) on a cooking thermometer. (For white chocolate, melt to 104°F or 40°C.) Remove bowl from the heat and stir in remaining ⅓ of chopped chocolate.

Allow to cool, monitoring temperature regularly with a cooking thermometer. As soon as temperature cools to 79°F (26°C) for milk chocolate (77°F or 25°C for white chocolate), return bowl to double boiler and reheat.

Stir gently until temperature reaches 84°F (29°C) for milk chocolate (82°F or 28°C for white chocolate). When chocolate is smooth and shiny, it’s ready to be used.

To test tempered chocolate, fold a paper towel in half and dip the folded area into the chocolate. Allow to set in a cool place for up to 5 minutes. If properly tempered, the chocolate should set evenly and feel dry to the touch.

(For dark chocolate: melt to 113°F or 45°C, cool to 81°F or 27°C, and reheat to 90°F or 32°C.)

Simple Coating Option:

If you don’t want to temper chocolate, melt 1 cup of chocolate chips with 1 tsp of coconut oil in the microwave or on a double boiler over the stove.

Coat Truffles & Add Toppings

When melted chocolate is ready, drizzle chocolate onto truffles or dip truffles into chocolate, until coated on all sides. Allow any excess chocolate to drip off, then transfer to a plate.

While chocolate is wet, add desired holiday toppings—like sprinkles, chopped nuts, cocoa powder, coconut shreds, or whatever you like.

Allow tempered truffles to set at room temperature, or refrigerate untempered truffles to set.

Serve and enjoy!

Store tempered truffles in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, or in the fridge for to a week. Store untempered truffles in an airtight container in the fridge for a week.