3 1/2cups (555 g)sugar-free dark or semisweet chocolate chips, divided, see note before starting
4fl oz (118 ml)heavy cream
2tsp (2 g)lemon zest, patted dry
Instructions
Add 1 1/2 cups (238 g) chocolate chips to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat heavy cream in the microwave until it is hot and steaming, but not boiling. Pour over the chocolate. Gently stir with spatula until chocolate is fully melted and smooth. If you still have some chocolate not melting, you can heat the chocolate mixture in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds and then stir until fully melted. Stir in lemon zest. Make sure you stir in the lemon zest last so it doesn’t cause the mixture to seize.
Place mixture into the fridge to set. This will take about 1 hour. You want the mixture firm enough so that you can scoop and roll into balls. If your filling becomes too firm you can let it sit out at room temperature until soft enough to scoop.
Use a 1 tbsp cookie scoop to scoop the filling. Roll filling between palms until you have a smooth round ball. Place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining filling, making sure the finished balls do not touch when they are placed onto the baking sheet.
Place balls into the freezer until completely solid. This should only take about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, add the remaining 2 cups of chocolate to a microwave safe bowl and heat in 15-30 seconds, stirring in between with a spatula, until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Optional step: Some people find it easier to have a smooth coating if you add a little coconut oil to thin out the chocolate. If desired, stir in melted coconut oil, 1 tsp at a time, until you have a chocolate that has a thin enough consistency for coating/dipping easily. This is completely optional. If you prefer a thicker chocolate coating or are using a brand of chocolate that already has a thin consistency when melted, then you don't need to add any coconut oil.
Remove frozen balls from freezer. Use two forks (or whatever your favorite dipping tool is) to dip each ball into the melted chocolate, making sure to cover it completely. Gently shake off any extra chocolate and make sure coating is smooth and even, and carefully place the coated balls back on the parchment sheet. Try to wipe off as much of the bottom puddles of chocolate that the coated balls make when they touch the parchment paper.
If desired, you can use the remaining melted chocolate to add thin drizzles of chocolate on top of the truffles. You can also garnish with some additional lemon zest. If you do add lemon zest on top, make sure it is completely dry before adding it. If it is still wet, it will cause your chocolate coating to discolor.
Place chocolate truffles back into fridge until fully solid. Keep uneaten truffles in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
Chocolate note: This recipe works best with sugar-free chocolate chips sweetened with Stevia or erythritol. The filling does not set with chocolate sweetened with monkfruit (like Choczero brand). Also make sure to use dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate because the ganache center won't set with milk or white chocolate.
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Sweetness note: These truffles taste like dark chocolate truffles and are not super sweet. If you prefer sweeter truffles, you can coat the chocolate balls with melted sugar-free milk or white chocolate instead. (You can't use milk or white chocolate for the truffle center because there isn't enough cocoa for it to set, but any chocolate can be used for the outer chocolate coating, so you can choose a sweeter chocolate for the outer coating if you prefer a sweeter truffle).
The estimated nutrition assumes all of the 3.5 cups of chocolate are used but the actual nutrition is less because not all of the chocolate ends up on the truffles. If you are on a keto diet, please remember to look at net carbs and not just total carbs in the estimated nutrition. The net carbs count excludes fiber and carbs from sugar alcohols.
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.