Chocolate Cream Cheese Truffles

~ Hometown Girl

Even before Pinterest, my mother was masterful at creating engaging, budget-friendly activities for me and my siblings throughout the Christmas season. Baking cookies and simple candy making were some of our favorite activities. Each child would participate at their level — the older children would do the measuring and mixing, while the younger ones might only add sprinkles or do the taste-testing. It was always a team effort. And, of course, the end results were very tasty.

Following suit, one of the simplest and most engaging kitchen activities that my children and I have enjoyed is making Chocolate Cream Cheese Truffles. The inspiration comes from a recipe in a Philadelphia Cream Cheese holiday cook booklet from the 1970s. Calling for a few simple ingredients — cream cheese, powdered sugar and melted chocolate chips — the candy is easy to prepare (adult supervision is essential when melting the chocolate). Once the chocolate is incorporated into the other ingredients and chilled, rolling little balls of chocolate in a variety of colorful holiday sprinkles creates a gift-worthy confection. Whether staying indoors due to the weather or because of Covid, this activity is sure to keep little (and not so little) hands busy. Enjoy!

Chocolate Truffles
Blend cream cheese until smooth.
Add powdered sugar to cream cheese.
Cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar.
Melt chocolate chips.
Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar with melted chocolate.
Chill prepared truffle dough.
Roll truffles in sprinkles.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Truffles

  • Servings: 3 - 4 dozen
  • Difficulty: Easy
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  • 1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 (12 oz) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted OR half semi-sweet and half milk chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract*
  • Assorted sprinkles

 

Directions

  1. In a large bowl using an electric mixer,  cream powdered sugar and cream cheese until smooth.
  2. Melt chocolate chips in a glass bowl in the microwave, stirring every 45 – 60 seconds, until smooth and glossy.
  3. Blend melted chocolate into cream cheese and powdered sugar mixture a little at a time.
  4. Cover and refrigerate candy until firm enough to hold its shape, about one hour.
  5. Shape into one inch balls and roll in sprinkles.

*Note: Alternate extracts and flavorings such as almond, peppermint or cake batter flavoring can be substituted for the vanilla. 

Recipe Compliments of Cookbooklady.com