Eggnog Truffles

I always think about my dad whenever I see or hear anything related to eggnog. The sole reason we have it in the house during the holidays is because of him. I never knew what to think of it, really. It’s a chilled viscous beverage containing eggs… someone must have thought this would be the elixir of all elixirs! They were on to something. If you don’t want that sort of beverage but love the idea of its flavors—cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cream wrapped in white chocolate—then I think you’re gonna love this.

I ran out of white chocolate, so dipping the truffle into white chocolate was no longer an option. The powdered sugar-coated truffle was born from a small hiccup but turned out for the better. The subtle coating lets the truffle shine.

Why are there eggs in eggnog?
Think of eggnog as a custard sauce (such as crème anglaise). The egg yolks and whipped whites are a major factor in making the drink what it is. For that reason, I added an egg yolk to the ganache to make it a touch richer and reminiscent of true eggnog.

Where can I find cinnamon extract?
Cinnamon extracts have a deeper flavor than its powder counterpart. You can order cinnamon extract online or find it in your spice aisle in the grocery store. But if you can’t find it, substitute ground cinnamon for cinnamon extract without a problem (for this recipe, use 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon to 1 teaspoon cinnamon extract).

Never heard of egg ganache?
Ganache is widely used to describe so many recipes, like salted caramel ganache, whipped ganache frosting, and ganache stuffed chocolate chip cookies—yum! Egg ganache is an extension of the cream and chocolate mixture except there’s the addition of butter and egg yolks.

Let’s spike these!
If you can spike eggnog, you can spike these truffles. Eggnog is also called milk punch when spiked with brandy, cognac, bourbon, or rum, the popular additions. Darker, richer booze is great in an eggnog situation. Add up to 1 tablespoon of alcohol to your warm cream and proceed with the recipe from there. If you want to try something a little extra, you can spritz the outside of the truffles with said alcohol before rolling into the powdered sugar. 

How long can I keep these truffles?
Truffles will have a longer shelf life if frozen, but that diminishes their quality. Since they’re filled with cream and egg, they should last no more than 4 to 5 days in the fridge. Be sure to seal them in an airtight container or plastic bag. If you’re afraid of ruining the powdered sugar coating, you can always pre-roll the balls, store, and toss in the sugar coating when ready to serve.