becky
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclosure policy to learn more.
Thank you for supporting this blog!
Made with beer, dark chocolate, whipping cream, and a hint of butter, this cocoa-covered Guinness truffle recipe is one of my favorite dessert recipes with Guinness, and one of my favorite treats for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day!
A Guinness Truffle Recipe for Saint Patrick’s Day
While I’ve never been one for wild Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, I do love coming up with recipes for the occasion. In years past I’ve made everything from bright green cake balls to chocolate Lucky Charms bark to shamrock Rice Krispie treats, to boozy Bailey’s hot chocolate. This year, I decided to create a Saint Patrick’s Day twist on my favorite red wine truffles.
This Guinness truffle recipe features a classic Saint Patrick’s Day beverage: beer! These truffles are fairly fast and easy to prepare, and in addition to a bottle of Guinness you’ll need just a handful of ingredients: dark chocolate couverture, whipping cream, butter, and cocoa powder. All of these ingredients come together to produce a stellar batch of truffles.
It takes just a few minutes to prepare the ganache for this recipe. Then you simply chill the mixture, roll it into balls, cover in cocoa powder, and enjoy.
Tips and Tricks for Making Guinness Truffles
Be sure to choose a good-quality couverture (such as Callebaut or Valrhona) for this Guinness dessert recipe, rather than grocery store chocolate chips. These truffles also offer a fantastic way to use up all of the “odds and ends” of leftover chocolate left over from other recipes, or pieces of previously-tempered chocolate.
If you don’t have Guinness on hand, feel free to substitute another beer of choice. You can also replace the Guinness with extra whipping cream if you want to make an alcohol-free ganache. This substitution will result in a standard dark chocolate truffle, but they’ll still taste delicious.
I like to serve my Guinness and chocolate truffles in paper truffle cups. They’re pretty, and less messy, too.
Chocolate Truffle Variations, and other Dessert Recipes with Guinness
This Guinness truffle recipe is particularly easy because you don’t need to spend time tempering the chocolate. However, if you’re feeling ambitious you can definitely skip the cocoa powder coating and enrobe your truffles in tempered chocolate instead! (See this post for detailed instructions on enrobing rolled truffles in chocolate.)
In addition to truffles, this Guinness and dark chocolate ganache makes a lovely filling for other Guinness desserts, such as macarons or sandwich cookies! In fact, I’ve used the same ganache recipe for these chocolate sandwich biscuits.
Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions
Guinness truffles will keep well in the refrigerator for about a week. Layer the truffles between sheets of wax paper or parchment (otherwise they’ll stick together!) and store in an airtight container until ready to enjoy.
If you’re making your truffles ahead of time, plan to re-roll them just prior to serving, as the ganache will gradually absorb the cocoa powder. And allow your truffles to come up to room temperature prior to serving, for a smoother, creamier bite.
For more Saint Patrick’s Day recipes, try my:
Peppermint Cake Balls
Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream
Chocolate Mint Brownies
Green Chocolate Lucky Charms Bark
Miniature Irish Soda Bread
Chocolate Irish Cream Pudding
Shamrock Rice Krispie Treats
If you make these truffles, or any of my recipes, be sure to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re baking!
Guinness and Dark Chocolate Truffles
- Total Time: 1.5 hours (including chilling time)
- Yield: 12 - 14 1-inch/2.5 cm truffles 1x
Description
A Guinness truffle recipe made with beer and dark chocolate. One of my favorite dessert recipes with Guinness. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
Ingredients
140 grams dark chocolate couverture (1 cup)
55 milliliters Guinness (1/4 cup)
35 grams whipping cream (3 tablespoons)
15 grams unsalted butter (1 tablespoon), softened to room temperature
Cocoa powder, for dusting
Instructions
Line a small tray or plate with baking parchment or a silpat mat. Set aside.
Melt dark chocolate over a double boiler or bain marie.
Meanwhile, combine Guinness and whipping cream in a small saucepan and warm gently over medium-low heat. (Do not boil.)
Gently whisk the warm cream mixture into melted chocolate, followed by the softened butter.
Transfer bowl to the refrigerator and chill, at least one hour or until firm enough to scoop.
Once thoroughly chilled, use a melon baller, small cookie scoop, or tablespoon to scoop the ganache, using your hands to smooth and shape each truffle into a round ball. Roll each ball in cocoa powder and transfer to prepared tray. Chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
Remove chilled truffle balls from the refrigerator and roll in a second coating of cocoa powder.
Store truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Re-roll in cocoa powder prior to serving. Serve in paper truffle cups.
Store leftover truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Notes
You can make your truffles in any size you’d like. (I made mine about 1 inch in diameter.) However, I would caution against making them too big, because they are quite rich!
If making your truffles in advance, store in the refrigerator and allow time for them to come up to room temperature prior to serving. You’ll also want to re-roll in cocoa powder prior to serving, as the powder tends to absorb into the ganache mixture when stored in the fridge for any length of time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Chocolate
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Sweets