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Dark chocolate pumpkin truffles are decadent spiced pumpkin balls dipped in rich, dark chocolate. They’re the perfect no-bake treats this fall!

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dark chocolate pumpkin truffles

On the hunt for decadent bites that are full of autumn vibes? Let me introduce you to dark chocolate pumpkin truffles!

I know white chocolate pumpkin truffles are the bomb, but white chocolate’s more intense twin turns out to be just as delectable for spiced pumpkin. 😋

These no-bake treats are highly addictive, but my favorite thing about this recipe is the fun surprise that “pops” out in each pumpkin chocolate truffle.

Intrigued? Then keep on reading!

I promise you won’t be disappointed.

What Are Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles?

Dark chocolate pumpkin truffles are bite-sized desserts made by rolling a spiced pumpkin mixture into balls and then wrapping them in melted dark chocolate.

You don’t need to bake these fall truffles, and they’re so easy to make with a few simple ingredients. 

They remind me of pumpkin pie from the pumpkin puree and warm spices, but the dark chocolate really took me by surprise!

I mean, let’s be honest: what chocolate comes to mind for pumpkin treats? White chocolate!

In this “darker” take, the slightly bitter but rich flavor of the chocolate turns out to be just as addictive when combined with pumpkin.  

What Are Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

Oh, and these chocolate pumpkin truffles have something else that will make both kids and kids at heart happy…

When you bite the luscious balls, you’ll get a fizzy surprise!

These pumpkin truffle balls are also made with Pop Rocks. They’re so much fun to eat and a great way to “prank” unsuspecting guests at your party. 😉

Why You’ll Love This Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles Recipe

  • Something New: These dark chocolate-covered pumpkin truffles are a tasty way to enjoy pumpkin this fall! Dark chocolate complements the rich and creamy pumpkin filling without being overly sweet. 
  • Great For Hosting: Make hosting easier than ever with bite-sized desserts like these truffles! They’re easy to make and serve, and you can even box up the cute chocolate pumpkin balls as gifts for guests to take home. 
  • Pop of Fun: Dark chocolate pumpkin balls are chocolatey, cozy, and fizzy! Yup, these desserts pop in the mouth when you eat them. They’re like decadent firecrackers for fall!

What Do Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles Taste Like?

Dark chocolate pumpkin truffles taste like dark chocolate truffles on the first bite. But after the familiar deep, semi-sweet, slightly bitter taste of the rich coating, you’ll get the luscious pumpkin filling.

It’s smooth, creamy, and perfectly spiced. Then, it pops in your mouth! 

The popping candies do not only make these desserts a wacky, interactive experience. They also add a burst of sweetness that pairs well with the creaminess of the truffles. 🤤

What Do Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles Taste Like

But if you’re not in the mood for Pop Rocks in your dark chocolate pumpkin balls, I have some delicious mix-ins and toppings you can try.

Here’s a hint: One’s a familiar cracker we love in pumpkin pie crust, and the other is a cookie that smells and tastes like the holidays. 

Ingredients For Pumpkin Truffle Balls

  • Dark chocolate chips – We’ll use dark chocolate both in the coating and filling of these chocolate pumpkin balls. You can also use melting wafers for the coating. 
  • Heavy cream – To help us get that proper truffle consistency on our pumpkin mixture.
  • Pumpkin puree – You can use canned or fresh pumpkin!
  • Ground cinnamon – Of course, our autumn truffles will be spiced with cinnamon. If you don’t want to blend several spices for this dessert, you can also just swap cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger with pumpkin pie spice. Easy peasy!
  • Ground nutmeg – Nutmeg instantly makes the kitchen smell like the holidays. This warming spice also brings out the richness of these treats.
  • Ground ginger – The “spiciness” of ginger blends well with pumpkin and dark chocolate. 
  • Kosher salt – A delicious salty contrast to these luscious desserts. You can even sprinkle salt on the truffles before serving!
  • Unsalted butter – The secret ingredient for glossy, melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin truffle balls. 
  • Pop Rocks – Our fun, fizzy addition to these dark chocolate pumpkin truffles. 

Tools Needed To Prepare Chocolate Pumpkin Balls

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Pumpkin Balls

Pop rocks substitute 

If you’re not in the mood for fizzy candies in your chocolate pumpkin truffles, swap them with everyone’s favorite holiday cookies: gingersnap cookies

Caramel drizzle

Does your sweet tooth demand more sweetness? You can never go wrong with a creamy caramel garnish over your dark chocolate pumpkin truffles!

Graham crackers

You can include some Graham cracker crumbs to get that familiar pumpkin pie crust flavor into the truffles. I also like how they improve the consistency of the mixture for rolling.

How to Make Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

Ingredients:

Tools you need:

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather and measure the ingredients for your dark chocolate pumpkin truffles.

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles ingredients

STEP 2: Place the dark chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Set aside.

STEP 3: Add the heavy cream and pumpkin puree in a saucepan. Place it over medium heat and stir to combine.

step 3 Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

STEP 4: Stir in the spices and salt. Allow the pumpkin mixture to come to a boil, stirring occasionally. Then, remove the pan from the heat.

step 4a Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles
step 4b Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

STEP 5: Pour the pumpkin mixture over the dark chocolate. Let them stand for about 30 seconds.

STEP 6: Whisk the dark chocolate pumpkin truffle mixture vigorously until smooth and shiny.

step 6 Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

STEP 7: Once the mixture is just warm and no longer very hot, whisk in the butter. Mix until combined.

step 7 Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

STEP 8: Add 5 packs of pop rocks. Whisk to combine.

step 8 Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

STEP 9: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until the mixture firms up.

step 9 Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

STEP 10: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

STEP 11: Scoop out the truffle mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Each truffle is about 2 teaspoons.

step 11 Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

STEP 12: Refrigerate the dark chocolate pumpkin truffles for at least 30 minutes or until they set.

STEP 13: Melt the dark chocolate coating according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

step 13 Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

STEP 14: Coat the truffles with the dark chocolate, then sprinkle them with the remaining pop rocks.

step 14a Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles
step 14b Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

STEP 15: Chill the truffles again for 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving. Enjoy!

step 15 Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

What To Serve With Dark Chocolate Coated Pumpkin Truffles

So, what goes well with pumpkin truffles coated in dark chocolate?

I typically serve these delicious dessert balls with a piping hot cup of tea, specifically Earl Grey tea.

I think a simple cup of tea is perfect with dark chocolate pumpkin truffles because the truffles are already quite rich, and tea offers a nice balance to the palate.

You can also serve your pumpkin and dark chocolate truffles with mixed dried fruits and nuts!

Pair them with a plate of dates, cranberries, almonds, pecans, and walnuts. These assorted snacks are perfect for your Thanksgiving dessert table!

What To Serve With Dark Chocolate Coated Pumpkin Truffles

And if you want to offer more bite-sized treats to your guests, I have two pumpkin desserts that everyone will love to grab and go.

You can pair these homemade truffles with our pumpkin balls and Instant Pot pumpkin bites.

Imagine cheesecake bites with a fall makeover, and you’ll get pumpkin balls.

Pumpkin bites, on the other hand, are more like a cross between mini muffins and pumpkin pie. They’re both equally exquisite! 😋

Tips About Making Dark Chocolate And Pumpkin Truffles

  • If you don’t have a cookie scoop for portioning your chocolate pumpkin balls, just use two teaspoons worth of mixture for each truffle and roll the balls by hand! Oh, and of course, you want to have a bowl of water on the side to dampen your hands since the mixture is quite sticky. 
  • Making dark chocolate pumpkin truffles for a crowd? Save time and effort by coating the balls with a candy dipping tool! You can also use two spoons: one for dipping the truffle and one for pouring more coating on the ball if needed.
  • Open your bags of Pop Rocks at the last minute. The candies can get sticky if exposed to the air for too long. We don’t want to lose the surprise “pop” in our truffles. 😉

How To Store Pumpkin Truffles With Dark Chocolate

  • Fridge: Because of the popping candies, dark chocolate-coated pumpkin truffles are best eaten within 24 hours of making them. But if you have leftover balls, they store well in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
  • Freezer: For longer storage, store your chocolate pumpkin truffles in a freezer-safe container and freeze them for a month or two. Just put them in the fridge overnight for serving the next day.
How To Store Pumpkin Truffles With Dark Chocolate

Can I Coat Pumpkin Truffles in White Chocolate Instead?

Yes, and it’s a delicious combination! 

White chocolate-coated pumpkin truffles are also more common, so when I first heard about dark chocolate pumpkin truffles, I was skeptical.

I thought using white chocolate made more sense since it’s sweet and milky.

I suggest you try white and dark chocolate on this pumpkin truffle balls recipe.

I’ll be waiting in the comments section to see which team will win the title of the Best Pumpkin Truffle Chocolate Coating. 🏆

Can I Use Fresh Pumpkin Instead Of Canned For Pumpkin Truffles?

Yes! You can use fresh pumpkin and make a pumpkin puree from scratch for these dark chocolate and pumpkin truffles. 

My preferred preparation for fresh pumpkin is slicing it into cubes and boiling them for 10 minutes. Then, remove the skin and mash them with a fork until lump-free. 

FAQ About Pumpkin Truffles

Can you use pumpkin pie mix rather than pumpkin puree for pumpkin truffles?

I suggest sticking to real pumpkin puree when making pumpkin truffles just so you’ll have more control over the flavor and consistency of the truffle mixture. Remember, pumpkin pie filling has other ingredients compared to pumpkin puree. 

Can I use chocolate chips to coat the pumpkin truffles?

Yes! These pumpkin truffles are coated with melted dark chocolate chips. Just make sure to use quality ones, as some chocolate chips have stabilizers. These chocolate chips melt thickly, making it trickier to dip and coat the truffles. 

What type of chocolate is best for pumpkin truffles?

It’s totally up for debate because while white chocolate is an easy and “safe” choice for pumpkin truffles, even the semi-sweet dark chocolate also tastes amazing, as seen in this recipe. 

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles Recipe

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

Yield: 22
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Dark chocolate pumpkin truffles are decadent spiced pumpkin balls dipped in rich, dark chocolate. They're the perfect no-bake treats this fall!

Instructions

  1. Gather and measure the ingredients for your dark chocolate pumpkin truffles.
  2. Place the dark chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Set aside.
  3. Add the heavy cream and pumpkin puree in a saucepan. Place it over medium heat and stir to combine.
  4. Stir in the spices and salt. Allow the pumpkin mixture to come to a boil, stirring occasionally. Then, remove the pan from the heat. 
  5. Pour the pumpkin mixture over the dark chocolate. Let them stand for about 30 seconds.
  6. Whisk the dark chocolate pumpkin truffle mixture vigorously until smooth and shiny. 
  7. Once the mixture is just warm and no longer very hot, whisk in the butter. Mix until combined.
  8. Add 5 packs of pop rocks. Whisk to combine.
  9. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until the mixture firms up. 
  10. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  11. Scoop out the truffle mixture onto the lined baking sheet. Each truffle is about 2 teaspoons. 
  12. Refrigerate the dark chocolate pumpkin truffles for at least 30 minutes or until they set.
  13. Melt the dark chocolate coating according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  14. Coat the truffles with the dark chocolate, then sprinkle them with the remaining pop rocks.
  15. Chill the truffles again for 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

  • I find it easier to scoop out and portion the truffle mixture with a small cookie scoop. If you don't want to use one, you can just use a teaspoon and scoop out two teaspoons worth of the mixture and roll the truffles by hand. If you find the mixture too sticky, just dampen your hands with some water in between rolling the truffles. 
  • Making a big batch of dark chocolate pumpkin truffles? It'll be more efficient to use a candy dipping tool to coat the truffles. You can also use two spoons: one for dipping and the other for pouring more coating onto the truffle.
  • Do not open your bags of Pop Rocks too early! These candies can get sticky if exposed to the air for too long.

* This recipe was originally published on 10/2011 by Jaclyn. Notes and photos were updated on 11/2023.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 22 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 35Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 0g

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.

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Conclusion

If there is a truffle recipe for welcoming the fall season, it’s this dark chocolate pumpkin truffles recipe. 

These homemade pumpkin truffles may seem too cute to eat, but once you have one, it’ll be hard to stop.

They’re full of delightful pumpkin flavor and comforting warm spices to get your sweet tooth in the mood for autumn. Then, you’ll get an unexpected fizzy fun from Pop Rocks mixed into the decadent truffle filling!

Finally, cover all of that in dark, yup, not white, but dark chocolate.

It deliciously complements the warm, mellow flavor of the pumpkin filling, making it hard to resist not grabbing another ball of pure chocolate pumpkin heaven. 

chocolate pumpkin truffles

Want another treat for pumpkin season? Choose from any of these; I promise the pumpkin lover in you won’t be disappointed: 

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