Salted Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

There's fancy, and then there's fancy. These truffles were pretty amped up to begin with but I maaay have taken them to the next level. Oh yeah.

But I'm getting ahead of myself (as I've been known to do).

Obviously, I love cookie dough. And I love cookie dough truffles. But THESE...are just like, in a league of their own.

First...you brown butter. And that butter is not alone. Oh no. While you're browning the butter, there are also vanilla beans in there. If you think brown butter smells amazing...I can't even begin to explain how PHENOMENAL browned butter and vanilla beans smell. It's like...the best smell ever. I wanna bottle it. And wear it....of course then I'd be hungry all day...hmmm.

Anyway, then you make a fairly classic, eggless, chocolate chip cookie dough with that browned butter (and there's some heavy cream in there too...in case it wasn't rich enough before). BUT I added the delicious twist of, instead of chocolate chips, I folded TCHO's chocolate covered cocoa nibs into the dough. This was Michael's favorite part.

And then you coat the little perfect dough balls in dark chocolate and sprinkle coarse sea salt on top.

Perfecto!

The first bite is....dare I say...foodgasmic (it's the best word to describe it).

Just like...the most rich, sweet, salty, flavor explosion.

I can't even get over how amazing these were. 

But, I was worried they'd be too much for Michael, that he wouldn't like them as much or something. But he totally fell in love too. His first bite, I could tell from his face, pretty much changed his life. And he loved the crunch from the cocoa nibs. And ever since, he hasn't been able to stop talking about them. Me either.

Just...stop. Stop reading. Run and make these. You simply must.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Pecan Truffles

There was a silly time where I didn't think I liked any nuts, except for peanuts. Especially not in my sweets. But then, I discovered the wonderous chocolatey magic of Max Brenner's. In their gift shop (which is where I tend to hang out while waiting for a table) they'll give you a free sample of chocolate covered caramelized pecan truffles or some such and so, that first time, I tried it. Why not, right? It's free!

Fast forward 4 and a half years and those pecans have turned me into a con artist. I crave those little pieces of pecan heaven-the delicious chocolatey treats that made me completely change my mind about nuts (get your mind out of the gutter!) When I find myself in that gift shop, I get my free sample. I linger. I try to go to a new sales person for another one. Did they leave the sample jar unattended? I grab a handful. Yes...I'm pretty much the Bonnie half of Bonnie & Clyde of free chocolates.

*phew* glad to get that off my chest. My secret shame is safe with you guys, right?

So when I saw this recipe...it reminded me of those treats that turned me so villainous. Although they're pretty different...still good. AND bonus points-it's candy, so no baking. Which means no turning on the oven. Which means no melting in the NYC August I-only-have-a-window-air-conditioner-and-its-in-the-living-room-and-can-only-do-so-much-especially-because-electricity-is-so-effing-expensive heat. These little beauts are best served chilled.

Now, warning...these pecan truffles are messy. See that cocoa power? MESSY. Gets all up on your hands and everything it touches. But is a little extra messy chocolatey powder really such a horrible price to pay? I say worth it. Because you know what you get in return? Sweet, delicious, chocolatey, not overly sweet (or bitter) candies with a nice solid feel of firm, velvety chocolate when you bite in, followed by the lovely crunch of pecan. 

And you know what? They're not too bad for ya either. Sweetened only with honey. The only fat comes from good fats coconut oil and a smidge of peanut butter and well...pecans. And chocolate is super full of um...antioxidants and what not...yeah?

Finger lickin' good.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

I know I already complained on Monday, but (and Michael will vouch for this) I'm a bit of a whiner.

So excuse me while I whine about the fact that I STIIIIIL DO NOT HAAAAAVE THE COOKIE DOUGH LOVER'S COOOOKBOOOOOOK! It's not faaaaair! whyyyy?! WHY DON'T I HAVE IT?!

I love the blog Love & Olive Oil and when I found out Lindsay (the lady behind L&OO) wrote a cookbook ENTIRELY ABOUT COOKIE DOUGH it became my #1 must have item. 

Then time passed. More time. And then some more.

And I still do not have it. It's like...probably a crime against nature.

I mean, I've been pretty clear about my cookie dough obsession, yeah? Remember that recipe for eatable cookie dough? Or those peanut butter cookie dough brownies? MMm or those chocolate chip cookie dough balls. The only reasons more of such recipes haven't graced this site is because I'm just so depressed over my lack of cookbook.

Luckily, a few of the recipes from that much desired cookbook have found their way onto the internets. This recipe is one of those recipes. Cookie dough truffles. Oh yeah. 

As I was just typing that line...I had major deja vu. Have you ever had that? So crazy. I literally dreamed like a whole moment of time, and I dreamt it last night and it happened today! Weeeird. 

Anyway, sorry, back to cookie dough. These truffles are great for multiple reasons.Obviously...they're cookie dough...covered in chocolate. WIN. And, no bake, awesome for summertime! And they're so little you can just sit down and pop them in your mouth one by one and then you look down and....

...oops, they're all gone. :)