I will preface this post by saying this: if you don’t like to smile, smirk, giggle, or grin, or if you can’t stand the feeling of pure, child-like happiness, don’t make these truffles.
Because the minute you rip open a bag of poprocks (and be honest, when was the last time you did this?) and the candy begins to crackle and pop, you won’t be able to help yourself. When they continue to crackle as they are rolled around soft ganache, you’ll smirk. And when you take your first bite of the finished truffle, well, you’ll be grinning from ear to ear.
Talk about a flavor explosion.
Not to mention when you go to do the dishes, washing the candy remnants down the sink. Your drain pipes will sound like miniature fireworks. And, yes, you will smile. Again. While doing the dishes no less.
The truffles are simple, really. Just a soft ganache center, rolled in poprocks, and coated in a snappy chocolate shell. I used a truffle mold for mine, but you could most certainly dip them as well.
I tried 4 different flavors of poprocks, with the resounding favorite being the Strawberry followed by Cherry. Raspberry was pretty good too, although I’d maybe pass on the apple. Sour apple + chocolate = not so much.
Not that that stopped me from eating them, of course.
I will note that these truffles don’t last long. Or, they last just fine with the exception of the popping part. That fades pretty quickly (once the pop rocks come in contact with air and/or moisture their pop begins to dissipate). So you will want to enjoy these the same day they are made for the most dramatic effect. After that, the fruit flavor of the candy still lingers, so they kind of taste like cherry/strawberry cordials, which is definitely not a bad thing, just not quite as fun.
Oh, and if you’re looking for pop rocks (because they are surprisingly hard to find), I got an assorted flavor pack online.
Poprocks Truffles
Ingredients:
12 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped and divided
3/4 cup heavy cream
8 packages Pop Rocks candies
Directions:
Place 6 ounces of the chopped chocolate in a heat proof bowl.
Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until it just begins to steam. Pour over the chopped chocolate, and let sit for 60 seconds. Gently stir until smooth. Refrigerate for about 2 hours or until ganache is set firmly enough to handle (if you are making dipped truffles–rather than molded–you’ll want to refrigerate slightly longer).
Gently melt remaining chocolate. If you can do this (whether in the microwave or double boiler) without the temperature going above 88 degrees F, the chocolate will retain its temper and create a very shiny outer shell.
For molded truffles, pour 1/2 teaspoon or so of melted chocolate into each mold, and then coat the inside of the mold with a thin layer of chocolate. I found a small measuring spoon or clean craft brush work well here. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes or until set.
Pour one package of pop rocks into a small dish. Only open one package at a time to keep them as fresh as possible (prolonged exposure to air will cause them to lose their ‘pop’).
Remove the ganache from the refrigerator. Using a small spoon or melon baller, scoop out about 1 teaspoon worth of ganache. Roll in poprocks, and then press into shells, leaving room at the top for another layer of chocolate to seal.
Refrigerate for about 10 to 15 minutes or until set, then remove from molds. Repeat with remaining ganache.
For dipped truffles, roll the centers in pop rocks and then dip into melted chocolate. Arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet and refrigerate until set.
Truffles are best enjoyed the day they are made. After one day they begin to lose their ‘pop’ very quickly.
Did you make this recipe?
Let us know what you think!
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Wow!! These look so yummy…… Love the idea!! I definitely want some of these right now. I love pop rocks…..
You can get the unflavored popping candy that has been coated so that the moisture contact doesn’t start the popping ahead of time. I found your post while looking for a technique to make a firecracker candy to stir into ice cream before freezing it, thought you might like to know.
Culinary Crystals – Gourmet Carbonated Candy (Coated), $18 on Amazon
You know you’re a genius, right? I’m DEAD. Serious. Can you please send me some???? Haha
I totally would but I’m not sure they’d make it to Florida! :)
Darn it all! I just made truffles YESTERDAY for our dinner party this Saturday. These would have been a big hit. Next time (sigh!).
Anything that can get me to smile while doing dishes…. :) They look like a blast from the past (sorry!).
Brilliant!!! Simply brilliant!
AWESOME IDEA!!! Memories of pop rocks fill my childhood. :-)
Whoa! Cool! I just gave someone the special holiday peppermint pop rocks for xmas. I wonder how those would taste. Maybe my friend will let me “borrow” one of the bags back to make truffles!
My almost 6 year old wants me to make these for her birthday. She would loooovvve them! That super fizzy action and all!
You are a mastermind! Growing up Pop Rocks were my absolute favorite candy (next only to Sixlets). I seriously can’t wait to try these!
I never thought to cook with pop rocks!! This must be so much fun!! I’d laugh hysterically if I heard popping in my pipes!! =)
Smiling while doing the dishes? Stop itttt ;) Now I just have to make these to experience that alone heehee
What fun! I bought some pop rocks around NYE to make a beverage with them but never got around to it.
OK, Lindsay, this is your most bizarre recipe yet. But entirely appropriate for the Skee Ball champion of the Landis Family!
Oh my brother and I would beg my mom for that candy growing up. Such fun truffles!
cute post, i’ll definitely make these for the next party i attend!
Wow!! Love the idea!!
How fun! I just took a truffle making class this weekend and had an awesome time. So fun to run across your super creative truffle blog 2 days later!
Whoa, I am pretty sure that just blew my mind! So excited to try this out. Such a fun pop of flavor…literally!
I love Pop Rocks! I haven’t seen them in a while – need to hunt them down, grab some chocolate and get goin’!
AMAZING!! and i love how perfect and shiny your tempered chocolate is!
Here in San Diego, we have a chocolatier that makes Firecracker truffles with poprocks and chipotle infused caramel. So yum. I’m sure this is just as tasty!
I really recently had a chocolate (made by a company called Chuao) that combined pop rocks and chipotle inside the dark chocolate. It was so amazing and intense! I’ll definitely add chipotle when I try these
Fun is the absolute best way to describe these! I love pop rocks :)
These look like so much fun. Absolutely trying these!
xx Kait
This would never have occurred to me… but how fun!! My kids would love this!
So fun! OK so I’m dying to know… how did this idea come about??
What a cute idea! My mom once sent pop rocks to my fiance (my mom is cool like that) and he told me that he doesn’t like how they feel when he eats them…I told him that he must have had a terrible childhood. I proceeded to eat them all.
I love how decadent these look and then you find a playful treat inside!
So this is what you had planned with the PopRocks!
What a great idea! Super fun!
Pop Rocks are some kind of magical fun…love them! I coated some homemade marshmallows with them for the 4th of July last year – way fun, and super cool sensation in the mouth with the fluffy marshmallow. I love your truffles, I bet the berry flavored Pop Rocks are awesome with chocolate!
You are crazy and I love it! What a great idea!! Gosh, I haven’t had poprocks since I was a kid!
What an amazing idea! I need to remember this. It’s so cool!
I remember these, they kinda freaked me out at first but I think it’s because I heard a rumor as a kid that your mouth will explode if you eat them?
Gorgeous truffles!!
I can imagine the sound from within the sink… my brother and I used to LOVE pop rocks, this would sure be fun to make for him as a surprise… his birthday is in a couple months, I think I have his dessert planned! :)
This. Is. Amazing.
Cute! I tried to sprinkle them on the top of cupcakes once… it worked, but you had to enjoy them rather quickly before the crackle disappeared due to the contact w/ the moisture in the frosting. Truffles are a fun idea!
Oh, this is SO up my alley! So simple, so sweet, so FUN!!!