Buttercream Candies are treats with a soft and creamy buttercream filling dipped and covered in melted chocolate. If you love chocolate-covered treats, try my Chocolate Covered Cherries!
Buttercream Candies
When it comes to homemade candies, the holidays are a popular time to get some made. But, there is no need to wait until the holidays to make these buttercream candies that are drenched in chocolate. In fact, they are a perfect, bite-sized treat that can satisfy a sweet tooth all year round!
Chocolate Covered Buttercream Candy
With just a few ingredients, you can get these candies made and ready to enjoy!
Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room temperature butter will help you get the best results when making these candies. Butter is at room temperature at 65°F. Don’t put it in the microwave to soften it; simply cut it up into small pieces and let it sit out if you forgot to take it out of the refrigerator.
Chocolate: Look for baking chocolate to use as the coating on these candies. I prefer semi-sweet chocolate for just enough sweetness. Stay away from chocolate chips; they don’t melt and coat as well.
Buttercream Filling
The first step in making these buttercream candies is to make the filling. It does have to chill a couple of times, so keep that in mind. In fact, these treats are perfect to prepare ahead of time since the filling can be kept in the refrigerator overnight.
To make the filling, beat the room temperature butter. Next, add the confectioners’ sugar, creaming the butter and sugar together. Again, it is so important to use room temperature butter. If the butter is too cold, the emulsion might break causing a separated buttercream.
After creaming the butter and sugar, mix in the milk, vanilla extract, almond extract, and pinch of salt. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, up to overnight.
When ready, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and remove the buttercream filling from the refrigerator. Form the filling into 1-tablespoon balls. If the filling is too sticky to work with, add some confectioners’ sugar to your hands. Set the rolled buttercream onto the lined baking sheet and let them chill in the refrigerator for another hour, up to overnight.
Chocolate Coating
After the balls of buttercream have chilled in the refrigerator, they will be ready to be coated in the melted chocolate. There are a couple of ways you can melt chocolate. You can melt it in the microwave or use the double boiler method.
Melting Chocolate in the Microwave
To melt the chocolate in the microwave, add the chopped chocolate and oil into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the chocolate in 20-second increments, stirring after every 20 seconds, until melted. Once melted and smooth, let the chocolate sit for about 5 minutes before dipping the buttercream.
Double Boiler Method for Melting Chocolate
Using the double boiler method helps ensure that the chocolate is not burned and the gently melted chocolate will be smooth and shiny. And, you don’t need any fancy kitchen gadgets to use this method.
To melt the chocolate, fill a pot about halfway full of water. Bring it to a simmer over low heat. Find a heat-safe bowl (glass or stainless steel) that can be set into the pot. Make sure the bottom of the pot is not touching the water. The steam is what will melt the chocolate.
Add the chocolate and oil to the heat-safe bowl. With the heat on low, use a rubber spatula to stir the chocolate until it is melted and smooth. Again, once melted, let the chocolate cool for a few minutes before dipping the buttercream into it.
How to Make Buttercream Candies
The final step in making these candies is to get the buttercream coated in the melted chocolate. To do this, coat each ball of buttercream with chocolate one at a time. Gently drop the buttercream into the melted chocolate. Make sure the buttercream is completely coated in chocolate.
With a fork, carefully lift the coated buttercream out of the chocolate. Use a toothpick or another fork to slide the candy back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Once they are all coated, drizzle any extra chocolate over the candies. Place the buttercream candies in the refrigerator for about half an hour, or until the chocolate has set.
Store the candies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Freeze them for up to 3 months. If freezing the candies, be sure to label and date the freezer-safe container. When ready to eat, let them thaw in the refrigerator.
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Ingredients
Buttercream Filling
- ½ cup (1 stick or 113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 cups (500g) confectioners' sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 pinch salt
Chocolate Coating
- 4 bars (4 ounces each) semi-sweet baking chocolate bars, chopped
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Instructions
Buttercream Filling
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In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl using a handheld mixer), beat the butter until creamy (about 2 minutes).
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Add the confectioners' sugar. Beat on low for about a minute. Add the milk, vanilla, almond extract, and pinch of salt. Beat on high until smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes).
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Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place the buttercream mixture in the refrigerator to chill for one hour, up to 24 hours.
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When ready, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and remove the chilled buttercream from the refrigerator.
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Scoop out the buttercream with a one tablespoon scoop and roll it into a ball. Place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining buttercream. (If the mixture gets too sticky, add some confectioners' sugar to your hands.)
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Place the balls of buttercream in the refrigerator to chill for another hour, up to 24 hours.
Chocolate Coating
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In the last few minutes of chilling the buttercream balls, melt the chocolate. Add the chocolate pieces and oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20-second increments, stirring after every 20 seconds, until the chocolate is melted and creamy. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to cool before dipping the buttercream balls.
Assembly
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Remove the buttercream balls from the refrigerator. Working one at a time, gently drop the balls into the melted chocolate, making sure they are completely covered in chocolate.
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Using a fork, lift out the chocolate-covered buttercream. Use a toothpick or another fork to slide the buttercream candy onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
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Drizzle the remaining chocolate over the candies. Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has set.
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Store candies in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.