Samoa Truffles

If you love Caramel deLites or Samoa Girl Scout Cookies, then these easy Samoa Truffles are going to drive your taste buds crazy! Chewy delicious candy made from scratch, no girl scout cookies needed.

Love homemade truffles? Our easy chocolate truffles are a must make, any time of year. Or give our delicious coconut truffles a try! They’ll remind you of our favorite coconut macaroons!

Three coconut and chocolate candies stacked on a white plate.


Why I love Samoa Bites

Raise your hand if you LOVE Girl Scout Cookies. Through the years I’ve been slightly obsessed. And each member of my family has a favorite flavor. My husband loves Tagalongs, and the kids love thin mints.

Mine, obviously, is the box of Samoas. I think now they are called Caramel deLites but maybe it varies by region.

That’s where these Samoa Truffles came into play.

A sweet, delicious truffle packed with the best parts of my favorite cookie, in an easy to eat truffle. And….these can be stored in the freezer. Perfect, right?

  • This truffle is the delicious marriage of coconut, chocolate and caramel.
  • I used a can of dulce de leche sauce for a thick, toothsome caramel texture that is even better than the caramel in Samoas.
  • Some crushed wafers, melted chocolate and sweetened coconut flakes turned the caramel sauce into delicious cold truffles, perfect for popping into my mouth whenever a Samoa craving strikes!

Only 5 Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make samoa truffles.
  • Coconut- the star of the show! I prefer sweetened, shredded coconut. But this candy is definitely sweet enough should you use unsweetened coconut.
  • Nilla Wafers- You’ll need a whole box of cookies, and crush them. Not completely fine, keep some larger crumbs (see photo above). Golden oreos or Butter cookies work great too.
  • Sweetened condensed milk- one can provides the perfect amount of sweetness, but also helps the mixture combine to a delicious texture.
  • Dulce de Leche- This is a very thick caramel sauce. Do not use milk.
  • Chocolate- I prefer using Ghirardelli melting wafers here, they melt smooth and taste amazing, and no need to add any shortening to thin or temper the chocolate.

How to Make Coconut Caramel Truffles

Step by step photos showing how to make samoa truffles.

First, you’re going to toast your coconut flakes! This gives them a nutty flavor and a little bit of crispiness.

  • To toast coconutSpread it out in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for 10 – 15 minutes, flipping the coconut flakes after every 5 minute increment, until they are golden brown.

Combine.

  • Meanwhile, mix together Nilla wafer cookie crumbs with dulce de leche and sweetened condensed milk.
  • Add in the coconut flakes when they’re done toasting and mix until well combined.

To form the Samoa truffles:

  • Scoop the mixture by the tablespoonful onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.
  • Freeze the truffles for 30 minutes.

Last but not least: the chocolate drizzle! 

  • Melt dark chocolate wafers in the microwave. Mine took 3 rounds of 30 seconds each (stirring between each one) to get smooth and melty.
  • Dip the bottom of each frozen truffle into the melted chocolate. When all the truffles are dipped, pour the remaining chocolate into a ziplog bag. Snip a whole in one corner of the bag and drizzle the chocolate over the top of all the truffles.
Truffles on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Tips & Tricks

  • Make sure you’re using canned dulce de leche in this recipe! Bottled caramel sauce will NOT work! I recommend this brand.
  • If you don’t have candy wafers, dark or semi sweet chocolate chips will work as a substitute.
  • These keep well in the fridge for about 2 weeks and in the freezer for up to 3 months. I find it hard to resist eating them all within a matter of days, though. They’re just that good.
Bite taken out of a samoa truffle.

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Samoa Truffles Recipe

4.61 from 168 votes
By: Aimee
If you love Caramel deLites or Samoa Girl Scout Cookies, then these easy Samoa Truffles are going to drive your taste buds crazy! Chewy delicious candy made from scratch, no girl scout cookies needed.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 72 truffles

Ingredients 

  • 7 ounce sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 can dulce de leche 14 ounce
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounce
  • 1 box Nilla Wafer cookies, crushed 11 ounce (about 2 cups crushed)
  • 16 ounce Ghirardelli dark chocolate wafers
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Instructions 

  • On a large baking sheet, spread coconut into a single layer. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes, until lightly browned. Be sure to turn and flip the coconut every 5 minutes. Remove from oven.
  • In a bowl, combine coconut, dulce de leche, sweetened condensed milk and cookie crumbs. Stir until well combined.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop one tablespoon of mixture (I use this scoop) onto the parchment paper. Repeat until all mixture is used. Place baking sheet in freezer and freeze for about 30 minutes.
  • Melt chocolate wafers according to package directions (about 1 1/2 minutes in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds). Dip bottom of each truffle in melted chocolate and return to parchment paper.
  • Once all truffles are dipped, put the remaining chocolate into a small ziploc bag. Snip off the corner and drizzle over truffles. Store in refrigerator (or freezer) in airtight container.

Notes

  • Make sure you are using 1 can of dulce de leche (the thick caramel). Many people who have had issues with this spreading are not using the right can. You can see the correct product here!
  • If you don’t have candy wafers, dark or semi sweet chocolate chips will work as a substitute.
  • These keep well in the fridge for about 2 weeks and in the freezer for up to 3 months. I find it hard to resist eating them all within a matter of days, though. They’re just that good.
  • See blog podt gor more recipe tips and tricks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1truffle, Calories: 51kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 13mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 5g
Course: Candy
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!


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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

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Posted on January 25, 2016

Comments & Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    These are delicious and they turned out so pretty! I love sweetened condensed mik and coild eat it by the spoonful. This was a first using dulce de leche and oh my what a treat in a can lol. I didn’t find them to be too sticky. A cookie scoop is a must for this recipe . I used the full 11 oz box of vanilla wafers and crushed them very fine with a blender and yielded just a little over 2 cups. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

  2. 5 stars
    I made these last year and they were awesome. I used kraft caramels, melted, in place of the dulse de leche and they came out great and not sticky. I’m making these today !!

  3. 5 stars
    Made December 2023. Love that you suggest the coconut to be toasted. Makes it stand out. Just like toasting nuts. These somoas were absolutely delicious. A recommendation for those that have never tried a new recipe-half it. Make sure you like it, and make sure it works. That’s what I did here. I will definitely make again.
    The mixture was slightly sticky as expected, so use a scoop to get the mixture out, and use a couple of fingers and your palm to roll-don’t go all hands in! The chocolate set up well and these looked professional and tasted exactly like a Samoa cookie!

  4. 1 star
    Yuck! I followed the directions to a T. Came out very sticky. Tasted raw-like something needed to be added to make them not so sticky. When bringing them out of the fridge they seem to melt when sitting out on a plate. Won’t make these again.

    1. I had a can of dulce leche and a can of cooked condensed milk caramel. Comparing them, the dulce leche tasted raw. Will definitely only use cooked condensed milk caramel. So much better!

  5. 5 stars
    Made a half batch and everyone loves them! I didn’t have dulce de leche and I know the Tips section states to use that specifically but I needed to use up the Ghiradelli caramel sauce I had. It worked out anyway (while sticky as it mentioned it would be) but still super tasty regardless! Recommend highly!

  6. 5 stars
    Yummy, delicious! I made the recipe exactly as called for in the recipe. It was sticky at first (as othershave said), but I continued following the recipe, dipping each one then putting on parchment paper and then in the fridge. When I ate them later, they had hardened and looked and felt store-bought, or like a professional made them ;). Thank you Aimee for such a yummy recipe!

  7. Could I use Ghirardelli’s syrup , in place of chocolate chips or candy wafers? It’s all I have .

  8. Outstanding, made for the Church Potluck. Made 72, went home with empty tray. Great job.
    The Dulce de Leche made in instant pot, 40 minutes ready. AAwesome!! Thanks
    5 Stars

  9. I made these last week for Christmas. I put them in the refrigerator (not freezer) about an hour before dipping in chocolate. They were a little sticky at that point, but not bad. Stored in refrigerator when done, and I think that helped dry them enough. Not sticky at all after that. Will definitely make these again!

  10. This recipe turned out sticky and the combination of the two milks tasted raw. It’s my experience they need to be cooked and caramelized a bit. Yes I used the correct ingredients. I’ve been making cookies and cookies for years, neither my husband or I liked them. They did not make the Christmas plate.

    1. For this recipe you need one can of sweetened condensed milk and one can of dulce de leche (the thickened caramel).

      1. Where can you find the Carmel sauce at, and if you can’t find the Carmel sauce Can you use just the Plain Carmel Carmel candies and melt them down? Does anyone know? Thank you Jill Ridgley 12/13/22 @10:35 am Standard Pacific Time.

        1. Jill,
          I watch Lori Brown (Whippoorwill Holler) on Utube. And she made these Samoa Truffles just the other day. And she used 1 cn. Dulcet de Leche (it’s a carmel milk) you find it in the Mexican section in your Wal-Mart or grocery store (recipe calls for 14oz.can but this can is only13.4oz.). I’m going today to buy stuff to make some! Good luck and have a Merry Christmas
          Melinda

        2. Jill the dulce de leche comes in smaller cans like condensed milk, and they usually have it in the Hispanic food section at Walmart, or I’m sure just about any chain grocery.

  11. I’m wanting to gift these with other Christmas treats, am I able to keep them inside of tins without being refrigerated?
    Thanks so much!!

      1. 4 stars
        I followed the directions and thought it was a little too Sweet even for my sweet tooth. Next time I’ll remove 1/8 cup of sweetened condensed milk and 1/8 cup of dolce de leche. Maybe add a pinch of salt to even out the sweetness. I also had to add coconut oil to my chocolate chips to make it smoother and go farther. I definitely needed to use a smaller melon baller. My baller made about 34 which is way too big of a cookie at that level of sweetness.Will make again.

  12. I made these for the first time tonight and mine were sticky also. Can you confirm that 2 cups of crushed vanilla wafers are correct and not the whole box. My 11 oz. box would have at least 3 cups in the box. I came out with 20 less truffles than the 72. I had less than a tbsp. mixture in each truffle. Thank you!

    1. 2 cups is correct. Are you sure you used dulce de leche? I’m finding most people who had issues did not use the right product. Dulce de leche is thick like caramel.

  13. After putting Samoa cookies in the freezer they were sticky at touch before they were dipped in chocolate. Is this normal or what am I doing wrong?

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