Get in the holiday spirit with these chocolate peppermint vegan truffles that are super easy to make and fun to decorate! Be creative and decorate these vegan truffles with your own personal touches! (Gluten free and low FODMAP too.)
This season we wanted to create a decadent and rich dessert that screams Christmas. These truffles taste like the holidays with refreshing peppermint and a creamy chocolate center. Enjoy these vegan truffles guilt free this season. And, all year long!
Why are these Chocolate Peppermint Vegan Truffles a great holiday treat?
Nothing screams the holiday season like creating delicious desserts with your loved ones. These vegan truffles allow everyone to get creative and add their favorite toppings, making each truffle personal.
The combination of peppermint and rich chocolate is underrated and needs more appreciation. If you love the Starbucks peppermint mocha drink you will LOVE this recipe!
Gather in the kitchen after the truffles solidify and are cool, put your matching pajamas on, crank your favorite holiday tunes and decorate these rich vegan truffles however you please.
I suggest the addition of crushed candy canes, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. However, don’t be afraid to add your own toppings and flavors!
Health Benefits of Chocolate. That’s Right CHOCOLATE!
Chocolate does not always need to be a guilty pleasure since it provides its fair share of health benefits. The Journal of Nutrition has conducted a study that suggests that the consumption of chocolate lowers low-density lipoproteins (LDL) aka the bad type of cholesterol.
This is possible since chocolate contains plant sterols and cocoa flavanols, which support cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, contains a wide variety of antioxidants that can potentially protect people from certain types of cancer. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Too many free radicals in the body may also be a risk factor for cancer. On the positive side, antioxidant rich flavonoids in chocolate may help reduce the risk certain types of cancer.
In addition, chocolate is rich in polyphenols and may act as a prebiotic promoting a healthy gut microbiome. Stay tuned for more on this exciting research!
Dark chocolate (cacao) has also been linked to:
- Boosting mood (Related: Check out this post on my favorite mood boosting foods!)
- Regulate blood sugar levels
- Improved skin
Even though chocolate has many health benefits you still should monitor your consumption. And, for the best health benefits choose varieties with 70% or more cacao. There are so many delicious ways to enjoy chocolate including these vegan peppermint chocolate truffles!
What makes this truffle recipe vegan?
First of all, most truffle recipe use whipping cream. Our vegan version is made with coconut milk.
In addition, many chocolate brands are not vegan, but that shouldn’t stop you from making these delicious gluten free vegan chocolate truffles. While chocolate is made from cacao beans making it a plant-based food, dairy is often added, especially to milk chocolate.
Luckily the popularity of vegan chocolate is constantly rising and there are some delicious varieties available to make these vegan chocolate truffles.
When choosing a high-quality dark chocolate look at the packaging and make sure the cacao content is 50% or more. 70%+ is even better in terms of antioxidants! Be sure to review the ingredient list and make sure no animal products are used.
High quality chocolate should only contain a few ingredients such as sugar, cacao beans, sea salt, and cocoa butter (yes this is vegan).
Vegan Chocolate Brands to Try
There are many others! Have fun taste testing different brands. (I love Thrive Market for their wide variety of quality gluten free and vegan products at a discount!) And, remember to read the ingredients and look for a vegan approved logo on the product.
How to make Chocolate Peppermint Vegan Truffles
This is a two part recipe. The first part is making the inside of the vegan truffles (aka ganache), and the second part is decorating them. The ingredients for the first part only contain four ingredients:
- Vegan chocolate
- Canned full-fat coconut milk
- Peppermint extract
- Sea salt
The second part of the recipe requires vegan chocolate. The toppings are optional.
STEP ONE
Begin by setting up a double boiler, which is boiled water on the stove with a glass bowl on top of the boiling water. Add the coconut milk and wait until it is warm (about 3 minutes).
You will then add the vegan chocolate and whisk it until smooth and silky. Once your chocolate ganache is smooth you will remove it from the heat, add the peppermint extract and sea salt.
STEP TWO
Cover the bowl of chocolate ganache and place in the refrigerator for one hour. Then, place the bowl in the freezer for another hour or until solidified.
STEP THREE
Once the ganache is ready, scoop it out with a spoon and form into balls. Then place on a baking sheet with parchment paper. After the balls are formed, return them to the freezer until ready to add melted chocolate.
Melt vegan chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments for about a minute, stirring it. Add coconut oil if needed to smooth out chocolate.
STEP FOUR
Dip your ganache balls in the melted chocolate and add your topping immediately after being dipped. Recommended holiday toppings: crushed vegan candy canes, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. See recipe notes for additional flavor and topping suggestions you can add year round.
Storing Your Vegan Truffles
In order to enjoy these vegan truffles all throughout the holiday season make sure to store them in a well-sealed container or bag in the freezer. This will help them maintain a solid consistency.
Chocolate Peppermint Vegan Truffles
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk, canned, full fat
- 2 cups vegan chocolate, divided; chopped chocolate bar or chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
- 5 vegan candy canes, optional
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, optional
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
Make the chocolate ganache
- Set up a double boiler*. When water is boiling, add coconut milk to the pan on top. Keep the temperature on boil until the coconut milk heats up-~ 3 minutes.
- Lower the temperature to medium and add 1 1/3 cups chopped vegan chocolate or chocolate chips. Continuously whisk mixture until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in peppermint extract and salt.
- Cover ganache mixture in a bowl and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Then place mixture in the freezer for 1 additional hour-or longer if needed.
Make vegan chocolate truffles
- Before removing the ganache from the freezer, set up a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop the ganache with a spoon and form into ~ 12 balls. The ganache will melt to the warmth of your hands so move quickly with this step.
- Once you have formed the truffle balls place them in the freezer until you're ready to dip them in chocolate.
- Prep your toppings: Crush candy canes and put cocoa powder and powdered sugar in small bowls.
- Prepare chocolate by adding 2/3 cups of chopped vegan chocolate or chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Optional: If you want your chocolate you be even smoother, add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil.
- Remove truffle balls from the freezer and tip one ball at a time into the chocolate with a spoon and fork. Add any toppings immediately as the chocolate mixture will cool fast. Return dipped truffles to the freezer for 15 minutes, then ENJOY!
Notes
- *Don’t have a double boiler? You can make your own at home with a pot and bowl. Follow these instructions at Bon Appetit.
- Note: While many candy canes are vegan, not are all, so be sure to read labels and look for the vegan logo.
- You can top your truffles with white chocolate too, but it’s hard to find a vegan white chocolate. Here’s one non-dairy white chocolate option from Oh! Nuts or you can try making your own with this vegan white chocolate recipe from Gluten Free on a Shoestring.
- Crushed candy canes and peppermint extract are festive for the holidays, but if you’re making these chocolate vegan truffles any other time of the year, feel free to experiment with different flavor extracts (i.e. vanilla, orange, maple, lemon, coconut, and more!)
- You can experiment with different toppings as well! Citrus zest would be yummy. Or, how about shredded coconut, espresso powder, dried wild blueberries, finely chopped nuts & seeds, or dried rose petals? What else would you add???
- Following a low carb or keto diet? Try these low sugar chocolates-Lakanto Sugar-Free Chocolate Bars and Lily’s Dark Chocolate-and let us know how your truffles turn out!
Nutrition
Craving more vegan chocolate dessert recipes? Check out some of these favorites from The Spicy RD blog!
Let’s Chat! Have you made vegan truffles before? What about truffles in general? Besides peppermint and candy canes what would you flavor/top your truffles with?
