Did you ever taste vegan chocolate a few years ago, before it became more mainstream?
If you did, chances are you remember it being chewy and bland, and to look at it, it would have been a bit pale.
In 2023, taste tests have found time and time again that due to the upsurge in veganism, it is now nearly impossible to differentiate between vegan chocolate and regular chocolate.
So, this coming festive season, if you have vegan guests coming to your home for Christmas Day, you may be curious about how to use vegan chocolate to make some tasty festive treats. Here are some top ideas, so enjoy!
Vegan Chocolate Truffles
Whether it is plant-based milk, white, or vegan dark chocolate, it will work perfectly with a vegan chocolate truffle recipe.
You can buy these, or if you are a bit of a chocolatier, you can create the most amazing truffles by mixing vegan chocolate, coconut cream, and a mix and match-of your favourite flavorings. Roll this mixture into small balls and coat them in cocoa powder and some crushed nuts or shredded coconut. Place them in the fridge overnight to set, and voila! You’ve got yourself some vegan truffles!
Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Ever had peppermint bark?
It is a festive treat that is made from 2 different types of chocolate, with some broken candy canes mixed in. If you get the right mixtures of chocolate, it can look stunning and may even be a centerpiece on a table of sweet treats at a Christmas party.
To make the vegan option, you need to melt two kinds of chocolate and spread them thinly onto a baking sheet. Sprinkle the crushed candy over the top while the chocolate is still soft. Let the bark cool and harden, and then break it into pieces and eat it.
Dipped Strawberries
Always a delight, strawberries that have been dipped into melted vegan chocolate will be a surefire favorite at any Christmas gathering.
Dip the strawberries in the chocolate and then allow them to cool on some parchment paper. You can even make a swirled look by using a contrasting shade of chocolate and drizzling it over the dipped strawberries. It’s tasty and pretty to look at!
Vegan Pots de Crème
Why not try and create the rich and creamy chocolate pots de crème, but with vegan ingredients, obviously? You can use easy-to-find ingredients like silken tofu, vegan chocolate, sugar, and a touch of vanilla bean or vanilla extract. Blend it all together and refrigerate it until it sets. Then, you can serve these silky and delicious custard chocolate treats in small cups or even festive ramekins.
Vegan Chocolate Yule Log
Never to be forgotten, the vegan Yule log is a tasty treat to try and make, but be warned, it’s a bit tricky!
You need to bake a simple chocolate sponge cake on a flat baking tray, and then, when it has cooled, coat some vegan chocolate ganache or vegan whipped cream over it. Carefully roll it into a log shape and cover it with more ganache and frosting. You can even sprinkle some icing sugar over it to imitate snow or decorate it with edible holly leaves.