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December 13, 2022

Chef

By Crystal Bonnet

Chef

Crystal Bonnet is a professional raw vegan chef and founder of the raw culinary school Crystal Dawn Culinary. She also cooks and develops recipes for raw retreats and vegan restaurants across the globe.

Image by Crystal Bonnet / Crystal Bonnet

December 13, 2022

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These raw vegan chocolate truffles are made without dates and produce a creamy texture with an explosion of flavor. To elevate these decadent chocolate truffles, chopped dried tart cherries, cinnamon, and lemon zest are added since acidity balances out chocolate well. Finished with a chocolate dip for a professional look, these truffles are stunning but super simple to make. Replace the almond milk with coconut milk for a nut-free version.

• ⅓ cup (80 ml) almond milk, homemade or store-bought
• ½ cup (48 g) cacao powder
• ½ cup (120 ml) coconut nectar
• 1½ tsp (3 g) lemon zest
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp Himalayan salt
• 6 drops vanilla extract
• 6 drops black cherry extract (this is my favorite)
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) melted virgin coconut oil
• ¼ cup (50 g) chopped and melted cacao butter
• ¼ cup (50 g) chopped and melted cacao paste
• 3 tbsp (23 g) chopped dried tart cherries

• 2 vegan dark chocolate bars

1. In a blender, blend together the almond milk, cacao powder, coconut nectar, lemon zest, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, and black cherry extract until smooth. Add the melted coconut oil, melted cacao butter, and cacao paste, and blend again until combined. Add the chopped tart cherries and manually stir them into the mixture with a spatula.
2. Transfer the chocolate truffle mixture to a shallow container; it is essential that it is shallow since the dried cherries will sink to the bottom, and you want them to be evenly distributed throughout the filling. Chill the mixture in the fridge for a minimum of 8 hours or overnight, until firm.
3. Remove the filling from the fridge. Using the large end of a melon baller or small spoon, scoop out about 1½ teaspoons (8 g) of the filling and roll it into a ball, using your hands. I prefer to wear disposable gloves for this process, as the heat from your hands will melt the filling, making them difficult to roll. Transfer the rolled truffles to a container lined with parchment paper. Repeat this process for the entire batch of filling, then chill the truffles in the freezer for 4 to 6 hours to firm up and cool before coating.

1. In a stainless steel or heatproof glass bowl, melt down the two vegan dark chocolate bars. Remove the bowl from the heat and let the chocolate sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to cool. If you use it while it is still hot, the truffles you’re coating will melt. Transfer the chocolate to a small bowl for coating. 
2. Coat each truffle by dipping it into the chocolate for a few seconds, removing the truffle with a fork, scraping the excess chocolate drip on the side of the bowl, and transferring the truffle to a tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat this process until all the truffles are coated in chocolate. 
3. Transfer the remaining dark chocolate to a piping bag, cut off the tip to create a small hole, and drizzle the chocolate on top of all the truffles. By the time you’re done, they should be set at room temperature and ready to eat. If not, place them in the fridge for 10 minutes to set. If not consumed immediately, store the truffles in the fridge for 1 week or in the freezer for 1 month. Note that if stored in the freezer, the chocolate will create condensation when thawing.