How to Make Vegan Chocolate at Home

Making vegan chocolate at home is a delicious and satisfying endeavor. You can customize the flavor, sweetness, and add-ins to suit your preferences. Here’s a basic recipe for homemade vegan chocolate:

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup of cocoa powder: Use unsweetened cocoa powder for the best results.
2. 1/2 cup of coconut oil: Choose refined coconut oil if you don’t want a strong coconut flavor.
3. 1/4 cup of maple syrup or agave nectar: These natural sweeteners work well in vegan chocolate, but you can adjust the quantity to suit your taste.
4. 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract: This adds a nice flavor to the chocolate.
5. A pinch of salt: Enhances the overall flavor.

Optional Add-Ins:

• Chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.)
• Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc.)
• Vegan chocolate chips
• Sea salt flakes for topping (for a salted chocolate flavor)

Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Molds: If you have chocolate molds, it’s a good idea to use them. If not, you can use an ice cube tray or simply pour the chocolate onto a parchment paper-lined tray to create a rustic bark-like texture.
2. Melt the Coconut Oil: In a heatproof bowl, melt the coconut oil. You can do this in the microwave or on the stovetop using a double boiler. If you’re using a microwave, heat it in 15–20 second increments, stirring in between, until it’s completely melted.
3. Mix Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, maple syrup or agave nectar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Mix until you have a smooth, glossy mixture.
4. Combine: Pour the melted coconut oil into the cocoa mixture and whisk until everything is well combined and you have a smooth chocolatey mixture.
5. Add Optional Ingredients: If you’re using any add-ins like chopped nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips, fold them into the mixture at this point.
6. Pour into Molds: Carefully pour the chocolate mixture into your molds or onto the parchment paper-lined tray.
7. Set: Place the molds or tray in the refrigerator and allow the chocolate to set. This usually takes around 1–2 hours.
8. Enjoy: Once the chocolate has hardened, remove it from the molds or break it into pieces if you used the tray method. Enjoy your homemade vegan chocolate!

Store any leftover chocolate in an airtight container in the refrigerator to prevent it from melting.

Feel free to get creative with this basic vegan chocolate recipe. You can experiment with different flavors by adding extracts like peppermint or orange, or even spices like cinnamon for a unique twist.