9 Valentine Vegan Chocolate Recipes

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away, but it’s not too late to make festive, luscious chocolate desserts – that just happen to be vegan. These are desserts that work for everyone, from the ethical vegans, to the millions of people with dietary restrictions, too, such as lactose intolerance and egg allergies. Vegan desserts are pareve and  cholesterol-free too.  But the proof is in the deliciousness of the desserts, and I’ve got you covered with this list.

I have a Valentine gift for two readers!  Let me know which desserts you’ll be making for Valentine’s Day, and enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts. U.S. residents only, please. I would really love to know what you are making for dessert, even if it is chocolate on toast. Follow the instructions at the bottom of the post to enter. Contest ends at midnight eastern time on February 16th. Good luck!

9 Vegan Chocolate Recipes for Valentine’s Day

Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cake

My Chocolate Torte to Live For can easily be transformed into a heart-shaped cake that’s just right for Valentine’s Day. No specialty cake pan is needed!

Instructions can be found here: https://francostigan.com/blog/easy-heart-shaped-chocolate-cake/

Spicy Ginger Truffles

According to my friend Lisa Pitman, an accomplished cook from Toronto and co-author of DIY Vegan, “Not only are these exquisite, they are perfect for sharing when you want to spice things up with a certain someone.” How you spice things up is up to you, but make sure you add enough ground ginger to ensure that at least these truffles are up to the task.

The recipe can be found here: https://francostigan.com/blog/ vegan-spicy-ginger-truffles-for-valentines-day/

Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles

Classic chocolate truffles are sinfully indulgent, melt-in-your-mouth, bite-sized confections made from ganache (an emulsion made typically of chocolate and heavy cream). Truffles sometimes include butter, as well as spices, coffee or tea, liqueurs, nuts, and even fruit purées for flavor. Vegan truffles, also based on ganache, are just as luxurious, velvety smooth, and indulgent—but not sinful. Make these equisite chocolate nibbles ahead of time, and voila…

The recipe can be found here: https://francostigan.com/blog/bittersweet-chocolate-truffles/

Chocolate Olive Oil Glaze for Anything

Short on time? Or like the idea of dipping and dripping chocoate? Choose this recipe! Just about anything can be dipped in this chocolate glaze – try mandarin orange slices, strawberries, cookies, confections, and snacks like pretzels and potato chips.

Recipe can be found here: https://francostigan.com/blog/chocolate-olive-oil-glaze-for-everything-for-national-chocolate-covered-anything-day/

Almost Instant Chocolate Pudding

Prep the ingredients ahead (mise en place!) and cook this real chocolate pudding shortly before serving. Eat it warm (that’s what I like best) or cook ahead and serve at room temperature.

The recipe can be found here: https://francostigan.com/blog/almost-instant-chocolate-pudding/

Mediants

Mendiants are a French confection composed of  nuts and dried or candied fruits strewn on disks of melted chocolate. They look beautiful but can be time consuming and tricky to make when using tempered chocolate and candying the nuts. Do what I did here and make a simpler version with leftover chocolate and a bits of nuts and fruit.

The recipe can be found here: http://relish.com/recipes/mendiants/

Gluten-Free Brownie Bites

You don’t need to be gluten-free to love these fudgy, deeply chocolate brownies. None of my recipe tasters or testers could tell the difference between these and fudge brownies made with wheat. Seriously, these are awesome. Now I make them using Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour. It is the best!

Recipe can be found on here: https://francostigan.com/blog/vegan-gluten-free-brownie-bites/

Chocolate Vodka

Pure Chocolate Vodka!  “To your health and enjoy responsibly!”

The recipe can be found here: https://francostigan.com/blog/california-dreaming-part-three-vegan-chocolate-at-google-youtube/

Chocolate White Russians

Dessert in a Glass! The White Russian is the potent but easy to quaff cocktail that was a favorite of Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) in the Coen Brothers’ cult classic The Big Lebowski—only he called it “The Caucasian.” I have enjoyed vegan versions of this cocktail made with nondairy creamer and have now upped the ante by starting with house-made cacao nib–infused Chocolate Vodka.

The recipe can be found on here: https://francostigan.com/blog/california-dreaming-part-three-vegan-chocolate-at-google-youtube/

I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you that heartbreakingly, the issue of child slavery in the production of chocolate still exists. Please choose an ethical chocolate. Check the brands at Food Empowerment Project.

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All recipes from Vegan Chocolate, Fran Costigan (Running Press).

Heart-Shaped Cake and Gluten-Free Brownie Bites photos ©Hannah Kaminsky.
Spicy Ginger Truffles, Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Olive Oil Glaze for Anything, Almost Instant Chocolate Pudding, Mediants, Chocolate Vodka, and Chocolate White Russians photos ©Kate Lewis.

Want to learn to bake like a vegan pro? Join me February 24th through 28th in New York City for my Vegan Baking Boot Camp Intensive^©!