Going vegan doesn’t mean giving up chocolate—far from it! While there are plenty of store-bought vegan chocolate options (like Enjoy Life chocolate chips), making your own chocolate at home is a fun and rewarding alternative—especially if you want something simple, classic, and customizable.
Why Make Your Own Vegan Chocolate?
If you’ve had trouble finding vegan chocolate chips or bars at your local grocery store, or you just want to create something special to gift or enjoy yourself, this homemade version is perfect. Ordering online is always an option, but this quick recipe lets you control the ingredients and flavors.
While chocolate chip molds can be tricky to use, there’s a simple solution: pour the chocolate into any mold you have on hand, let it set, and chop it into chunks! These work wonderfully in baked goods or as a snack on their own.
Ingredients for Homemade Vegan Chocolate
You’ll only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this rich, dairy-free chocolate:
- Cocoa butter – chopped into small pieces for easier melting
- Cocoa powder – unsweetened
- Sweetener – maple syrup or agave work beautifully
- Vanilla extract – for added depth
- Salt – just a pinch to balance the flavors
Tools You’ll Need
No fancy equipment is required! Use a double boiler, or make your own with a saucepan and a heat-safe glass bowl. For molds, try:
- Silicone chocolate bar molds
- Muffin tins with paper liners
- Fun silicone shapes (great for kids or themed treats)
Step-by-Step: How to Make Vegan Chocolate
- Prepare your double boiler: Add 1 inch of water to a pot and place a glass bowl on top (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Melt the cocoa butter: Stir until fully melted—this takes about 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients: Whisk in cocoa powder, maple syrup (or agave), vanilla, and salt until smooth and glossy. Be careful—the bowl will be hot!
- Pour and set: Carefully pour the chocolate into your molds. Let it set at room temperature or in the fridge for 1–2 hours until firm.
Customize Your Chocolate
This recipe is endlessly customizable. Here are a few ideas:
- Add-ins: Chopped nuts, dried fruit, shredded coconut, or cacao nibs
- Flavored extracts: Peppermint, almond, orange (a personal favorite—just ½ to 1 tsp makes it taste like those nostalgic orange chocolate slices!)
Vegan Chocolate Recipe
Yield: About 12 small cups or 3 standard bar molds
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Set Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 20 minutes (plus chilling)
Calories per serving: Approx. 250
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cocoa butter, chopped
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 6–8 tbsp maple syrup or agave
- 1–2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions:
- Create a double boiler by placing a heat-safe bowl over a pot of simmering water.
- Melt cocoa butter in the bowl, stirring occasionally.
- Whisk in cocoa powder, sweetener, vanilla, and salt until fully combined.
- Remove from heat and pour into molds.
- Let sit at room temperature or refrigerate until solid, about 1–2 hours.
Once set, your homemade vegan chocolate is ready to enjoy! Break it into bars, chop it into chunks, or wrap it up for a thoughtful, handmade gift. Let me know—what are you going to do with your batch?