Go Back
+ servings
A plate with an assortment of vegan hazelnut truffles, some decorated with nuts and white glaze, others dusted with cocoa powder.
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles (Vegan)

Rich, velvety hazelnut ganache wrapped in a smooth chocolate shell and finished with a crunchy nut and cookie topping. This recipe is luxurious AF but stupidly easy to knock out.
Prep Time16 minutes
Chilling Time2 hours 45 minutes
Total Time3 hours 1 minute
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Valentine's Day
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 18 Truffles
Calories: 214kcal
Author: Adam Sobel
Cost: $11

Ingredients

For the Hazelnut Ganache:

For the Chocolate Coating:

For Decoration:

  • 2 tablespoons roasted hazelnuts ground
  • 2 tablespoons cacao nibs or vegan chocolate sandwich cookies, ground

For Optional Hazelnut Glaze:

Instructions

For the Hazelnut Ganache:

  • In a medium saucepan, heat the plant-based milk over medium heat until bubbling hot. Place the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl. Pour the hot milk over the chocolate and let it sit for 90 seconds to melt. Whisk together until smooth and fully combined.
  • Stir in the chopped roasted hazelnuts, salt, and vanilla extract until well incorporated. Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until firm enough to handle.
  • Once chilled, scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of the ganache and roll into balls. Dust each truffle with cocoa powder, then chill in the freezer for 45 minutes.

For the Chocolate Coating:

  • Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil together in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water (double boiler) or in the microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval until the chocolate melts and become completely smooth.
  • Remove the frozen truffles from the freezer and dip each chilled truffle ball into the melted chocolate using a fork, ensuring they are fully coated. Let any excess chocolate drip off as you transfer them to a wire rack suspended over a baking tray to cool and drip off.

Decoration:

  • While the coating is still wet, sprinkle each truffle with ground hazelnuts and cacao nibs, or ground chocolate sandwich cookies. Allow the truffles to set on a parchment-lined tray at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

For the Optional Hazelnut Glaze:

  • In a small saucepan, gently melt the cocoa butter over low heat. Stir in the powdered sugar and Frangelico until smooth.
  • Using a small spoon or piping bag, drizzle the glaze over the decorated truffles. Let the glaze set before serving.

Notes

🌡️ Sim Simmer, Who’s Got the Keys to My Bimmer:
Heat plant-based milk until just simmering—not boiling—to avoid scorching chocolate and ensure a smooth ganache.
❄️ Chill Bill:
Refrigerate the ganache until firm enough to scoop and shape easily. This keeps truffles uniform and prevents flat sides.
🌰 Roastbusters:
Toast hazelnuts lightly to bring out their best flavor and texture, but avoid burning them, as bitterness will make your truffles suck terribly.
🎯 Baller Alert:
Use a melon baller or small cookie scoop for uniform truffle sizes, which makes coating easier and results more professional.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 29IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg