White chocolate contains no cocoa solids, hence its white color, but it does contain cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is vegan, but the other ingredients added to commercial white chocolate include dairy milk, milk fat, sugar, and some additives like lecithin, usually soy lecithin. Still, it may also come from animal products.
Lecithin is a fatty substance that makes molding commercial chocolate easier and gives it a longer shelf life. Unfortunately, it provides chocolate with a waxy texture that many don’t enjoy. However, creating a deliciously creamy dairy-free alternative is possible and straightforward, too!
Another problem for vegans with commercial chocolates is the use of palm oil and its unsustainable and cruel farming methods.
Here’s how to make vegan white chocolate using either cocoa butter or coconut oil that meets your ethical standards. Some recipes even call for both ingredients. Try them all and decide which one is a keeper in your home:
Creamy Vegan White Chocolate Recipe
Most store-bought white chocolates contain dairy milk to add creaminess, meaning they aren’t vegan-friendly. However, white chocolate can be just as creamy without the dairy. It’s not always easy to find vegan white chocolate in stores; when you do, it might not taste as expected. But the good news is that it’s effortless to make it at home.
You will encounter several recipes when you search for how to make vegan white chocolate. Some contain no sugar, some require only cocoa butter, and some require only coconut oil, while others combine the two ingredients.
Here’s a white chocolate recipe from Loving It Vegan that uses cocoa and cashew butter. It also combines some rice milk powder to add its creaminess. You can use any other non-dairy milk powder you prefer, like soy or coconut. Powdered sugar gives this vegan white chocolate its sweetness, to which you add a touch of salt for balance and vanilla extract to flavor. Use clear vanilla to keep the chocolate as white as possible.
With 15 minutes of prep time, once you place the mixture in the molds, you can freeze them to enjoy in another 20 minutes. Keep them in the refrigerator for an occasional sweet treat. They will last for weeks.
Indulgent Dairy-Free White Chocolate
If you want an even more indulgent treat, you’ll want to learn how to make vegan white chocolate with treats embedded in them. Think almonds, hazelnuts, pieces of ginger, cranberries, raisins, mixed dried fruits, etc.
Here’s a recipe from Lazy Cat Kitchen that takes you through the steps required to make this indulgent, dairy-free white chocolate. The secret to incorporating treats into your chocolate is adding them into the molds after pouring the melted chocolate. If using nuts, toast them first to give them a golden color and ease out their flavor and aroma.
Like most recipes, this one calls for powdered sugar. You can use maple syrup instead, but the chocolates will be softer.
Easy Homemade Vegan White Chocolate
Making vegan white chocolate is easier than you may have thought. There are two things that you must remember when attempting to make it:
- Always use the double boiler method to heat the ingredients – that’s where you place a heat-proof bowl over a pan of boiling water for melting and mixing the ingredients. Remember, the bowl must not touch the water.
- Once ready, pop the mixture into dry molds, whether you want to make bars or mold them into individual chocolates. Silicon works best.
Easy Vegan White Chocolate
Here’s how to make vegan white chocolate that you can eat in less than 30 minutes with four ingredients:
Ingredients
- 5 ounces (100 g) cocoa butter
- 2 T. non-dairy powder milk like coconut
- 1 t. vanilla extract
- 1 t. icing sugar
Instructions
- Melt the cocoa butter in your bowl as described above.
- Stir in the coconut milk powder and powdered sugar, ensuring the sugar dissolves entirely before proceeding.
- Stir in the vanilla extract. You can also use any other flavoring like orange, mint, etc.
- Spoon the mixture into your molds and refrigerate to set before enjoying.
Irresistible Plant-Based White Chocolate
You, too, can create irresistible plant-based chocolate at home. ElaVegan shares her simple recipe on her blog so that you can learn how to make vegan white chocolate with cocoa and cashew butter.
You can also use powdered milk to give the vegan white chocolate a more traditional milky flavor. Here are some tips Michaela Vais shares to ensure you get the flavoring right for customizing vegan white chocolate:
- Water- and alcohol-based extracts will cause the chocolate to seize, so avoid them. However, you can add alcohol extracts when you melt the cocoa butter or add the powdered sugar.
- Use oil-based extracts instead for better mixing. These are available in lots of flavors.
- Flavoring with powdered ingredients like spices will work well.
- When adding dry ingredients like nuts, crushed biscuits, edible petals, candy pieces, or freeze-dried fruit pieces, place them into the molds before or after pouring the chocolate.
- If you feel more adventurous, make a filling to create vegan white chocolate truffles.
Deliciously Smooth Vegan White Chocolate
White chocolate is a popular treat, judging from the number of bloggers who have developed and shared recipes for how to make vegan white chocolate. If you aren’t keen on creating a Bain Marie, the fancy word for a double boiler, here’s a recipe from Cocoa and Heart that tells you how to do it in the microwave.
Another difference between this recipe and all the others is that you use only coconut oil with coconut powdered milk, no cocoa butter. You can also use coconut butter if you prefer firmer chocolate. Whatever you choose, you will have perfectly set white chocolate within minutes, and you won’t feel the absence of the cocoa butter.
Oh, try the blogger’s flavoring variations. They are unusual but delicious:
- Lime
- Ginger spice
- Freeze-dried berries
- Pink pepper
Decadent Vegan White Chocolate Treat
Combine raw cocoa butter, cashew butter, and refined coconut oil (or use some melted vegan butter) for a more decadent white chocolate treat. Try this recipe from The Conscious Plant Kitchen and learn how to make vegan white chocolate for any occasion.
According to the recipe creator, Carine Claudepierre, substitute the coconut oil with melted vegan butter if you want your vegan white chocolate to have a beautiful golden color and a creamier flavor. Cashew butter will give the white chocolate a darker color, but if you don’t want that, use coconut butter. It’s best to use refined coconut oil to ensure the chocolate doesn’t taste like coconut. The choice of oils is yours!
The recipe calls for maple syrup, a liquid sweetener, because it spreads more evenly than powdered sugar. You can make the chocolate into slabs or buttons for use in cookies.
Heavenly Vegan White Chocolate Creation
Learn to make other creations once you make vegan white chocolate. Of course, it’s delicious to eat straight out of the mold. However, you can also use it to add to cookies, cake batter, or muffins in your baking or to melt as a topping. Also, use vegan white chocolate for dipping fruit or drizzling over ice cream.
If you want a heavenly way to enjoy vegan white chocolate, why not try this delicious hot chocolate drink made with cocoa butter and coconut milk from Minimalist Baker? Whether you want it boozy or not, this is a satisfying beverage for cold nights or when you need a lift.
If you already have vegan white chocolate ready, heat it in coconut milk without adding syrup, vanilla extract, salt, cocoa butter, or coconut butter. Add the spices and caramel flavor to the coconut milk, heat, and serve topped with coconut whipped cream and a dash of alcohol like Khalua or bourbon whisky if desired.
Mouthwatering Dairy-Free White Chocolate
Not everyone loves darker chocolate, and if you want to satisfy your vegan cravings with white dairy-free chocolate, you have two options: either find a supplier of excellent vegan white chocolate products or learn to make your own. Luckily, the latter is easier to do than you thought.
Santa Barbara Chocolate, a sustainable supplier of chocolate and other cocoa products, says it’s not legal to call a chocolate white chocolate commercially unless it contains 14% milk solids and 3.5 % milk fats. Even though consumers can find vegan white chocolate to buy, these options don’t often meet the ethical standards required by consumers, especially vegans.
However, by providing this recipe, the company makes it easy to learn how to make vegan white chocolate that’s mouthwatering and dairy-free.
The recipe calls for raw cacao butter, unrefined coconut oil confectioner’s sugar, and an organic vanilla extract, and the method does not deviate from the ones mentioned earlier. Read the blog to learn more about how to successfully incorporate white chocolate chips into cookies, how to make white vegan hot chocolate, and how else to experiment with vegan white chocolate.
Now that you know everything about making vegan white chocolate and how to use it, you can make a batch of your own to tame those cravings.
How to Make Vegan White Chocolate: Dairy-Free and Delicious
Vegan white chocolate is a wonderful alternative for those looking to enjoy the creamy richness of white chocolate without any dairy products. While traditional white chocolate includes cocoa butter, milk fat, and other dairy-derived ingredients, a vegan version substitutes these with plant-based alternatives to create a delicious treat. Here’s a simple guide to making your own vegan white chocolate at home, ensuring it’s dairy-free and free from other unwanted additives.
Choosing Your Base: Cocoa Butter vs. Coconut Oil
- Cocoa Butter: This is the most authentic base for making white chocolate as it provides a smooth, creamy texture and is naturally vegan. Its mild flavor allows the vanilla and sweetness to shine through.
- Coconut Oil: A more accessible alternative that can be used to achieve a similar melt-in-your-mouth texture, though it may impart a slight coconut flavor.
Ingredients for Vegan White Chocolate
- 1/2 cup cocoa butter or refined coconut oil
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar (ensure it’s vegan)
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk powder (rice, soy, or coconut milk powder work well)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (use clear vanilla extract to maintain a white color)
- Pinch of salt (enhances the sweetness)
Optional ingredients for flavor variations:
- Miso paste for a hint of umami
- Almond extract or other natural flavors
- Mix-ins: nuts, dried fruit, or even edible flowers for a beautiful and tasty touch
Instructions for Making Vegan White Chocolate
- Prep Your Ingredients: Measure all your ingredients accurately. If using cocoa butter, chop it into small pieces for easier melting.
- Melting the Base: Set up a double boiler by placing a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Ensure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Add cocoa butter or coconut oil and gently melt it, stirring occasionally.
- Mixing Dry Ingredients: Sift together the powdered sugar and non-dairy milk powder in a separate bowl to remove any lumps. This helps achieve a smooth finish in the final product.
- Combining Ingredients: Once the cocoa butter is melted, remove from heat and quickly whisk in the powdered sugar and milk powder mixture until smooth. Add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Whisk vigorously to ensure everything is well combined and smooth.
- Pouring into Molds: If you prefer to make a chocolate bar, pour the mixture into chocolate molds or a lined tray. If adding mix-ins, sprinkle them over the top or stir them in before pouring.
- Setting the Chocolate: Refrigerate the filled molds or tray for at least 2 hours, or until the chocolate is fully set. If using a tray, you can break or cut the set chocolate into pieces once solid.
- Storing: Vegan white chocolate should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can melt at room temperature, especially if made with coconut oil.
Tips for Perfect Vegan White Chocolate
- Quality of Ingredients: Use high-quality cocoa butter for the best taste and texture. Refined coconut oil can avoid coconut flavor in the final product.
- Flavorings: Be cautious with water-based flavorings, which can cause the chocolate to seize. Opt for oil-based or powdered flavorings.
- Sweetness Adjustment: Taste your chocolate mixture before setting it and adjust the sweetness if needed. Remember, the flavor intensifies slightly once the chocolate is cooled.
Enjoying Your Vegan White Chocolate
Vegan white chocolate can be enjoyed, used in baking, or melted down for various dessert applications. It’s excellent for making white chocolate ganache, drizzling over vegan ice cream, or incorporating into cookies and cakes.
Making your own vegan white chocolate allows you to customize the flavors and ensures that you’re consuming a product that aligns with your dietary preferences and ethical considerations. Give it a try; you might prefer your homemade version over any store-bought alternatives!
