Vegan Chocolate Turtle Truffles

Simple yet delicious, these Chocolate Turtle Truffles have a sweet and fudgy pecan center coated with a smooth chocolate outside. The chocolate coating has a melt-in-your-mouth texture while the center is creamy with bits of crunch from the oven roasted pecans. I think these vegan chocolate truffles taste like pecan pie with the lovely addition of chocolate which makes everything better.

And with only 7 ingredients, these turtle truffles are incredibly easy to make yet have the most decadent flavor. If you’ve never made homemade truffles or experimented with the chocolate turtle flavor combination then I highly recommend giving these a go!

For more truffle creations check out my seasonal favorite, Gingerbread Cookie Dough Truffles. And for more of a year round flavor, go for these Strawberry and Cream Truffles or the classic, Chunky Monkey Truffles.

Ingredients

Medjool Dates – The perfect creamy base for the center of these truffles. I love how the sweet date flavor is almost like a caramel in these truffles.

Coconut Cream – Makes the center extra creamy and you can hardly taste the coconut. You can buy cans of coconut cream or use the top solidified part of the can of full fat coconut milk (after leaving in the fridge to solidify). This is my go-to coconut cream from Trader Joe’s!

Vanilla Extract – Elevates the flavors and natural sweetness of the ingredients.

Cocoa Powder – Adds to the rich chocolate center that completes these vegan chocolate truffles.

Roasted Pecans – A tasty addition that adds crunch and depth to this chocolate turtles recipe. If you’re a fan of pecans then I recommend buying in bulk to save some money! These raw, unsalted pecans are perfect for roasting, snacking, making pecan butter, or so forth and are less expensive when bought in bulk.

Chocolate Chips – I prefer to use dark but any kind will do depending on how sweet or dark you like your chocolate. The key is to use chips that melt well and will create a smooth chocolate coating.

Coconut Oil – Helps thin out the melted chocolate so that it coats the truffles better. Also causes the chocolate coating to harden while chilled and then softed once warm (aka the melt-in-your-mouth texture)

How to Make Vegan Chocolate Truffles

1. In a food processor, blend together dates, coconut cream, vanilla, and cocoa powder. 

2. Pulse in 1 cup roasted pecans until only small bits remain.

3. Place mixture in a parchment-lined 8×8 pan, using a spatula to spread in an even layer.

4. Top with the remaining ½ cup chopped roasted pecans, using your fingers to lightly press into date mixture.

5. Freeze for 1-2 hours or overnight.

6. Once frozen, remove from the pan and cut into x18 squares.

7. Make your chocolate coating by melting dark chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.

8. Dip each square into melted chocolate and place onto a parchment lined baking tray. Move tray to the freezer so chocolate can harden, ~30 minutes.

9. Remove and enjoy! Best stored in an airtight container in the fridge or freeze for longer term storage.

What is a Chocolate Truffle?

Besides “pure deliciousness”, chocolate truffles are also a simple yet semi-fancy sweet that’s perfect for all kinds of moments. Whether it’s a late night snack, quick dessert, or part of a holiday feast, truffles are a great choice.

With an origin from Europe, truffles are known as a ganache base (chocolate creamy center) with a smooth outer coating. They’re then rolled into small ball or bite sized creations to be chilled and enjoyed!

The great thing about truffles though is how adaptable they are. You can experiment with all sorts of flavors and textures between the ganache center and the outer coat. As linked above, I’m made lots of truffle combinations and that’s not even scratching the surface of possibilities!

Is Coconut Cream the Same as Coconut Milk?

In short, no. Coconut cream is a part, per se, of coconut milk but they are not one-in-the-same. For instance, coconut milk can technically be used as a milk whether for drinking, baking, or cooking. It’s thin enough that you can swap it without any concern. Coconut cream though is so naturally thick that it would be like using a very heavy cream which may or may not work for some recipes.

How it works in this vegan chocolate truffles recipe is that the coconut cream used is the chilled or canned version meaning it’s super thick, almost more solid than liquid. This helps to create a thick and creamy chocolate ganache center for the truffles whereas a coconut milk would be too thin and not hold shape.

How to Make Roasted Pecans

Roasting the pecans really brings out the flavor of the nuts and makes these truffles even more delicious. It’s such an easy step and I highly recommend roasting them to get the most flavor!

All you do is roast the pecans at 350F on a parchment-lined baking tray for 10 – 15 minutes. You want them to smell toasted and to start turning a darker brown. The roast time will be dependent on how full the pan is (fuller pan = longer baking time). I usually roast a bunch at one time and save the extra for snacking!

Why I Love These Vegan Turtle Truffles

• I really love the contrast of textures between the fudgy date and chewy pecan center to the cold and smooth chocolate dip coat.
• These are SO simple that even in a time crunch you could whip up a batch of these.
• Freezer friendly so make a batch and have your very own dessert stash!
• They only have 7 ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
• No baking required, just some blending, mixing, and freeze time.
• Easy to substitute if needed, try walnuts instead of pecans or a different blend of chocolate.

And if you’re looking for more of the chocolate turtle flavor combo, definitely check out my Fudgy Vegan Turtle Brownies. They have a no-bake brownie base that’s topped with a chocolate turtle caramel and finished with a silky layer of homemade ganache … hungry yet?!

If you try this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment and rating in the boxes below! I always love to hear from you, and it also helps other people find this recipe when they search online for the BEST Chocolate Turtle Truffles 🙂