Who better to create the best luxury dairy-free truffles recipe than a world renowned chef. Though he is no longer with us, Charlie Trotter’s recipes live on, including these gourmet chocolate truffles. Your friends will think you bought them from a fancy chocolatier, when you really whipped them up at home in minutes!
Why Everyone will Love these Luxury Dairy-Free Truffles
- Truly Gourmet: Charlie Trotter wouldn’t create anything that couldn’t be served in one of his upscale restaurants, and these vegan chocolate truffles are no exception.
- Complex Flavor: The unique combination of ingredients produces interest, but blends together seamlessly.
- Rich & Smooth: Using cashew butter ensures a very creamy base that beautifully marries the cocoa and maple.
- Just 5 Ingredients: This is a truly simple recipe using very basic ingredients.
- Refined Sugar Free: It uses only maple syrup. We’ve even used coconut sugar for some of the coating options.
- Allergy-Friendly: Because it’s made without melted chocolate, it’s easier to make these truffles “safely” dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free, if needed.
- Versatile: You can see that I’ve included a whole range of coating options, and even have some flavor tips in the ingredient options.
Ingredient Notes & Options
- Cashew Butter: Charlie uses raw, unsalted cashew butter, which means it’s made purely with cashews and isn’t roasted. If you only have roasted and salted, that’s okay. Just add salty ingredients slowly (nama shoyu or salt) and to taste.
- Maple Syrup: This adds more depth, richness, and caramel-like flavor than simple sugar. It’s also great for people who avoid refined sweeteners!
- Cocoa Powder: For the best flavor, use a regular cocoa powder that is labeled as natural and/or unsweetened. This will lend the most complex flavor to your luxury dairy-free truffles. Dark or Dutch-processed cocoa powder will produce a simpler, brownie-like taste. Cocoa powder labeled as “raw” is good if you want to keep this recipe raw.
- Nama Shoyu: This is basically an unpasteurized “raw” soy sauce that Charlie used to add a gourmet level of depth to these decadent truffles. I have included some alternatives in the recipe notes.
- Vanilla: Charlie likes real vanilla bean seeds for a clean taste, but vanilla paste or extract will also taste delicious. You can experiment with other extracts like orange or peppermint, but start with just 1/2 teaspoon and add more to taste.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use Cashews instead of Cashew Butter?
You can grind the cashews into cashew butter and then use them. But this can take a lot of machine power. You need the oils to release from the cashews so it becomes a very smooth, creamy butter before adding to this recipe. Ground cashews are a bit too coarse and will absorb moisture from your recipe if they haven’t been fully broken down. If you do opt to make your own cashew butter, you will need about 2 cups of cashews.
Can I Use a Different Sweetener?
You can substitute another liquid sweetener, but the chocolate truffles won’t have the same overall flavor and depth.
Can I Serve these Luxury Dairy-Free Truffles at a Party or Gift them?
They will keep at room temperature through a party, but will soften a bit. It’s best to keep them fully chilled before serving or gifting. For firmer luxury chocolate truffles, you can melt 2 tablespoon of food grade cocoa butter and add it to the recipe with the other ingredients.
Special Diet Notes: Luxury Dairy-Free Truffles
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, coconut-free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian. Just be sure to choose an alternative for the nama shoyu if you need soy free.
Charlie Trotter’s Dairy-Free Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients
Method
- In a food processor or mixing bowl, combine the cashew butter, maple syrup, 1 cup cocoa powder, nama shoyu, and vanilla until smooth and thick.
- Scrape the chocolate mixture into a shallow container. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
- Using a melon baller, scoop truffle base to create small balls.
- Roll the chocolate truffles in cocoa powder or one of the Luxury Coating Options below this recipe.
- Store these chocolate truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Other Luxury Truffle Coating Options
- Shredded Coconut (unsweetened and optionally toasted)
- Sesame Seeds
- Roasted Hazelnuts (finely chopped; optionally add a pinch of salt)
- Crushed Cacao Nibs
- Coconut Sugar (add a little ground cinnamon)
- Matcha Powder (add a little coconut sugar or powdered sugar to temper bitterness)
- Bee Pollen (surprise flavor – not vegan)
- Freeze-Dried Raspberries (crushed)
- Dark Chocolate Shell (melt dairy-free dark chocolate and dip using this method)
Also Try Charlie Trotter’s 2-Ingredient Maple Pecan Ice Cream!
