Vegan Ferrero Rocher

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These lightened-up vegan Ferrero Rocher truffles are a healthier version of the classic Ferrero Rocher recipe! These treats are chocolatey, nutty, and easy to make – and they taste just like the real thing!

With under 10 wholesome ingredients, and less than 30 minutes of prep time, you can enjoy these delicious bites for dessert any night of the week! They also happen to be dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free!

If you have ever eaten a Ferrero Rocher chocolate, it’s no secret that they are a decadent and delicious Italian treat! I just can’t resist their crunchy chocolate outer shell that envelops the smooth chocolate hazelnut filling.

However, after looking at the nutrition label, I was a bit taken aback! One serving, or 3 chocolates, contains 36.9 grams of sugar! While they taste fantastic, they are certainly not a treat you want to enjoy on a regular basis.

I set out on a mission to create my own version of these Ferrero Rocher balls that would be lower in fat, calories, and sugar yet full of all the chocolatey, nutty goodness of the original. This homemade Ferrero Rocher Recipe is perfect for any time of the year. Make them for the holidays, a special occasion, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, or just for fun! They’ll become a popular treat in no time!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why You’ll Love Vegan Ferrero Rocher Truffles

• Naturally Sweetened: There isn’t any refined sugar in these hazelnut chocolate bites, and each treat has only 4 grams of natural sugar. Dates are naturally sweet, providing all the sugar you need for this diy Ferrero Rocher.
• Rich In Vitamins and Minerals: You’ll get fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B, copper, vitamin E, and folate in each bite!
• All Natural: You won’t find any unhealthy fats, refined sugars, artificial flavors or stabilizers in this Ferrero Rocher dessert.
• Crowd Pleaser: These bites with a delicious hazelnut center are popular with both kids and adults. They look and taste like a chocolate truffle, yet they’re full of healthy plant protein, vitamins, and nutrients. It’s a great option as a special after-dinner dessert or snack. They’ll think they’re getting a special treat, and you’ll feel good knowing they’re enjoying an all-natural, lightened-up dessert.
• Perfect Gift: I love making these in small batches to gift to friends and loved ones! Whether it is a birthday or the holiday season, these hazelnut dark chocolate truffles are the best present to receive! It will look like you’ve gone the extra mile versus regular boxed chocolates.

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🥘 Ingredients

This copycat Ferrero Rocher recipe has all of the decadence of the original with none of the guilt! Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe at home:

• Almond Flour: To keep these hazelnut chocolate balls gluten-free, I use almond flour.
• Vanilla Protein Powder: Use your favorite variety to make vegan protein Ferrero Rocher! Just choose one with no added sugar, 150-200 calories for 1 serving (typically 2 scoops), and 20-24 grams of protein per serving.
• Dates: When it comes to adding natural sweetness to homemade chocolate truffles and bites, dates are my go-to option. They add texture and depth and hold everything together while providing natural sweetness. 
• Dark Chocolate: Because it wouldn’t be a true Ferrero Rocher copycat recipe if it didn’t have that crunchy outer chocolate coating!
• Cocoa Powder: Make sure to get unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder for these hazelnut chocolate truffles.
• Hazelnuts: I like using roasted hazelnuts because roasting deepens that hazelnut flavor even more for these chocolate hazelnut truffles! You’ll use whole hazelnuts and chopped hazelnuts for this recipe.
• Desiccated Coconut: Desiccated coconut is shredded coconut flakes with all the moisture removed. They are high in healthy fats and taste great in desserts, homemade chocolates, and even savory dishes! This is for the outside “crunchy” layer beneath the chocolate shell.
• Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are a great way to add texture, healthy fats, and protein, and fiber to these Ferrero Rocher dark chocolate truffles.

🍲 Ingredient Substitutions

• Flour: Experiment with using another alternative flour that you prefer. To keep this gluten free ferrero rocher, use options like oat flour, coconut flour, or a gluten-free flour blend.
• Flavored Protein Powder: Swap out the vanilla for another flavor, like chocolate protein powder.
• Sweetener: Other sweetener options include honey, coconut sugar, and pure maple syrup (although honey is not vegan-friendly, but you can use vegan honey instead). Honey and maple syrup have the added benefit of providing additional moisture to your recipe – so they tend to work well in baked goods. Additionally, you could use brown rice syrup or other liquid sweeteners for this homemade version of Ferrero Rocher.
• Chocolate: Instead of dark chocolate, use vegan milk chocolate for tasty Ferrero Rocher bites that mimic the original.
• Nuts: While hazelnuts are the more traditional nut to use, you can trade them out for a different nut, like almonds, pecans, or even walnuts. Try them to see what you like the most and go from there.

🔪 How To Make Vegan Ferrero Rocher

Here’s how to make this easy vegan Ferrero Rocher recipe. For more detailed instructions and nutrition facts, see the recipe card below.

Prep The Dates and Hazelnuts: Soak the dates in 1/4 cup of water for 10-15 mins or until soft. Roast the raw hazelnuts in the oven for 10 mins at 350 F. Place the softened dates with the water, roasted hazelnuts (leave a handful aside to place in the center of the balls), almond meal, protein powder, chia seeds, and cacao powder in a food processor or high-speed blender. Then, blitz until combined.

Form The Balls: Scoop portions of the mixture and roll the truffle mixture into small balls. Make sure to place a whole hazelnut in the center of each ball.

Roll In Coconut: Coat the vegan truffles in desiccated coconut. Place balls in the fridge to harden for 1 hour. Melt your chocolate on the stove in a double boiler over medium heat. Alternatively, melt in the microwave for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally.

Coat With Chocolate: Dip the balls in the melted chocolate, and place them on a baking sheet or plate lined with parchment paper.

Refrigerate: Place balls in the fridge until the chocolate hardens (up to 8 hours or overnight). Enjoy this homemade vegan Ferrero Rocher recipe cold!

💭 Expert Tips

• Don’t Skip Soaking: The dates need to be softened to give you the proper results. This is a very sticky sweetener of choice, so soaking will help them blend fully into a smooth, fine consistency. A creamy truffle is what we want!
• Use the Right Tools: You really need to use a food processor to get the correct texture. If you don’t have a food processor, the next best thing would be a high-speed blender.
• Refrigerate To Solidify: You don’t have to keep these in the fridge for 8 hours before eating them, although 8 hours (or even overnight) would solidify the chocolate. But you can enjoy these after just an hour or two of being in the fridge – enough so the chocolate can set.
• Set Quicker: Mix the melted chocolate with some coconut oil. This will cause it to harden quicker, into a nice chocolate shell.

📖 Variations

There are a few ways to switch up the flavor of this sweet treat! Here are our favorite variations for this vegan version of a Ferrero Rocher truffle:

• Different Coating: If you’d prefer, instead of rolling the balls in coconut, you can roll them in crushed hazelnuts or hazelnut crumbs, puffed brown rice, or even puffed quinoa for a different crunchy texture.
• Add Nut Butter: 1-2 tbsp of hazelnut butter would taste great in the mixture for even more hazelnut flavor, but you could also use almond butter or peanut butter for a more creamy interior. You can even easily make your own hazelnut butter by blending the hazelnut kernels in the food processor until smooth.
• Espresso: To make the chocolate flavor even more intense, add a pinch of espresso powder to the cocoa mixture to these gluten free desserts.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

These sweet vegan chocolate truffles hardly need anything to go with them – they’re great all on their own! But here are a few ideas of how to pair this vegan alternative to the traditional chocolate treat with other desserts:

• Ice Cream: Next time, try serving these alongside any number of different flavors of tofu ice cream. 
• Drinks: Serve with coffee, tea, or warm coconut milk. Or, pair it with a healthy pumpkin smoothie. 
• Other Desserts: Serve these as part of a spread of other delicious handheld desserts like strawberry cheesecake cookies, and Nutella pizza.

🙌 Dietary Adaptations

Vegan dark chocolate Ferrero Rocher will cater to many diets and lifestyles already, but here is another option if you prefer:

• Keto/Low-Carb Option: Just swap the dark chocolate in this recipe for a keto or sugar-free dark chocolate.

🫙 Storage Directions

• To Refrigerate: These hazelnut truffles will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks! If you keep them at room temperature, they will last for up to 3-4 days. 
• To Freeze: Place the vegan Ferrero Rocher chocolates in an airtight container and store them in the freezer – they will keep for up to 2 months frozen.

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