vegan hazelnut truffles
Still looking for the perfect gift idea?! Look no further than vegan hazelnut truffles with a crunchy toffee exterior and buttery middle.
Ingredients
- 4 C shelled hazelnuts
- 1/2 C cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp Frangelico (or sub coffee liqueur, or strong brewed espresso)
- 1/4 C maple syrup (or sub agave syrup or brown rice syrup)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 8 oz. dark chocolate melting wafers
- 1/2 C sponge toffee crumbs (optional)
Instructions
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If the hazelnuts have the skins on, you’ll have to remove them by roasting them. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Arrange all the hazelnuts on a large baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Set a timer and watch them, being careful not to burn them.
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Lay out the roasted hazelnuts onto a clean tea towel and fold over the towel enclosing the hazelnuts. Rub the towel vigorously around to remove the skins. If you have trouble removing any of the skins, roast them in the oven for a few minutes longer.
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In a high-powered blender or food processor, add 2 cups of whole roasted shelled hazelnuts and blend for 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture resembles hazelnut butter. My Vitamix has a nut butter setting, but if yours doesn’t just start low and gradually increase the speed as it blends. Stop the blender and scrape the sides if necessary and continue blending until smooth.
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Add cocoa powder, Frangelico, maple syrup or other liquid sweetener, vanilla extract, and sea salt and blend until combined. Mixture should be wet, but firm enough to roll between your hands.
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Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
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Use a heaping teaspoon of hazelnut mixture and flatten it slightly in your palm, bringing it together. Place a whole roasted hazelnut in the centre and mold the mixture around it. Roll into a ball between your palms gently and place it on the baking sheet. Refrigerate these while you prepare the chocolate coating and topping.
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Finely chop the remaining whole roasted hazelnuts. Combine this with the sponge toffee crumbs reserved from the golden pretzel rod recipe, if you’re using them. You’ll roll the truffles in this mixture after coating with chocolate.
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Melt the dark chocolate wafers on low to medium heat over a double boiler until very smooth.
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Pour it into a large mug or cup. Drop a hazelnut ball into the chocolate mixture and use a fork to life it out to the top edge, ensuring its been evenly coated in chocolate. The excess chocolate will drip through the tines of the fork and simultaneously you can lightly tap the fork on the side of the mug.
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Put the truffle into the bowl of chopped hazelnuts and sponge toffee and use a clean fork to evenly coat the truffle, and then gentle place on the wax paper lined baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the truffles.
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Chill in the fridge until they’re solid and set. Keep refrigerated until packing in gift boxes.
Recipe Notes
These should be eaten immediately, or kept in a cool place such as the fridge or freezer to keep longer.