Vegan Hershey Kisses
Whether it’s to satisfy a chocolate craving or to surprise someone special, there is nothing like a vegan chocolate kiss. This simple and fun recipe makes this classic confection dairy-free and so sweet!
This vegan chocolate kisses recipe is a dairy-free take on the classic candy that everyone can enjoy and tops the originals. Hershey Kiss chocolates bring back fond memories of childhood but, unfortunately, are not vegan.
Enjoy these chocolates as is, share as gifts or try them in one of our favorite Holiday cookies – Vegan Peanut Butter Blossoms.
We’ll be using the tempering method to melt and mold the chocolate. This makes these treats more stable at room temperature, just like store-bought!
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Ingredient Notes
- Semi-Sweet or Dark Vegan Baking Chocolate – choose a high-quality baking bar or couverture made with cacao and no added dairy. I used Guittard 70% baking bars. Baking bars can be found in the baking aisle of grocery stores.
Couverture chocolate has a higher cocoa butter content allowing it to melt faster when tempering, but it may be difficult to find in grocery stores.
Avoid using chocolate chips as they contain additional ingredients to prevent them from melting correctly, making them unsuitable for tempering. I used Candy Island Kisses Mold to form the chocolate. - Freeze-Dried Cocoa Butter – This unique ingredient is used in the seeding method for tempering chocolate. Adding it to melted chocolate helps lower its temperature and stabilize the cocoa crystals. It can be found online, but you can also get the same result using ⅓ of the chopped baking chocolate.
How To Make Vegan Chocolate Kisses
- Create a double-boiler: Place a heat-resistant ceramic bowl over a pot filled ⅓ of the way with water. Ensure that the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.
- Remove the bowl and add the chopped chocolate to the bowl. Add only ⅔ (4 oz) if you’ll be using a portion for seeding.
- Bring the pot of water to a boil. Remove it from the heat, then place the bowl of chocolate on top.
- Stir the chocolate until it is completely melted and registers a temperature of 115°F – 120°F.
- Remove the bowl from the pot and gradually stir in the cocoa butter or remaining chopped chocolate until completely melted and the temperature is 88°F – 90°F.
- Pour the melted chocolate into a piping bag and fill the molds. Tap the tray on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Allow it to cool for 30 minutes or until set.
- Carefully unmold the chocolate, and enjoy!
Storage Suggestions
One of the most amazing things about these candies is how long they will stay good. They are stable enough to be kept at room temperature without melting or spoiling.
Place the chocolate kisses in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 1 week. Or store them in the refrigerator.
For a fun twist, wrap the kisses in colored foil squares to mimic the original. It’s a colorful vegan twist on candy-making!
Do I need a Candy Thermometer?
Yes, a candy thermometer is instrumental in working with chocolate. Knowing the temperature of the chocolate throughout this process is an absolute must! This recipe uses tempering to make the chocolate smooth, shiny, and delicious.
Will this Recipe Work With Chocolate Mold Shapes?
Yes! With this simple recipe, any chocolate shape will come out beautifully. Follow this recipe and these steps but use any mold shape desired.
More Chocolate Desserts
- Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Fudgy Vegan Brownies
- Vegan Black Bean Brownies
- Vegan Levain Cookies
Vegan Hershey Kisses
Equipment
- Heat resistant mixing bowl (preferably glass or ceramic)
- Chocolate kisses molds (enough for 32 pieces)
- Candy thermometer
- Small piping bag or zip-top bag with the end snipped
Ingredients
- 6 oz (170 g) semisweet or dark vegan baking chocolate, chopped
- ½ teaspoon freeze-dried cocoa butter, or set aside ⅓ (2 oz/57g) of the chopped baking chocolate
Instructions
- Create a double-boiler: Place a heat-resistant bowl over a pot filled ⅓ of the way with water. Ensure that the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.
- Remove the bowl and add the chopped chocolate to the bowl. Add only ⅔ (4 oz) if you’ll be using a portion for seeding.6 oz (170 g) semisweet or dark vegan baking chocolate
- Bring the pot of water to a boil. Remove it from the heat, then place the bowl of chocolate on top.
- Stir the chocolate until it is completely melted and registers a temperature of 115°F – 120°F.
- Remove the bowl from the pot and gradually stir in the cocoa butter or remaining chopped chocolate until completely melted and the temperature is 88°F – 90°F.½ teaspoon freeze-dried cocoa butter
- Pour the melted chocolate into a piping bag and fill the molds. Tap the tray on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Allow it to cool for 30 minutes or until set.
- Carefully unmold the chocolate, and enjoy!
Notes
- This method of heating and cooling the chocolate is called tempering, which helps the chocolate remain firm at room temperature.
- If the chocolate is a little difficult to remove, tap the sides of the individual molds or squeeze them between your thumb and index to loosen the chocolate from the plastic.