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Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mint Truffles, Four Ways

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Today’s recipe for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mint Truffles, Four Ways comes from my friend Alisa Fleming. 

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mint Truffles. 4 Ways. Meaning four delicious coating options.

Alisa is the founder and author of Go Dairy Free, the website and the book (complete title is Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living), is a no-nonsense, “get to the heart of the matter” kind of gal.

That was my first impression a few years ago when we met online and Alisa sent me a copy of her book for my support group to use. Of course, me being me (i.e., always asking for more!), and also always being on the lookout for excellent speakers for my support group, I invited Alisa to speak to the group on going dairy free via teleconference.

The fact is that many folks who eat gluten free, also eat dairy free. Sometimes that can be a temporary situation as some gluten-free folks are advised to also go dairy free initially until their gut heals and then dairy is slowly reintroduced into their diet. Some do find out they can eat dairy again; others may need to (or choose to) permanently refrain from eating dairy as well as gluten.

Alisa agreed to speak to my group even though she said she’d never given such a presentation before. That situation has changed dramatically as Alisa has become the voice for living dairy free. Hey, she was even quoted here with a Lola Lollipop cartoon. She’s also speaking at the Fitness & Health Bloggers Conference in June.

Even if it was Alisa’s first presentation for our group, she did a wonderful job sharing the highlights of her book and the basics of going dairy free. Her presentation included the history of humans consuming dairy, the different types of dairy milk consumed throughout the world, product and recipe ideas, and she even fielded numerous questions at the end.

One of the factors that has always appealed to me about Alisa’s approach to her site and her book is that she shares her own story and how going dairy free dramatically changed her life. Then she goes on to very objectively presents the data and resources for living gluten free.

That is not to say that she’s not passionate and fun … Alisa is an enthusiastic, ever present voice in the dairy-free world and for healthy eating in general. And, she’s not against a treat now and then. Case in point, her dairy-free rendition of Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies shown here. Note that these cookies are not gluten free, but I think that Alisa’s recipe could easily be adapted to be gluten free as well.

Likewise, not all of the recipes in Go Dairy Free are gluten free, but most are easily adapted to be gluten free. I finally got to meet Alisa at BlogHer Food last fall and we’ve stayed in touch. I am happy to say that Alisa’s now a good friend of mine, but that has not impacted my review … I was a fan of her book, Go Dairy Free, long before we met.

I’ve actually planned to review Alisa’s book here for quite some time with her generous offer of a giveaway to one of my gfe readers. I decided to include it in our Suite of Sweets for Sweethearts, but when I went to refresh my memory by looking at Go Dairy Free again and making a recipe, it was nowhere to be found. It seems it’s been “checked out” from our support group’s library for the moment. So let me give you some overall info and my general impression of Go Dairy Free, plus share this recipe from Alisa’s blog, Alisa Cooks, with you.

Go Dairy Free, the book, is broken up into several chapters that fall under the following key sections:

* Understanding Dairy & Dairy-Free From a Health Perspective
* Eating Away From Home
* Grocery Shopping & Preparing Your Kitchen
* All You Ever Wanted to Know About Dairy Substitutes
* Time to Eat! – Recipes & Recommendations
* More Recommended Resources

Those are definitely the areas you’d want to know about when embarking on a dairy-free diet. I was very impressed at the comprehensiveness of this book and happy to add it as a reference for my group’s library. Some information was so new to me that I read it more than once because I found it so surprising and fascinating.

The bulk of Go Dairy Free walks one through actually transitioning to dairy free, even giving one recipe options for dairy-filled, common staples like sweetened condensed milk and cream soups. Incidentally, Go Dairy Free is self published, which I feel is an admirable feat, and it’s a bestseller.

Alisa is working on her next dairy-free book right now … a cookbook! (Update: Check out Alisa’s new dairy-free cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets.)

Now for Alisa’s recipe. I hope you’ll forgive me for sharing another chocolate recipe. I know you will … because it’s a truffles recipe with four variations. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mint Truffles. Yum!

Truffles always make an appearance at my house for our Valentine’s Day party. Now I have this wonderful Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mint Truffles recipe from Alisa that’s gluten free, dairy free, grain free, egg free, nut free, and soy protein free. With four different coating options. 

And, look at her photos of these treats. Definitely sweetheart worthy … every one of them!

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mint Truffles: 4 Ways Recipe

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mint Truffles. 4 Ways. Meaning four delicious coating options.

Yield: About 4 dozen

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mint Truffles 4 Ways

Semi-Sweet Mint Truffles 4 Ways

This recipe for decadently delicious Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mint truffles gives you about 4 dozen luscious truffles! Choose between four coating options: cocoa sugar, melted chocolate, peppermint crush, or peppermint crunch with cocoa.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Inactive Time 4 hours
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup coconut cream (see directions)
  • 8 ounces dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips (or dark chocolate chips if you prefer), approximately 1 1/3 cups
  • 3/4 to 1 teaspoon peppermint extract (to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Toppings

  • Crushed candy cane
  • Powdered sugar
  • Melted dairy-free semi-sweet chips
  • Cocoa powder

Instructions

  1. First things first, let’s get some coconut cream. You can actually buy coconut cream in a can or aseptic package at many stores, or you can just skim the cream off the top of a regular (full fat, not light!) can of coconut milk. Grab a can of chilled full-fat coconut milk, and don’t disturb it. Do not shake, stir, or otherwise emulsify the contents of the can.
  2. When you open the can, there should be a nice thick cream on top which you can scoop out. I usually get about 1/2 cup of cream per can (just enough if you opt to double this recipe). Underneath is a watery coconut milk. You can reserve that for using in some other savory meal, a sweet baked goodie, or your next smoothie.
  3. Okay, now that you have the cream, melt the chocolate. I’m lazy, I just fire the chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals (usually just two will do it), vigorously whisking in between cycles to get a smooth consistency. You can go the fancier way and melt it with a double boiler if you wish though. Once the chocolate is nice and smooth, stir in the coconut cream, mint extract, and vanilla extract. The cream may be a bit lumpy, just whisk until it all smooths out. Place it in the refrigerator to chill for several hours.
  4. Once it has firmed up, scoop and roll into balls – whatever size you like. The chocolate will be firm, but it does soften a bit at room temp, so I like to roll each of the balls (to coat) in one of the following:

Options

  1. Cocoa Sugar Combo – Sift together equal parts cocoa and powdered sugar.
  2. Melted Chocolate – Melt some more chocolate chips with a touch of shortening or coconut oil. Dip the balls to coat, and place them in the freezer or fridge to set up.
  3. Peppermint Crush – Place a little candy cane in your spice grinder and whiz until powdered / crushed (just takes a few seconds). Note that the Peppermint Crush exterior can get a bit sticky over time, so this version is best served fresh. For a similar idea that stores better, try the Peppermint Crunch …
  4. Peppermint Crunch with Cocoa – This is another favorite; when you scoop out some of the chocolate, press it into some of the crushed candy cane, and then mush it together and roll into a ball so that you end up with wee crunchy peppermint bits throughout. If you don’t want a super mint rush, you can just do the peppermint crunch and reduce or omit the mint extract. Roll in cocoa powder or cocoa/sugar to coat.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

© Alisa Fleming
Cuisine: American / Category: Desserts

Full disclosure: The copies of Go Dairy Free provided for my review and this giveaway (now closed) were free. However, this is not a paid review and the opinions expressed are my own.

Originally published February 16, 2011; updated December 19, 2023.

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Comments

    • Shirley says

      Hi Katrina– 🙂 Is coconut cream concentrate just like the cream skipped off the top of full fat coconut milk? Hope you enjoy Alisa’s truffles!

      Shirley

      Reply

  3. Ricki says

    I’m not entering the giveaway, as I already have a copy of this awesome book! Love it and Alisa, too. Those truffles look jaw-droppingly good. Great review, Shirley, and I know one of your readers is going to be thrilled with Go Dairy Free! 🙂

    Reply

    • Shirley says

      Hi Ricki–I sooo appreciate you stopping by to share your love of Alisa and her book! It will be fun to run the random number generator and give away Go Dairy Free. 🙂

      Shirley

      Reply

    • Shirley says

      Heather–We’re in the same boat … going dairy free is the next step for me. I actually was dairy free for months after going gluten free and saw amazing results, but then reintroduced it and slowly became addicted again (much like what is said in this article). Alisa’s book goes a long way in opening one’s eyes about dairy. I’m hoping that one of my members will return our group’s copy so I can re-read it for inspiration myself. 🙂

      Shirley

      Reply

  5. Mary Ann N. says

    Can’t wait to try the gluten- and dairy-free fondue! I’m a vegetarian who recently found out I need to go remove both gluten and dairy from my diet. I’ve been focusing more on the gluten, so your book could REALLY help, since I don’t know enough yet. I’m looking forward to exploring both websites and would LOVE to be entered in your book giveaway. (no ability for the app)

    Reply

  9. Dave says

    I am just investigating Gluten and dairy free. I am staying with my sister and it is my night to make dinner. She and her daughter are both on G+DF. We all love to eat. Never done this before, but here I go….

    Reply

  11. Johanna B says

    I eat quite a lot of dairy. I’ve never been sure how healthy this is for me. I started using a non-dairy milk and I’m not as congested. Not sure the two things are connected. Would love to check out Go Dairy Free.

    Reply

  12. nicola @ gfreemom says

    I love this review Shirley. I think you and Alisa share some things in common. Both of you definitely fall into the ‘no stone left unturned’ category. (that’s a compliment ;-)) The truffles look amazing!

    Reply

  13. J'Marinde Shephard says

    I keep packets of coconut cream powder on hand in my cupboard. They are reconstituted with warm water and the amt of water determines the thickness of the product. I get them at the Asian grocers.

    Reply

  17. Hannah says

    I love the use of coconut cream here! I’ve so far only made raw vegan truffles, but I think it’s time for some more traditional, albeit dairy-free, treats 🙂

    Reply

  18. Katherine says

    after dealing with eating issues, I am trying to find healthy eating balance and recipes. this would be a dream come true to help me out! I cannot wait to see who wins! (I’m hoping karma rolls the dice my way :))

    Reply

  20. Tia @ Glugle Gluten-Free says

    Don’t enter me in the giveaway, since I already have the book. But, I love Alisa and you, so I have to give some love. It’s February after all.

    Sam and I have recently gone dairy-free, too, since I was reading Alisa’s book while he was reading The Inflamation Diet (or something) at the same time. It’s amazing what a difference it makes. And, like gluten, after not eating cheese for a week or so, I don’t really miss it. Funny.

    It seems as though Alisa likes the peppermint. I knew there was a reason I liked her. My head has been a’twirling with ideas on how to make those thin mints gf. I did love the thin mints. Like eat-the-whole-box-and-feel-guilty-for-days kind of love. So part of me is debating on making the cookies. We’ll see. I will let you both know.

    xoxo,
    Tia

    Reply

  21. Niv says

    Shirley, thank you for the great review and now with the combination of your tasty GF recipes and Alisa’s DF recipes I will have more choices to make GF/DF recipes for my 7 year old son.

    Reply

  22. Alena Mack says

    The truffles look awesome! I have been trying to go dairy free (in addition to being GF), and I am finding it much much harder than going GF. Maybe because I’m from Wisconsin! I could really use her insights!

    Reply

  26. Courtney says

    I would love to win this book…my library doesn’t have a copy, and I have been curious about it for a while!

    Courtney

    Reply

  32. Kim - Cook It Allergy Free says

    Of course I am not entering because I already have my sweet Alisa’s book, but just wanted to say that these Truffles look AMAZING and just may be what I play with in the kitchen this long and RAINY COLD weekend!!
    Great review of our pal, Shirley!
    xoxo
    k

    Reply

  33. Cayti Burch says

    The recipes and information I’ve gotten from Alisa’s blogs and site have really helped me make the switch to dairy-free (diagnosed casein allergy 3 yrs ago @ 34!) I’ll definitely be following yours as well. Thanks!!

    Also shared on FB

    Reply

  34. Maggie says

    Hi Shirley – Great overview of Alisa’s book! She is amazing – so kind and so talented! I love her recipes. I need to get my hands on a copy of this book! One day! And perhaps some of those truffles…

    Reply

  41. Niv says

    Hi Shirley & Alisa

    Thank you for this great offer and letting me win this book. I will be able to explore and try new dairy free recipes. I am sure I’ll be able to combine your recipes along with Shirley’s recipes and make a delicious dish.

    Thanks
    Niv

    Reply

  42. Debi says

    Trying to catch up on my blog reading for a bit. Chocolate and peppermint. Shirley, if I haven’t said it enough, I ♥ you! There was a time when I didn’t like the chocolate and peppermint combination, but now I can’t seem to get enough of it!

    Reply

    • Shirley says

      Hi Debi–I have to say please don’t feel like you have to catch up here at gfe, but I’m happy to see you well enough to be making the rounds again! 🙂 And, aren’t you too sweet? Giving me a heart. I still can’t remember how to make them. 😉 I do love chocolate and mint myself, too (and always have!), but Alisa offers several variations for those who don’t. 😉 Have you seen Tia’s (Glugle Gluten Free) thin mint GS Cookies? OMG. Seriously.

      xo,
      Shirley

      Reply

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