Vegan Hershey Kisses
Make yourself some creamy vegan Hershey Kisses made with your favorite dairy-free chocolate! I prefer using dairy-free milk chocolate, but you can make these into sultry dark chocolate kisses, too. These pair perfectly with your next batch of vegan peanut butter blossoms cookies!
Vegan Chocolate Kisses
There’s no doubt that the thick chocolate kiss is perfect candy. Well, I guess I could say almost perfect. If only Hershey’s could make their chocolate without dairy! I am hopeful that someday they will catch on, but in the meantime, there’s no need to wait. That’s right. You can make your own vegan Hershey kisses.
It’s way easier than you think.
How to Make Vegan Hershey Kisses
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- Melt chocolate and coconut oil (if using).
- Spoon the melted chocolate into a large chocolate chip mold.
- Use a toothpick to stir the chocolate in each mold to eliminate air pockets and to ensure the chocolate is coated through to the tip.
- Drop the mold on the counter several times to help with this as well.
- Place the kisses on a tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
- Once the chocolate has set, transfer the chips to a lidded container or plastic storage bag.
Why This Recipe is a Winner
- EASY — It takes only a couple of ingredients and a few tools to make these tasty candies!
- FLEXIBLE — You can use your favorite chocolate, like vegan white chocolate, vegan milk chocolate, vegan peanut butter chips, etc.
- FREEZER-FRIENDLY — Make these candy kisses and freeze them to enjoy later!
Frequently-Asked Questions
Are any Hershey Kisses vegan?
Hershey Kisses are not vegan because they’re made with milk chocolate made from dairy. Hopefully, someday they will make a vegan version of their chocolate. In the meantime, you can make your own kisses vegan at home!
Are vegan kisses just like Hershey kisses?
Vegan kisses won’t taste just like Hershey kisses because they’re made with plant-based milk which has a different flavor profile than cow’s milk. In addition, Hershey’s kisses are coated with wax that prevents them from melting when placed on hot cookies. Allow your cookies to cool completely before adding vegan kisses on top.
Chocolate Options
You may be wondering what kinds of chocolate you can use to make your own vegan chocolate kisses. Here are some of my favorite options:
- Vegan Milk Chocolate — Sprouts sells dairy-free milk chocolate (made with oat milk) in their bulk section. This is my favorite for vegan milk chocolate kisses.
- Dark Chocolate — Use vegan dark chocolate chips or dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate bars.
- Ganache — Your kisses could be creamier if you use Vegan Ganache. I find a ratio of 1:1 chocolate and coconut cream works best (1 cup dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate combined with 1 cup coconut cream or vegan half & half like Ripple).
- Sugar-Free — Lily’s makes dairy-free, sugar-free chocolate chips.
Refer to my dairy-free chocolate chips guide for more chocolate options. You can even use vegan white chocolate or peanut butter chips.
Piping Chocolate Kisses
If you don’t have the kisses molds, you can pipe vegan kisses. They may not look perfectly consistent as the molded chocolate, but they’ll look fine and will taste delicious. Here’s how I do this:
- Melt the chocolate as directed, let it cool slightly.
- Fit a piping bag wth a #12 round tip.
- Cover the tip to prevent any of the melted chocolate from leaking (I use a piece of plastic wrap secured with a rubber band).
- Pour the chocolate into the piping bag. Then refrigerate it until the chocolate thickens a little, but is still pipeable.
- Place a sheet of waxed paper on a baking sheet.
- Pipe the chocolate directly onto the waxed paper, creating a wider base and pulling it up at the top to create a whispy tip. You can also pipe the chocolate directly onto cooled cookies.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these chocolate candies plain or plant a big kiss right in the middle of any of these cookies:
- Vegan Hershey Kiss Cookies
- Vegan Snickerdoodles can have a chocolate kiss in the center
- Coconut Macaroons
- Double Chocolate Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Molasses Chocolate Chip Cookies
Storage Tips
Store kisses in an airtight container. They will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 10 days. They can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Vegan Chocolate Candies
If you love these vegan Hershey Kisses, be sure to try some of these tasty vegan chocolate treats:
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Vegan Hershey Kisses
Ingredients
- 8 oz dairy-free chocolate chips (see notes for substitution ideas)
- ½ teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Saucepan Method: Add water to a saucepan, coming up about an inch from the bottom of the pan. Place it over medium heat, bringing it to a simmer.
- Combine the dark chocolate and coconut oil in a heat-proof glass bowl. Place the bowl over the simmering water. Once the chocolate begins to melt, stir until creamy.
- Microwave Method: Combine the dark chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave-safe glass bowl. Heat in 30-second increments until the chocolate melts (usually takes 1 minute total). Let it sit for a minute or two. Then stir until creamy.
- Mold: Spoon the melted chocolate into a large chocolate chip mold. Use a toothpick to stir the chocolate in each mold to eliminate air pockets and to ensure the chocolate is coated through to the tip. Drop the mold on the counter several times to help with this as well.
- No Mold: Pour the melted chocolate mixture into a large zip-lock bag and snip off the end. Or use a piping bag with a small, round tip. Pipe chips onto prepared cookie sheet. Touch the top of each soft chocolate chip with your finger tip to create a swirl to the top of each chocolate chip.
- Place the kisses on a tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
- Once the chocolate has set, transfer the chips to a lidded container or plastic storage bag. Store in the fridge for 4 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Recommended Equipment
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Notes
Chocolate Options:
There are lots of options for chocolate:- Vegan Milk Chocolate — Sprouts sells dairy-free milk chocolate (made with oat milk) in their bulk section. This is my favorite for vegan milk chocolate.
- Dark Chocolate — Use vegan dark chocolate chips or dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate bars.
- Sugar-Free — Lily’s makes dairy-free sugar-free chocolate chips.
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.