Can You Replicate Milk Chocolate with Vegan Chocolate and Plant Milk?

Yes, you can melt vegan chocolate and add plant milk to create a milk chocolate-like flavor and texture. While achieving the exact taste of dairy milk chocolate might be challenging, this simple process can help you customize the chocolate to your preference. Follow our step-by-step guide to transform your vegan chocolate into a creamy, scrumptious treat that's both vegan-friendly and delicious.

Ingredients

Vegan chocolate (dark or semi-sweet) Plant milk of your choice (almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk)

Instructions

Melt the Vegan Chocolate: Chop the vegan chocolate into small pieces for even melting. Use a double boiler or microwave to melt the chocolate. For microwave use, heat in short bursts (15-30 seconds) and stir in between until smooth. Add Plant Milk: Once the chocolate is melted, gradually stir in the plant milk. Start with a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) and mix well. Continue adding plant milk until the mixture reaches your desired creaminess and flavor. Taste as you go to ensure it meets your preference. Adjust Sweetness (Optional): If you desire a sweeter taste, add a sweetener like maple syrup, agave syrup, or powdered sugar. Use or Store: You can use this mixture as a dip, drizzle over desserts, or let it cool and solidify for a homemade milk chocolate bar. If storing, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge.

Challenges

It's important to recognize the limitations when it comes to replicating the flavor of milk chocolate. Much of milk chocolate's unique taste is derived from the milk content, and plant milks, unfortunately, do not replicate this experience. Almonds and chocolate are a popular combination and almond milk might pair well with chocolate, but the small amount of almonds in almond milk means it likely won't significantly influence the flavor. The same applies to other nut milks, soy milk, and hemp milk. They don't have a flavor that pairs especially well with the dark vegan chocolate you're using.

Also, if you melt chocolate and add a small amount of any watery liquid, such as nut milks or real milk, the chocolate will seize, turning into a grainy and unpleasant mess. The correct approach is to chop the chocolate as finely as possible and heat a very small amount of milk in a pot, gradually whisking in the chopped chocolate in very small quantities.

Summary

While the exact flavor of milk chocolate may be challenging to replicate, using vegan chocolate and plant milk can still create a delicious and creamy chocolate treat. This process allows you to customize the chocolate to your liking, achieving a flavor profile similar to milk chocolate while staying true to vegan principles. Enjoy your homemade vegan chocolate!