Chic Vegan

Vegan and Fabulous!

Book Review and Giveaway: Vegan Chocolate

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Vegan ChocolateTwo of my favorite words in the English language are “vegan” and “chocolate”, Fran Costigan’s cookbook Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts was on my wish list long before I even set eyes on it. Once I got my hands on it I was pleased to find that it’s even more lusciously gorgeous and drool-worthy than I imagined. Vegan Chocolate is a beautiful hardcover book packed with the most stunning, mouthwatering photos of cakes, pies, cookies and other melt-in-your-mouth chocolatey treats that I’ve ever seen. Beware – you may be tempted to eat the book’s pages.

 

I did a little work for Fran last summer while the book was in production, so not only was I able to get a sneak peek at this masterpiece, I also got to sample some of her decadent homemade chocolate treats: brownie bites, truffles, ice cream shell, chocolate hazelnut spread, cake, ganache and more. Each one was better than the last and this chocoholic always went home happy. 

 

Hot Chocolate Mexican-Style LRAs a vegan I’m often asked if it’s possible to make dessert without eggs and dairy products, and I’ve also had people tell me that they could never be vegan because they could never give up chocolate. (Chocolate is vegan by nature, but the way. It’s not vegan when candy bar manufacturers add milk and butterfat to it.) In Vegan Chocolate Fran proves that not only is it possible to make luscious vegan desserts, but they can be rich and sinfully chocolatey as well. This book is packed with recipes for chocolate cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, truffles, puddings, ice creams, drinks and more. I can guarantee that you can win over even the most die-hard carnivore with any one of them. 

 

Cashew-Cream-Truffle-Squares-LRFran begins the book with a list of ingredients that are helpful to have on hand for vegan baking, as well as a list of kitchen equipment essentials. She also includes a chocolate primer with information on storing chocolate, what the different percentages mean and the different types of chocolate. Each chapter begins with Fran’s tips for successful treats, troubleshooting recommendations, and helpful information such as how much frosting is needed for a sheet cake and how to make cake crumbs for decorating. Kate Lewis’s photos of Fran’s creations are works of art, and this book should be on display on your coffee table, rather than tucked away in your bookcase.

 

Brownie-Pudding-Cakelettes-LRVegan Chocolate is a must have for any chocoholic, avid baker, and vegan foodie and it makes a great Valentine’s Day gift. Be sure to check out our interview with Fran too! 

 

You’re in luck because we have a copy of Vegan Chocolate for one lucky Chic Vegan reader. Follow the instructions below to enter. U.S. residents only, please. Contest ends at midnight EST on Sunday, February 9th. Good luck!

 

 

About Dianne

Dianne Wenz is the Editor-In-Chief for Chic Vegan. She is a Holistic Health Counselor, Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Plant-Based Nutrition Specialist. Dianne coaches people from across the country to help them improve their health and wellbeing, and she helps people make the dietary and lifestyle changes needed to go vegan. Dianne lives in New Jersey, where she runs the busy MeetUp group Montclair Vegans. Through the group she hosts monthly potlucks, runs charity bake sales and organizers guest speaker events. An avid cook and baker, Dianne also teaches cooking classes to local clients. In addition to food and nutrition, Dianne loves crafts and cats. To learn more, visit Dianne’s website and blog at Dianne's Vegan Kitchen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Corrie says

    I actually made her brownies as they were in my VegTimes. I still need to make the torte with ganache. Everyone loved the brownies and they were so easy. My fav choc dessert?! Do I have to pick one?! Brownies, cake, torte…gosh all of it. This book is in my amazon cart as we speak! 🙂

  4. Tabitha says

    Chocolate truffles (vegan ones at least) are far from easy to find but soooo hard for me to resist!

  7. Zyxomma says

    My homemade live pudding, using Florida avocado, raw cacao, Ceylon cinnamon, NM chile, vanilla bean, and organic birch xylitol for sweetening without a blood sugar spike.

  19. Ann says

    I do love a good chewy gooey brownie. I like it even better made into a sundae with some frozen almond milk ice cream.

  22. Annie says

    I’m a choco nut. I love solids so that it melts on my tongue, I love hot choco to warm me at work, and I’m an ice cream fiend, which I am so happy to have found a home gelato maker so that I can make my own vegan ice cream!!!

  34. Kristi says

    I recently found an AMAZING chocolate recipe online where you mix coconut oil, raspberry agave nectar, almond butter & cocoa powder. I somehow messed it up a little and it was still delicious! I LOVE it!

  38. amanda says

    you could never definitely pick just one when it comes to chocolate (donuts, chocolate cake, buckeyes!..), but i’m going to go with chocolate iced brownies sprinkled with chocolate chips and try to cover as many bases as i can. This book is also currently saved in my amazon cart!

  41. Svetlana says

    raw chocolate tart with coconut whipped cream & lime zest… or home-made chocolate truffles with a hint of lavender essential oil

  43. Amy says

    I am ALL about the brownies. The chocolatey-er, the better! And they better include chocolate chips.