Vegan Chocolate Smash Hearts (Gluten-Free)

These easy Vegan Chocolate Smash Hearts are the best edible gift for a loved one this Valentines: a naturally flavoured and coloured white chocolate shell filled with marshmallows, chocolates and sprinkles.

I have been waiting so long to make and share these. I have seen a few smash hearts in the shops in the UK, I feel they are becoming really popular. That said, they are not cheap so why not make your own? They are so fun to make and you can personalise them any which way you like.

What makes these Vegan Chocolate Smash Hearts so special?

These little hearts are:

• Naturally coloured and flavoured
• Easy and fun to make
• Quick
• Make a delicious edible gift
• Can be personalised
• Filled with anything you like (marshmallows, chocolates, sprinkles etc)
• Fun to smash to pieces!

If you are already in love with these chocolate hearts, skip ahead to the recipe card, or, first let’s see what goes into them.

What ingredients are needed for these hearts?

Similar to my White Hot Chocolate Bombs, the main ingredient is:

• White chocolate: make sure this is dairy-free. you can use dark or dairy-free milk chocolate, although they will not be as pink, but still delicious.
• Strawberry powder: this is what adds the delicious berry flavour and the lovely pink colour. If you don’t have strawberry powder, another berry powder like acai, raspberry or blueberry powder will all be delicious but will result in slightly different colours. Or, you can use pink food gel (as opposed to food colouring liquid, which may split the chocolate).

That’s the two ingredients for the chocolate shell, and then you can fill the Vegan Chocolate Smash Heart with anything you like:

• Mini marshmallows: these are my favourite things! Make sure they are vegan and gelatine-free.
• Rose petals: purely for romance!
• Chocolate covered peanuts: or another chocolate like chocolate raisins, chocolate chips or chopped up chocolate bars.
• Sprinkles: I love all of the sprinkles from The Baking Time Club and you can save 20% with code AMY20. They are 100% vegan and gluten-free, which is rare.
• Strawberry powder: I added some extra strawberry powder for colour but it is not necessary. You can use another berry powder, as above.

How do I make these Vegan Chocolate Smash Hearts?

These are actually so easy to make, in just a few steps:

• Chill a heart-shaped mould: in the fridge. This helps the chocolate to set up the sides more evenly without dripping down too much. This is the mould I have.
• Melt the white chocolate: until silky smooth.
• Stir in the strawberry powder: or other berry powder or food gel to turn the white chocolate pink.
• Spoon half of the chocolate into the moulds: and brush all the way up the sides.
• Chill in the fridge: to set the first chocolate layer.
• Repeat to coat the hearts a second time: this strengthens the chocolate hearts so they do not crack later.
• Chill again: until film. Prepare all of your fillings.
• Carefully peel the chocolate hearts out of the silicone moulds: work carefully so the edges do not crack.
• Fill half of the hearts with your fillings: and leave the others un-filled.
• Using a hot knife or palette knife: run the knife along the edges of the un-filled hearts to melt the chocolate. This will act as the glue to stick the hearts together.
• Stick the empty hearts on top of the filled hearts: and gently press down to secure the heats.
• Decorate with extra chocolate and sprinkles: and set in the fridge.
• SMASH: with anything strong and hard, I used a “honey” scoop but a small hammer is great, too.

How do I colour these hearts?

A berry powder (like this one) is best for the chocolate as it adds flavour as well as natural colour. If you don’t have this, you can use pink food gel as opposed to liquid. You will barely need 1 drop of food gel to colour the mix. Sadly, food colouring liquid does interfere with the chocolate mix and may cause it to split.

Are these nut-free and gluten-free?

Yes, just check your chocolate is free from nuts and that your fillings contain no nuts or gluten.

My hearts don’t smash easily?

These Vegan Chocolate Smash Heart are best smashed when cold as the chocolate is harder and therefore smashes more easily, so I recommend keeping them in the fridge.

How long will these hearts last?

These keep really well for 1 week (or more) in the fridge but you can also keep them at room temperature in a sealed container for 1 week, although they are best to smash when fridge-cold.

I love these hearts, what other recipes can I make?

If you love these Vegan Chocolate Smash Heart, I think you will also like these:

• Chocolate Puff Pastry Hearts
• Vegan Chocolate Cake Balls
• Black Forest Gateau
• No Bake Funfetti Cookie Sandwiches
• Valentine‘s Day Banana Bread

I hope you will love these Vegan Chocolate Smash Hearts so please let me know what you think in the comments below. If you do make these, I would love to see them so please tag me in your hearts, I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest  – please say hello!

With smash heart love x