These easy bon bons pair a creamy vanilla filling with a coating of rich chocolate for a delectable sweet treat no one can resist!
It’s always interesting seeing how foods change as they move from one culture to the next. Bon bons originated in France—in fact, the name literally means “good-good” in French because chocolate-coated candies with sweet, creamy fillings are definitely bon bon.
French bon bons come in many shapes and sizes, with creamy, crunchy, chewy or even crispy textures. In North America, these confections may be called truffles or even just “chocolates,” but in the Southern US, it’s common for them to still be called bon bons.
Southern bon bons are two-bite treats that have a filling that’s first chewy, then rich and creamy; the filling may contain nuts, coconut, and other add-ins for flavour and texture. These vegan bon bons have the same irresistible filling and rich outer shell as the original, but they’re made without the dairy!
(For more vegan treats, check out my Vegan Sock It to Me Cake, Vegan Peach Cobbler, and Vegan Sweet Potato Pie.)
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Powdered sugar – Also known as confectioners’ sugar.
- Vegan butter – If you can’t find store-bought plant-based butter, you can use homemade vegan butter.
- Vegan cream cheese – Let this soften to room temperature so it mixes easily with the other ingredients.
- Vanilla extract – You can customize your vegan bon bons by using different extract flavours.
- Dairy-free chocolate chips – You can substitute an equivalent amount of chopped dark chocolate.
Optional mix-ins:
- Puffed rice
- Peanut butter
- Chopped walnuts
- Chopped pecans
- Chopped almonds
- Shredded coconut
What Is Vegan Cream Cheese Made Of?
There are several different types of vegan cream cheese; some are made from nuts like cashews or almonds, while others are made from soy or tofu. A few brands offer dairy-free cream cheese that is made with a base of coconut milk and additional ingredients for thickening. You can use any type of vegan cream cheese for this vegan bon bon recipe.
How to Make Bon Bons
Vegan bon bons easy to whip up whenever you’re craving a plant-based chocolate treat! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
Beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla. Add the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract to a medium bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat them together until they’re fluffy and well-combined.
Finish the filling mixture. Beat the powdered sugar into the cream cheese and butter mixture half a cup at a time, until all of the sugar is fully incorporated. Fold in any mix-ins, then chill the filling in the freezer for 45 minutes.
Roll the filling into balls. Remove the bowl from the freezer and use a small ice cream or cookie dough scoop to form 1-2 tablespoon balls. Roll each ball until the outside is smooth, then place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Place the pan in the freezer while you melt the chocolate chips.
Melt the chocolate.Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it for 15 seconds at a time, stirring often, until the chocolate is mostly melted. Remove the bowl from the microwave and continue to stir until the chocolate is completely smooth.
Dip the vegan bon bons. Remove the chilled filling from the freezer. One at a time, place each ball into the melted chocolate and use a fork to roll the ball until it’s evenly coated. Use the fork to transfer the bon bons back to the sheet pan, letting the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.
Chill. Refrigerate the bon bons for an additional 15 minutes to fully set before serving.
Tips for Success
Here are a few simple tips and tricks for perfect vegan bon bons:
- Soften the vegan butter and cream cheese (but not too much). Some types of vegan butter and cream cheese will come to room temperature faster than the dairy varieties, so check after 15 minutes or so. You want it soft, but not so soft that when you press it, there’s no resistance.
- Don’t use too much chocolate. Be sure to let that excess drip off! If you don’t, the chocolate will pool on the bottom of the bon bons as it hardens.
- Re-chill if needed. If the bon bon filling is difficult to roll into balls, return it to the freezer for 10 or 15 minutes and try again.
How to Store
Store these vegan bon bons in an airtight container or resealable bag for up to 10 days in the refrigerator.
Can This Recipe Be Frozen?
Yes, these vegan bon bons can be stored in an airtight container and frozen for up to two months. To thaw, place the bon bons in the refrigerator before serving, or you can try eating them frozen!
Bon Bons
Ingredients
- 5 ⅓ cups powdered sugar 580g
- ½ cup vegan butter softened (112g)
- 4 ounces vegan cream cheese softened (125g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5g
- 2 10 oz. bags of dairy-free chocolate chips (560g)
Optional mix-ins (up to 1 total cup of any of the following):
- Puffed rice
- Peanut butter
- Chopped walnuts
- Chopped pecans
- Chopped almonds
- Shredded coconut
Instructions
- Add the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract to a medium bowl and beat together with a hand mixer until well combined.
- Add the powdered sugar, half a cup at a time, to the cream cheese and butter mixture and beat together until well combined. Continue until all powdered sugar is fully incorporated with the butter and cream cheese. Add any add mix-ins if preferred and stir to thoroughly combine.
- Place the beaten mixture into the freezer for 45 minutes to chill.
- Remove the bowl from the freezer. Use a small ice cream scooper to scoop the bon bon filling into 1 – 2 tbsp. size balls. Roll each ball to smooth the outside and place them on a baking sheet pan that is lined with parchment paper. Place the sheet pan in the freezer for a few minutes while you melt the chocolate chips.
- Add the chocolate chips to a glass bowl and place it in the microwave. Heat it for 15 seconds at a time, stirring often, until the chocolate is mostly melted. Remove the bowl from the microwave and continue to stir until the remaining chocolate chips melt.
- Remove the chilled filling from the freezer and add each ball to the melted chocolate one at a time. Use a fork to coat the ball in chocolate before dripping off any excess chocolate and placing the ball back on the parchment paper. Repeat until all bon bons are coated in chocolate. Place the bon bons in the fridge for an additional 15 minutes to fully set before enjoying.