If you love Raffaelo, these easy vegan coconut balls will quickly become your favorite no-bake dessert recipe! With only 6 ingredients and 2 simple steps, you can make the best homemade vegan Raffaelo truffles that are gluten-free, paleo-friendly, healthy and so delicious!
Easy no-bake Coconut Balls
I have always loved coconut candy treats like Raffaelo balls and bounty bars so I’m happy to share this homemade vegan recipe that is as delicious as the original! You can easily make these coconut bliss balls with only a few natural ingredients ahead. Then store them in the fridge, freezer or at room temperature so you can enjoy a coconutty treat anytime. They make a perfect grab and go snack to enjoy yourself or to share with your family and friends. However, these cute coconut balls make a great homemade gift idea, too! I’m sure even your non-vegan friends will love these healthier coconut bites!
The original Ferrero Raffaello praline consists of a spherical waffle that is filled with white milk cream and one blanched almond. It is covered with a layer of coconut and does not contain white chocolate, as many may think. My coconut balls don’t have a waffle shell, but they have positive health benefits!
Not only are they free of refined sugar, rancid oils, artificial flavors, additives, and preservatives, but also full of good fats and nutrients. So if you’re a fan of coconut, you’re really going to enjoy these treats!
Can I use other nuts?
Traditional Raffaello balls call for a rich coconut-almond mousse. However, if you’re not a big fan of almonds, you could substitute the almond butter for cashew butter or any nut butter of your choice. Also, the whole almonds can be replaced for other nuts like macadamias, peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews, or just small pieces of fresh coconut. So if you’d like to turn these vegan Raffaelo into peanut butter balls, for example, feel free to use peanut butter and whole peanuts!
Of course, you could also make your own nut butter if you prefer. Here’s how!
How to make Homemade Coconut Butter
Coconut butter is a super delicious, smooth, and creamy homemade butter that’s healthy and easy to prepare in just 2 minutes. To make it simply add shredded coconut to a high-speed blender or powerful food processor and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides with a spatula as needed. When I use my Vitamix the coconut butter is ready in just 1 or 2 minutes. In my food processor, however, it takes longer, about 8 minutes, until the coconut butter is smooth and creamy.
Anyway, I recommend preparing a larger batch of coconut butter by using at least 2 cups of shredded coconut or your blender won’t be able to blend it properly. But since homemade coconut butter keeps in the refrigerator for at least two weeks, you can also use it for other desserts in the future or just enjoy it on warm toast with jam or fresh fruit. The coconut butter will harden when cooled but when you gently reheat it over a water bath, it melts easily. Then you can simply mix it until well combined.
How to make Vegan Raffaello Coconut Balls
Just 6-ingredients and no baking – these vegan coconut balls couldn’t be any easier to make!
Step 1: Making the Coconut mixture
Start by placing the coconut oil, coconut butter and almond butter (or cashew butter) in a heatproof bowl. Allow to melt over a water bath (or the microwave) and stir until all ingredients are well combined. Then stir in the maple syrup (or any other syrup of your choice) and the shredded coconut. Place the mixture in the fridge for about 30 minutes (or freeze for 10 minutes) to solidify.
Step 2: Rolling the Vegan Raffaelo Balls
When the mixture has hardened, scoop out small bite-sized portions with a teaspoon. Roll each into a praline ball with your hands and press a blanched almond into the center. Lastly, roll the vegan Raffaelo balls in the shredded coconut until totally covered and no longer sticky on the outside. Repeat until all the mixture has gone then place in the fridge to set completely.
This vegan Raffaello coconut balls recipe is:
- Vegan (dairy-free, lactose-free)
- Gluten-free
- Grain-free
- Easy to make
- Homemade
- Perfectly sweet
- Rich & Creamy
- Raw (by using raw maple or agave syrup)
- Paleo-friendly
- Coconutty
- Delicious
- The perfect homemade vegan dessert or snack to make ahead
If you love easy vegan coconut desserts and homemade candy recipes like these Raffaelo, be sure to check out the following treats:
- Coconut Rice Pudding Cake
- Blueberry Coconut Cake
- Apricot Cake with Coconut
- Peanut Caramel Chocolate Bars
- Vegan Nut Bars (Cookie Crunch Corners)
If you do try this easy Vegan Raffaelo Coconut Balls Recipe, I would love to read your feedback in the comments below. And if you take a picture of your delicious no-bake coconut bliss balls and share it on Instagram, please don’t forget to tag me @biancazapatka #biancazapatka to make sure I won’t miss your post. Enjoy!
Vegan Raffaelo (Easy Coconut Balls)
Author:Ingredients
- 2 ½ tbsp (35 g) coconut oil 35g
- ¼ cup (65 g) coconut butter 65g (*see recipe notes)
- 1 tbsp (20 g) + 1 tsp white almond butter or cashew butter (20g)
- 1 tbsp (25 g) + 1 tsp maple syrup 25g
- 4 tbsp (20 g) shredded coconut 20g
- 20 blanched almonds or other nuts (*see blog post for tips)
Instructions
* See step-by-step photos above!
- Place the coconut oil, coconut butter and almond butter (or cashew butter) in a heatproof bowl. Allow to melt over a water bath (or in the microwave) and stir to combine until smooth.
- Stir in the maple syrup and the shredded coconut to combine, then place the mixture to the fridge for 30 minutes (or freeze for 10 minutes) to solidify.
- When the mixture has hardened, scoop out 20 bite-sized portions with a teaspoon. Roll each into a ball with your hands and press a blanched almond into the center. Lastly, roll the vegan Raffaelo in the shredded coconut until totally covered and no longer sticky on the outside. Repeat until all the mixture has gone, then place in the fridge to set completely.
- Enjoy immediately or store as written in the recipe notes below.
Notes
- Coconut Butter: Homemade coconut butter is easy to make by adding shredded coconut to a high-speed blender or powerful food processor and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides with a spatula as needed. (Read details and tips in the blog post above).
- Maple syrup: you can substitute any other syrup of your choice.
- Almonds: you can substitute the almond butter for cashew butter or another nut butter of your choice. You can also substitute the whole almonds with other nuts (see blog post for suggestions).
- Storage: Store the vegan Raffaelo in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for longer storage.
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Absolutely loving these! 😍
Since I went vegan I’ve been looking for a good quick recipe with easy ingredients for vegan Raffaello and here it it.
I’m always making double the recipe to freeze some or giving them to friends & family because they LOVE them.
Thank you for sharing🥰
That’s great! Glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
Absolutely loving it!
Since I went vegan I was looking for a good raffaello recipe with easy ingredients and here it is!
Not only good-> AMAZING.
I’m always making double the recipe and freeze some or give them to friends & family because they LOVE them 😍
Thank you for sharing your recipes 🥰
P.s. Tastyyvegan
That’s great! Glad you love them! 🙂
Thank you! ❤️
Die kleinen Kügelchen sind so einfach zu machen und so lecker.
Ich habe aus der genannten Menge 35 Stück gemacht sonst könnte ich es mir etwas fettig vorstellen.
Danke für die Inspiration 💕
Freut mich sehr, dass sie dir geschmeckt haben! Vielen Dank und liebe Grüße! 🙂
Hello! I would like to know if there’s anyway to allow these to be shelf stable instead of having to be refrigerated the whole time. Thank you!
Hello! 🙂
I don’t think that’s possible. The balls must be refrigerated because coconut oil and nut butter melt very quickly and then the balls become very soft. I do not see how this could be changed.
Hi, i was wondering if i can use normal almond butter?
Yes, sure!
Ich habe sie gestern zum ersten Mal selbstgemacht und ich liebe es!! Bin ein riesengroßer Raffaello-Fan und diese hier stehen dem Original in nichts nach. Einzige Änderung: Ich habe anstelle des Ahornsirups die gleiche Menge an Erythrit genommen. Werde sie definitiv noch ganz oft machen, danke für dieses Rezept 😍
Das ist echt super toll! Danke für dein klasse Feedback! 🙂
Freut mich, dass die veganen Raffaello auch zuckerfrei mit Erythrit geklappt haben.
Schönes Wochenende und viele Grüße,
Bianca <3
Super easy and delicious – will definitely make again!
Thank you! 🙂
Can i make my own white almond butter and if so how? I can’t seem to see it stocked anywhere on the Gold Coast! Only brown almond butter! Thanks xx
Yes, sure! Simply blend whole blanched almonds in a high-speed blender until you have almond butter.
Best, Bianca 🙂
Is this sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut?
unsweetened 😉
Wow! You really surprised me with that recipe!
So easy to make and so delicious!
Its really close to the real Rafaello. Just the waffle is missing 😬
I am so glad you loved this vegan Raffaello recipe! 🙂
Thank you so much for your great feedback! <3
it was super easy to make and they are so delicious 😍😋
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you 😊
Love it❤️
Thank you!
super simple and delicious. love this recipe
Thank you so much for your amazing feedback! So glad you love my coconut balls! 🙂
I made those today and I must say that they are AMAZING. Such a rich flavour, so summer like 💙 kids love them and I’m so glad, that I can give them something healthy and vegan.
Thank you Bianca, your creations are such a delicious bliss 🙏❤️
So glad you love these vegan Raffaello balls! Thank you so much! 🙂
Super easy to make and divine.
Now I know what to do when I crave for something sweet.
Thanks Bianca
Thank you so much! 🙂
These were Soo damn good yumm ..once is not enough! Easy peasy yummyy!!!
So glad you love this recipe! Thank you 🙂
This was so so so gooood.. I replaced the almond/cashew Butter with macadamia butter.. And reduced the maple syrup slightly as I’m following keto.. My favourite chocolate of all time is Raffaello.. So this was such a life saver. Si can’t wait to try your other recipes… Plz do share photography tips and bts. Would help amateur photographers like me.
So glad you love this recipe! Thank you so much for your cute comment! 😀 I’ll try my best, sharing some tips in the future! 😉
Turned out unbelievable! Can’t wait ‘til the next recipe❤️❤️
So glad you love these coconut balls! Thank you 🙂
Wow these Raffaelos look so nice and delicious! Can I use something else than coconut butter?
Hi Lara, I haven’t tried another substitute yet, but maybe you could try using solid coconut cream + a bit of coconut flour so the mixture will be firm enough.
Let me know how it turned out if you try it!
Omg, these look delicious and your photos are stunning as always. Definitely sharing!
So glad you love these photos!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Love this homemade, healthier version of one of my all-time favourite treats! They look delicious Bianca!
Thank you so much, Anna! I hope you’ll try them soon! 🙂