Mushrooms and chocolate may not sound like they go together, but, they actually bring a real umami flavor to everything they’re used with – chocolate included!
We’re not just talking about ordinary button mushrooms that you can pick up in your local grocery store, though.
For mushrooms and chocolate to really work, you need to use something a little more special.
Favorite varieties for making mushroom chocolate truffles include turkey tail and chaga which, don’t only provide that deep umami flavor, they have their own health benefits.
We’ll look at these health benefits here and, most importantly, we’ll teach you how to make mushroom chocolate truffles.
Whether you want them for yourself as a treat or you’re planning on giving them as gifts, one thing is for sure – you’ll soon become addicted to these delicious little balls!
How To Make Mushroom Chocolate Truffles
In a rush? Let’s dive straight in. Here’s everything you need to know to make mushroom chocolate truffles.
Ingredients
½ cup of coconut milk
1 tbsp maca powder
½ tbsp powdered chaga mushrooms
½ tbsp powdered turkey’s tail mushrooms
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 tbsp maple syrup
¼ cup dark cocoa powder
Pinch of sea salt flakes
Method
Start by heating the coconut milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to simmer.
Once simmering, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the maca powder, dried chaga, dried turkey tail, and the cayenne pepper.
Once combined, add the maple syrup, chocolate, and salt and mix again.
Transfer this mixture to a bowl and place it in the refrigerator for one hour.
Once this time has passed, you’ll have what looks like a chocolate ganache. Remove this from the refrigerator.
Grab a plate and sieve the cocoa powder over it.
Now, take a tablespoon and scoop out some of the chocolate-mushroom mixture. Using your hands, roll this into a small ball and drop it into the cocoa powder.
Gently shake the plate so the ball rolls around in the cocoa powder until it’s completely coated, then transfer to a clean plate.
Repeat this process until you have used all of the chocolate-mushroom mixture.
These mushroom truffle chocolates are best stored in the refrigerator and will last for up to one week. They can also be frozen for up to three months – just make sure you allow them to thaw completely before eating them!
Another fantastic thing about these mushroom chocolate truffles is that they are vegan, paleo, and no bake. This doesn’t only make them universally appealing, but means that even the most culinary-challenged home cook will be able to make them with ease.
The Health Benefits Of Turkey Tail And Chaga
As we mentioned briefly, the best mushrooms to use when making mushroom chocolate truffles are turkey tail and chaga. This isn’t only because they have a greater depth of flavor, but because they are believed to be very good for you!
Let’s take a look at the health benefits of turkey tail, first of all. It is thought to play a vital role in immune health which. It’s also packed with antioxidants, contains polysaccharopeptide, and can have a beneficial effect on gut health.
So, along with cocoa and bittersweet chocolate, is a sure fire way to give your immune system a good boost!
But what does chaga do? As well as being another excellent way to boost your immune system, it is also believed to help maintain a healthy digestive system and provide overall good gut health. It also helps to lower blood sugar and cholesterol.
Can You Make Mushroom Truffles With Other Mushrooms?
Yes, you absolutely can. While turkey tail mushroom and chaga mushroom are the preferred choice among mushroom chocolate truffle connoisseurs, there’s no reason why you can’t use any other mushrooms.
The only thing to note is that they may not give you as much of that umami flavor. The healthy benefits will be different as well.
Here are some other mushrooms that you can use in place of turkey tail and chaga that work equally as well in the recipe above. Whichever you use, just make sure you get them in powdered form.
Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
These mushrooms are believed to help boost memory and brain functionality in adults. There have even been studies on their effectiveness, with those that consumed lion’s mane showing better brain functionality than those that didn’t.
Reishi
Another immune-boosting mushroom, Reishi is thought to have a huge impact on immune health.
So, if you’re really under the weather, you can swap out the powdered chaga for reishi. Combined with the powdered turkey tail, you’ll really be giving your immune system a boost!
Cordyceps
This bizarre-looking mushroom is believed to have the capability of supercharging your energy levels.
One study found that it even increased exercise performance in young adults, so if you add these into your mushroom chocolate truffles you could be creating the perfect, natural, pre-workout snack!
Shiitake
Shiitake are arguably the easiest mushroom on this list to find. They are also really good for you and could even have a positive effect on your heart health.
There you have it – everything you need to know to make your own mushroom chocolate truffles. Not only are they delicious, but they are incredibly good for you.
One of our favorite things about this recipe is that you can switch up the type of mushrooms you want to use. Need an energy boost, replace one type with cordyceps.
Feeling like you need an energy boost? Combine the power or turkey tail and lion’s mane. The possibilities are endless!
Hi, I’m Rachel Edwards and I enjoy a glass of wine as much as the rest of them. Well, maybe slightly more.
My parents own a vineyard in Napa Valley and were constantly making new wines for the locals to try. Their brand was one of the most popular across the US at one point. My sister and I loved running up and down the vines, picking the grapes for our parents, and even helping with the ideas.
Since moving out of the family home, my love for wine has not waivered - in fact, I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur. I’m always the one to bring the wine to our girly gatherings, family meals, and picnics - let me know what we’re doing, and I’ll supply the goods.
