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Home » Recipes » Course » Sweets

Vegan Nama Chocolate

By: Thomas Published: 26 Dec, 21 Updated: 26 Dec, 21 6 Comments

Jump to RecipePrintComments
5 from 2 votes

These Japanese-inspired chocolates are fudgy, creamy, and intensely chocolatey! Super fresh, and prepared with just 3-ingredient, these dairy-free chocolates just melt in your mouth. You're in for a treat!

Chocolate truffle squares with a bite.
Jump to:
  • 🍫 What is Nama Chocolate
  • 🥣 How to Make Nama Chocolate
  • ☕️ Flavoring Nama Chocolate
  • 📔 Tips
  • 💬 FAQ
  • More Japanese-Inspired Vegan Sweets
  • 📖 Recipe

🍫 What is Nama Chocolate

Nama chocolates are squares of chocolate ganache dusted with cacao powder. It was first created by the Japanese company Royce' in 1995. Nama chocolate now comes in a variety of flavors like Mild Cacao, Bitter, White Chocolate, and Matcha, to name a few.

Here, we will be making nama dark chocolates, but check out the flavoring tips below to create different flavors!

Ingredients like dark chocolate, cashew cream, butter, and cacao powder.

🥣 How to Make Nama Chocolate

Making Nama chocolate is surprisingly easy! It's basically a chocolate ganache that is poured into square molds, and then cut into squares.

Here is what you will need:

  • Dark chocolate - While you could use chocolate chips, I highly recommend using a very high-quality dark chocolate. Chocolate is a key ingredient here, so for the best flavor, go for the quality. The chocolate you will pick will also determine the sweetness of the Nama chocolates, personally I went with a 70% dark chocolate bar.
  • Cashew cream - Cream brings richness and gives the chocolates a soft consistency. If you don't have time to make your own cashew cream, check out the FAQ for substitutes.
  • Vegan butter - For a richer mouthfeel, and obviously, a slight buttery flavor.

With that being said, let's make Nama chocolates! First, finely chop the dark chocolate and transfer it to a bowl.

Chopped dark chocolate on a cutting board.

Next, heat the cashew cream (or your favorite plant-based cream) over medium heat. Just before it starts to boil, remove from heat and pour it over the chopped dark chocolate.

Add the vegan butter and slowly whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and combined with the cream.

Chocolate ganache in a bowl.

You should end up with a very smooth and slightly thick batter.

Pour the ganache into square molds and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or until the ganache has firmed up. Here, I used two 3-inch square molds that I lined with parchment paper.

Pouring chocolate ganache into a mold.

Finely, cut the ganache into 9 even squares and dust with cacao powder! It's that easy!

  • Vegan Nama Chocolate
  • Vegan Nama Chocolate

☕️ Flavoring Nama Chocolate

The best thing about this recipe? There are hundreds of ways you can flavor Nama chocolate! Here are a few ideas on how to take your chocolates to the next level:

Extracts

Use your favorite extracts to flavor the chocolates! I'm thinking caramel, orange, vanilla, or even coffee. Stir in ¼ to ½ teaspoon of extract just after pouring in the cream.

Liqueurs

Amaretto, cherry liqueur, strawberry liqueur, or even Grand Marnier. Use about 1 tablespoon of liquor. Quick tip: make sure the liquor you are using is vegan, which is not always the case.

Spices

Spice up the chocolates with cinnamon, cardamom, or even ground chili for some heat. You can also use espresso powder for a delicious coffee flavor!

Nut Butters

Feeling like having Nutella-flavored chocolates? Replace ¼ of the cream for hazelnut butter! And if you are not into hazelnuts, use peanut butter, almond butter, or pistachio butter!

Chocolate truffles dusted with cacao powder.

📔 Tips

  • Before cutting into squares, run your knife under hot water and pat it dry. It will make it easier to cut the ganache and prevent the knife from sticking too much to the chocolates.
  • If you don't want to leave thumbprints on the sides of the chocolates, handle them with gloves.
Nama chocolate squares on a plate.

💬 FAQ

  • Can I use coconut cream for this recipe? If you don't mind the coconut flavor, feel free to do so!
  • What else can I substitute for the cashew cream? Use your favorite plant-based cream. I tried this recipe with soy cream and it worked like a charm!
  • How many chocolates does this recipe make? This recipes yields about 18 squares of 1-inch.
  • Can I adjust the softness of the chocolates? Yes, you can play with the ratio of dark chocolate and cream. Use less cream for firmer chocolates, or add more for a softer texture.
  • What is the best way to enjoy Nama chocolate? Nama chocolates are best enjoyed straight from the refrigerator. It's fresh, creamy, and it melts in your mouth!
  • How to store Nama chocolate? Since the chocolates contain cream, store the chocolates in the refrigerator, in an airtight container.
  • How long can I keep Nama chocolate? It will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

If you like truffles, you will definitely love these Nama chocolates!

More Japanese-Inspired Vegan Sweets

  • Vegan Chocolate Mochi
  • Mango & Passion Fruit Mochi

Let me know in the comments and leave a rating if you try this recipe!

Nama chocolate truffle with a bite.

📖 Recipe

Vegan Nama Chocolate

Vegan Nama Chocolate

Author: Thomas
A vegan take on this classic Japanese treat! These rich and creamy chocolates truffles literally melt in your mouth!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Review
Prep Time : 15 mins
Chilling Time : 3 hrs
Total Time : 3 hrs 15 mins
Servings 18 chocolates
Calories 61 kcal

Ingredients
  

Cashew Cream

  • ½ cup cashews soaked overnight
  • ½ cup water

Nama Chocolate

  • 150 g dark chocolate
  • 90 g cashew cream
  • 1 tablespoon liqueur of choice optional
  • 1 tablespoon vegan butter
  • 2 teaspoon cacao powder for dusting
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Instructions
 

Cashew Cream

  • Drain the soaked cashews and transfer to a blender. Add the water and blend until fully smooth, about 1 minute.

Nama Chocolate

  • Line two 3-inch square pastry cutters, or one 3x6-inch rectangle cutter with parchment paper. Another option is to use a small baking dish.
  • Finely chop the dark chocolate and transfer to a small mixing bowl.
  • Heat the cashew cream (only 90g, not the whole batch of cashew cream) over medium heat in a small saucepan. Just before it comes to a boil, pour the hot cashew cream over the chopped dark chocolate and stir until the chocolate is fully melted.
  • Stir in the liqueur if using, and the vegan butter. Once fully combined, pour the ganache into the lined pastry cutters, or baking dish. Tap the baking dish a few times on the counter to remove air bubbles.
  • Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or until the ganache has firmed up.
  • Remove the chocolate from the baking dish. Run a large knife under hot water and pat it dry with a kitchen towel, repeat this step before every cut. Cut the chocolate into 1-inch squares.
  • Using a fine sieve mesh, sprinkle cacao powder all over the top of the squares of chocolates. Transfer the chocolates to a plate or box and store in the refrigerator.
  • Nama chocolates are best served chilled. It will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Notes

You will have leftover cashew cream, use to make more nama chocolates, or stir in curries, soups, etc. Cashew cream will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 nama chocolate | Calories: 61 kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.7 g | Protein: 1.1 g | Fat: 5 g | Fiber: 0.6 g | Sugar: 2.5 g
Course : Candy, Snack, Sweets
Cuisine : Asian, Japanese
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @fullofplants on Instagram and hashtag it #fullofplants
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katherine Barry

    January 04, 2022 at 5:36 am

    There’s no sweetener at all for this chocolate nama recipe

    Reply
    • Thomas

      January 04, 2022 at 8:10 am

      The dark chocolate is already sweet enough.

      Reply
  2. Miyuki Nakamura

    August 14, 2022 at 2:51 am

    5 stars
    If you are a fan of nama chocolate, this recipe is perfect for you. I tried and it was surprisingly easy to make. Plus, it tasted soooo good. Thank you for the recipe!!!😁👍🏼

    Reply
    • Thomas

      August 20, 2022 at 6:09 am

      You're welcome Miyuki! I'm happy to hear you liked the chocolates!

      Reply
  3. Alice Brown

    August 26, 2022 at 4:49 am

    5 stars
    Nama chocolate is my love, nama chocolate is my life. After being a vegan, this is the thing that haunted me the most. I couldn’t find good ones in the areas near my place. Thanks to your blog, now I have good nama chocolate to eat and I also can gift them to my family and my friends. Next time, I’ll try to make a different flavor 🙂

    Reply
    • Thomas

      August 29, 2022 at 4:14 am

      Nama chocolate is also one of my fav treat 😉
      Thanks for your rating Alice!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Thomas, welcome to my blog! Here you will find simple, healthy and tasty plant-based recipes. Experimenting in the kitchen is my passion.

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