These Gluten Free Chocolate Pecan Bites are easy to make and so delicious! The filling is made with coconut cream and chocolate chips, and it’s absolutely delicious. Don’t forget the raspberry on top!
Here’s me, trying to create a healthy dessert recipe:
Paleo-leaning sister gives me the idea for 2-ingredient vegan frosting back in the fall. (Solidified coconut milk + dairy-free chocolate.) Sit on the idea for months. Finally break down and throw a can of coconut milk in my fridge. Forget about it for 2 weeks. Finally remember, then melt it together with some chocolate. Forget that the chocolate is supposed to be vegan. Put it in the fridge to cool. EAT HALF THE BATCH WITH MY FINGER. Eat the other half with a spoon.
So much for healthy.
Batch #2: Having completely discarded the idea of turning this rich chocolate mousse into frosting, I made it again with the idea to put it into mini tart crusts. For some reason I was obsessed with the idea of making these low-calorie, but kept forgetting to, you know, actually make them low-calorie. 2 1/2 cups of pecans and a smattering of butter and sugar later, and well, here we are. At least they’re gluten free. Hopefully I’m pleasing somebody.
Okay, I’m just messing with you. These Chocolate Pecan Bites will please everybody. Everyone I tried these out on took one bite and said, “What IS this??” (I mean, in a good way, not in a what-is-this-I-want-to-die kind of way.)Â
So here’s the deal, as I have mostly described: you take full-fat coconut milk, let it firm up in the fridge, then melt it on the stove with a bag of dark chocolate (vegan or not). Put it in the fridge, and after a couple hours it turns into…magic. Magic I tell you!
It is not quite as heavy as straight up chocolate mousse. There is a light coconut-y flavor that is not dominant, but still makes people raise their eyebrows and think (or exclaim) “what is this?” If you don’t like coconut flavor, I would still try it out. It mostly tastes like chocolate. Delicious, creamy, smooth chocolate.
Like I said, the crust is gluten free, it’s made of pecans. I really like the chocolate-nut combo, especially since they are ground. Don’t skip the raspberry on top, the fruit really helps to balance the flavors. You could also try strawberries.
You will have some leftover chocolate mixture. Eat it with a spoon if you know what’s good for you. Or better yet, your finger.
This is certainly festive enough for Valentine’s Day tomorrow, or you could start celebrating with us today for Galentine’s Day! It’s a day to celebrate with all your gals of course. (although if this were a real-life event, I would totally lobby to invite Ron Swanson. He would never stoop so low, but it would be fun to try.) I got together with a bunch of my bloggy-gals for an epic virtual #Galentine’sDayParty. Below you can find links to all the awesome recipes that each one of them has contributed. Thanks to Courtney of Neighbor Food for putting this together!
Galentine’s Day Drinks
- Blood Orange Bourbon Fizz with Fried Sage from Lauren of Climbing Grier Mountain
- Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Martini from Shanna of Pineapple and Coconut
- Ladies’ Night Rum Punch from Lindsay of The Live In Kitchen
Galentine’s Day Brunch
- Sweet Potato Cornmeal Waffles with Bourbon Cream and Pecan Butter from Susan of Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Chocolate Dipped Donuts from Angie of Big Bear’s Wife
- Lemon and Ginger Scones from Lauren of Healthy. Delicious.
- Beet, Blood Orange, and Chèvre Salad from Lori of Foxes Love Lemons
Galentine’s Day Desserts
- Piña Colada Cupcakes from Courtney of Neighborfood
- Strawberry Chocolate Dessert Bars from Marly of Namely Marly
- Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Chocolate Frosting from Nancy of Gotta Get Baked
- One Layer Fudge Cake from Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Double Strawberry Angel Food Cake with Whipped Vanilla Creme Fraiche from Cynthia of Two Red Bowls
- Dark Chocolate Pistachio Ice Cream with Candied Bacon Bits from Steph of Girl Versus Dough
- Fruity Dessert Pizza from Morgan of Peaches Please
- Secret-Ingredient Chocolate Pecan Bites (Gluten Free!) from Karen of The Food Charlatan
- DIY Cheesecake Parfait Bar from Heather of Heather’s Dish
Open up a can of coconut milk that’s been refrigerated. Make sure you flip it up side down first.
Pour off the water than has pooled at the top.
Coconut cream. Yum.
Then add some dark chocolate.
Here’s the kind I used: 53% cacao.
Melt it all together and you get the most amazing chocolate sauce ever. Stick it in the fridge for a few hours and you will have this:
Mercy. Now make the crust.
Blend your nuts and the other crust ingredients. It should come together in a ball like this.
Press the mixture into a mini muffin tin.
Then pour in 1 tablespoon of the chocolate.
Add some fresh fruit and you’re golden!
Gluten-free Chocolate Fudge Pecan Bites
Ingredients
Instructions
- Refrigerate a can of full-fat coconut milk, or a can of coconut cream, until solid, several hours or overnight.
- In a food processor, add pecan halves. Blend until the nuts are thoroughly ground. Add the sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter, and blend again until combined. It will roll into a cute little ball.
- Press the mixture into a mini-muffin pan. I used about 1 tablespoon per muffin cup. Press it in firmly with your fingers, all the way up the sides.
- Loosely cover the crusts, then refrigerate or freeze for 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350 F.
- When the crusts are chilled, bake them in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes. Watch them carefully so they don't burn. You want them brown on the top, but not dark.
- Remove and let cool. If the crusts have puffed up while baking, use the back of a spoon to gently press them back into place while they are still warm. Set aside to cool.
- Take out your refrigerated can of coconut milk/cream. Turn the can upside-down and open it. Pour off any water than has pooled (You can save it for another recipe. It's good in smoothies). Scoop the hardened coconut cream into a small saucepan.*
- Add a 10-ounce bag of dark chocolate to the saucepan and turn the heat to low. Stir occasionally until the chocolate and cream have melted together. Use a whisk to make sure all the chocolate solids are melted.
- Remove from heat, and spoon about 1 tablespoon of the chocolate mixture into each crust. You will have leftover chocolate mixture; pour it into a container and refrigerate so that it hardens up; then eat it with a spoon. You're welcome.
- Refrigerate the little tarts until they are completely solidified, about 2 hours. You can also freeze them.
- Remove the bites from the mini-muffin pan: just after you take them out of the fridge, when they are very cold, slide a plastic knife around the edge and pop them out. They will get soft if you leave them at room temperature, so keep them in the fridge until right before you serve.
- Place 1 raspberry on top and serve. (Strawberries would be good too)
Notes
Nutrition
So since they’re mini that means I can eat the whole batch in one sitting, right? ;)
YES Stephanie that’s exactly what it means!! All things mini mean eat the whole batch :) I’ve had a tab open with your pistachio ice cream open all day intending to comment. It’s just sitting there, tempting me. All. Day. I think I’m going to have pistachio dreams tonight.
Love these Karen! Your photos are UNREAL! And I bet the hint of coconut is delicious!
Thank you Chelsea! Lucky shot I think :) And yes, the hint-of-coconut-that-doesn’t-really-taste-like-coconut is pretty awesome I have to say!
Ha! That is too funny! I’ve done the same thing forgetting the chocolate is supposed to be vegan when trying to make a vegan dessert. I love how you made the pecan crusts so tiny. I always try to do try things but then I feel as though my big man hands crush things.
Totally kidding on the man hands! But you get my point, right?
So glad I’m not the only one Connie! I need to get my hands on some of those vegan chocolate chips. And I don’t believe you have man hands, not for one second!!!
Gorgeous!!! I would totally eat that with a spoon!! yum! mm I have coconut milk here too! I have to make these !
Spoons work, so do fingers Angie. Lol! Let me know if you try it out!
Karen, I’m so glad that participating in this food party meant I got to meet you and discover your blog. Girl, you’re hilarious! I love everything about this post. And the photos. My Gawd, your pecan bites look tremendous and the photography is stunning. Thanks for the step by step photos too (they’re always appreciated). I can’t believe that coconut milk + chocolate = heavenly, divine, creamy mousse. Mind is blown. Happy Galentine’s Day to you!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment Nancy! Discoveries like this are why I love cooking. There is always something new, even when I think everything has been done over and over. I actually can’t wait to get to heaven to see what secrets we’ve been missing. There has to be all kinds of untapped potential in the food we eat, right?? Sorry, I’m talking about death, and that’s weird, so Ima go now.
WOW! These are beautiful. And since they are many, I can have 52, right? :)
Right Lauren?? So true. “mini” is just code for “eat 1000.”
I’m completely melting over this! Looks divine! So glad you were able to make it so many differ ways.
Thanks Chels! I know, I’m excited to see what else I can do with this stuff…
I’ll have to try these out on my gf friends. :) They look so pretty. I bet Paul would love them, though I’ll have to make them Man size and definitely not tell him they’re gf! Haha
Yeah, don’t tell him they’re GF, he will never eat them :) Also just a heads up, I tried these in regular muffin tins at first, not mini. I prefer mini. I like the ratio of chocolate to crust better. But to each his own. Let me know what you do and what changes you make!
Yum! Those pecan crust shells look amazing. And the chocolate?! A great addition to the Galentine’s Day party!
Thanks Lindsay! The crust is the easiest part. I <3 my food processor :) Oh and chocolate, yes, always necessary for a Gal Day party…or any party for that matter!
Karen, these photos are SO GORGEOUS!! The light is perfect. I’m also terrible at “lightened up” desserts. I’d rather eat a healthy dinner then have my full fat dessert, thankyouverymuch. I’ve heard of coconut milk whipped cream, but never chocolate mousse. I seriously can’t wait to try these. So glad they’re gluten free too so I can share them with my mom!
Thank you Courtney! I am so with you, 2 bites of a full fat dessert is better than a tofu cheesecake or whatever. haha! Definitely share these with your mom, I bet she will like them if she is gf…or even if she’s not :)
Girl! These pecan bites look stunning! And I know exactly how you feel when it comes to making something “healthy” or “low calorie”. I start with such great aspirations and then find myself on the floor in the kitchen with a mixing bowl half full of chocolate. I don’t know how good healthy and low calorie is when you eat the entire recipe yourself!! Oh well. That’s why we have a stair master. ;-) Happy Galentine’s Day to you!
That’s what I need, a stair master!! The steps I take in between the sink and the stove are just not cutting the calories like they used to :) So glad I’m not the only one who has no control when it comes to supposed low-calorie desserts.
Oh, my. I love, love these gorgeous chocolate nibbles! Perfect for Galentine’s Day!
Thanks so much Liz! I should have called them Chocolate Pecan Nibbles instead of bites, way cuter :)
I am so excited because I just noticed the other day that Trader Joe’s had coconut cream! I bought some and used it to make Thai curry. So much “creamier” than coconut milk. Now you’ve opened my life up to a whole new possibility for it. These little tarts are the perfect 2 bite dessert. But I’ll probably eat 6 so it will be more like 12 bites. haha! Happy Galentine’s Day friend : )
Yes, that’s where I got mine! Sometimes I think I should just set up camp at Trader Joe’s. And dang, I bet that was some super creamy Thai curry. I haven’t tried the cream in anything savory yet. (Oh, and just to make you feel better, I had at least 12 of these “bites”. Ha.)
Happy Gal Day to you too Natalie!
LOVING. Who cares about low-fat this week??? I sure don’t. And I’m pretty sure I could eat like a dozen of these. chocolate + coconut + pecans = <3
Right Nicole? Today my in-laws and I ate ridiculous amazing burgers for lunch (Smashburger? Have you been there???), realized that we were totally in the hole when it came to allotted calories for the day, and instead of eating salad for dinner…are ordering pizza tonight. We’re just totally giving up.
I’m afraid I would eat the entire batch in one sitting. Soooo not kidding… ;)
I wasn’t too far off that Heather. I took a picture of the half-eaten bowl and sent it to my sister, who had sent me the recipe. I said, I put my finger in it once, and this is where we’re at. So bad! (PS still can’t get over your cheesecake parfait bar. Love!)