Vegan Chocolate Tootsie Rolls

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Tootsie Rolls are a deliciously rich classic candy, and this yummy homemade chocolate recipe is sure to please. It’s vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and dairy-free, and it doesn’t require any cooking!

vegan chocolate candy chunks on fancy pink plate

While candy-making can seem like an intimidating task, making your own homemade Tootsie Rolls is actually surprisingly easy. The fact that this is a no-bake dessert makes it even better!

These homemade Tootsie Rolls require no baking and only 5 ingredients. The flavor experience is a mix between a tootsie roll and rich fudge.

chunks of homemade vegan chocolate on white plate

This chocolate candy recipe is even great served for holiday treats on Halloween and Valentine’s Day!

We love this vegan chocolate recipe because it’s…

  • Easy to make
  • Require zero cooking
  • Lusciously rich
  • Dark chocolate
  • Perfect dessert or treat for Halloween or Valentine’s Day
  • Delicious!

Homemade tootsie rolls 5 simple ingredients

  • whole oats used to make oat flour
  • cocoa powder
  • peanut butter or almond butter
  • maple syrup
  • brown rice syrup or agave nectar

One of the main ingredients is oat flour made from whole oats. If you didn’t already know, it’s a snap to make your own oat flour for a fraction of the cost.

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

How to make this vegan chocolate recipe

This recipe is made with oat flour that is easily made by grinding whole oats in your blender. Making this flour is the first step.

Making oat flour from whole oats

Have you priced oat flour at the grocery store or health food stores? It’s quite expensive! The good news is that you can very easily make your own with just whole oats and a blender.

oats in blender

Simply place whole oats in a blender. Whirl dry oats in a blender until finely ground and powdery, approximately 1 minute or less. This is an excellent flour for Banana Oatmeal Pancakes and other baked goods as well.

Measurement: One cup of dry whole oats creates approximately 1/2 cup of oat flour. This can vary, depending on how long it is blended and how powdery it becomes.

oat flour in vitamix

Mixing and forming the batter

In a large sturdy bowl, add the oat flour and all other ingredients–cocoa, peanut butter, maple syrup, agave, and vanilla. 

dry ingredients in blue mixing bowl for vegan chocolate recipe

At this point, it’s going to be about impossible to stir this thick chocolate candy recipe batter efficiently with any type of spoon, so you’re going to need to use your hands.

This part is a bit time-consuming and is going to take about 20-30 minutes of kneading with your hands to get the batter to a point where it can be formed into logs.

Wash your hands thoroughly, roll up your sleeves, and find a good show on television to watch while you knead. If you have family members that want to help, take shifts with the kneading process.

You’ll need to knead (did you catch that) the batter until the mixture becomes clumpy. Be patient and work those hand and arm muscles.

hand in blue mixing bowl kneading tootsie rolls

One thing that might help is to place the bowl in the microwave for about 30 seconds to warm it up a bit. This seems to help with getting a good texture faster. I suggest kneading for about 10-minutes before trying this, and it’s completely optional.

Once the mixture gets to the point where it can be formed, remove a good handful of the mixture and begin to form a log. Place on a sheet of wax paper. Yes, I know what this looks like but, believe me, it’s going to be delicious.

wax paper with vegan chocolate candy being rolled on wood board

Roll a portion of the wax paper over the log and begin to lightly squeeze to form a thinner log.

Wrap the rest of the wax paper over the log and roll it on the counter or cutting board to firm up. Unwrap the log and place it on the cutting board.

Then, slice into chocolaty chunks. Place on a pan lined with wax paper and arrange in a single layer.

sliced chunks of vegan homemade tootsie rolls on while baking paper

Perfect for holiday treats

The flavor experience is a mix between a tootsie roll and fudge, and oh so good! Eat immediately and store leftovers in the freezer or refrigerator. These are terrific Halloween treats or a dessert for any time of the year.

We also sometimes give out Halloween-decorated reusable cups from the dollar store and fill them with holiday-themed pencils, mini bottled waters, and boxes of raisins.

Other terrific Halloween snack ideas are included in this article, Halloween Snacks: Popcorn Hands & More. These Caramel Apples are another great vegan Halloween treat to give the kids!

Recipe from Physicians Committee.

Tips & suggestions for making this vegan chocolate recipe

  • Flour- To make oat flour, you can use old-fashioned oats or quick-cooking–either one will work just fine. However, if using the quick-cooking variety, reduce the amount used by about 2 tablespoons.
  • Batter- If the batter still seems too dry after kneading for at least 20 minutes, add a little more maple syrup to the mix and continue kneading. Heating the mixture for 30 seconds in the microwave really helps to loosen it up a bit and makes it easier to form into rolls.
  • Storage- These tootsie rolls keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. They can also be frozen.

*Originally published October 25, 2016.

Follower comments

Recipe from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Sometimes you just crave chocolate, and yesterday I actually picked up a bag of Tootsie Rolls in a weak moment. After reading that they have oil in them I resisted.

My reward was discovering this recipe just today. Made them right away and they hit the spot. So many recipes have promise but don’t deliver. This one more than satisfied. Thank you!–Mary

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If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!

chunks of homemade vegan chocolate on white plate
4.58 from 33 votes

Vegan Chocolate Recipe: Tootsie Rolls

Homemade Tootsie Rolls require no baking and only 5 ingredients. The flavor experience is a mix between a tootsie roll and rich fudge. While candy-making can seem like an intimidating task, following this homemade tootsie roll recipe is actually surprisingly easy.
Prep: 30 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup oat flour this will be 1 cup whole oats before blending
  • 1 cup cocoa or carob powder (3/4 cup for lighter chocolate)
  • 1/3 cup natural peanut butter or cashew, almond butter
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons brown rice syrup or agave
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • This recipe is made with oat flour that is easily made by grinding whole oats in your blender. Making this flour is the first step.
  • Whirl dry oats in a blender until finely ground and powdery. This is an excellent flour for pancakes and other baked goods as well.
  • Pour oat flour into a large bowl and add all other ingredients. Use creamy or crunchy peanut butter, your preference. If using the full 1-cup of chocolate, these will have a dark chocolate taste, so use less for a lighter result.
  • At this point, it’s going to be about impossible to stir this thick batter efficiently with any type of spoon, so you’re going to need to use your hands. 
  • This part is a bit time-consuming and is going to take about 20-30 minutes of kneading with your hands to get the batter to a point where it can be formed into logs. You’ll need to knead (did you catch that) the batter until the mixture becomes clumpy. Be patient and work those hand and arm muscles.
  • One thing that might help is to place the bowl in the microwave for about 30 seconds to warm it up a bit. This seems to help with getting a good texture faster. I suggest kneading for about 10-minutes before trying this, and it’s completely optional.
  • Once the mixture gets to the point where it can be formed, remove a good handful of the mixture and begin to form a log. Place on a sheet of wax paper. Yes, I know what this looks like but, believe me, it’s going to be delicious.
  • Remove a good handful of the mixture and begin to form a log. Place on a sheet of wax paper. Yes, I know what this looks like but, believe me, it's going to be delicious.
  • Roll a portion of the wax paper over the log and begin to lightly squeeze to form a thinner log.
  • Wrap the rest of the wax paper over log and roll on the counter or cutting board to firm up. Unwrap the log and place it on the cutting board.
  • Then, slice into chocolaty chunks. Place on a pan lined with wax paper and arrange in a single layer.
  • Eat immediately and store leftovers in the freezer or refrigerator. These are terrific Halloween treats or a dessert for any time of the year.

Video

Notes

Tips & suggestions for making this vegan chocolate recipe
  • Flour- To make oat flour, you can use old fashion oats or quick-cooking–either one will work just fine. However, if using the quick-cooking variety, reduce the amount used by about 2 tablespoons.
  • Batter- If the batter still seems too dry after kneading for at least 20 minutes, add a little more maple syrup to the mix and continue kneading. Heating the mixture for 30 seconds in the microwave really helps to loosen it up a bit and makes it easier to form into rolls.
  • Storage- These tootsie rolls keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. They can also be frozen.

Nutrition

Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4.8g | Fat: 5.7g | Sodium: 4mg | Fiber: 3.7g | Sugar: 8.4g

Disclaimer

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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About Terri Edwards

Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy.  I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…

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27 Comments

  1. These are so easy and a really, really good treat! I made them, added chopped walnuts and rolled into balls. I wrapped them in candy foil for a Christmas treat for others.
    Just like fudge… only no animal products.

    1. Hi Charlene, try reducing the sweetener and cocoa to see if that better suits your taste buds. I think that could do the trick!

  2. Sometimes you just crave chocolate, and yesterday I actually picked up a bag of Tootsie Rolls in a weak moment. After reading that they have oil in them I resisted. My reward was discovering this recipe just today. Made them right away and they hit the spot. So many recipes have promise but don’t deliver. This one more than satisfied. Thank you!

    1. Mary, I LOVE reading comments like this! Thank you so much for sharing your excitement over this recipe. I hope you don’t mind that I added in the ‘Follower Comments’ section at the bottom of the recipe. Thanks again!

  3. they are very yummy terri , Kenny became a diabetic 1year 1/2 ago and I am so proud of him he tells everyone that I made him skinny because of the way I cook now he has lost 63lbs down 2 pants sizes and 2 shirt sizes. I am always looking for something different to make . thank you

    1. Jenifer, it’s so great to hear from you! I had no idea that Kenny has been diagnosed with diabetes or that you two have been changing your diet and lifestyle. That’s wonderful news! Great job!

      1. these are good….thanks for sharing……this is what i did: soften the almond butter in the micro first and it makes it way way easier to make….put everything in the food processor and it takes no time to make and is super fast and easy…no manual kneading needed 🙂

  4. Thank you for great-looking recipe. Could you please tell me if the 1/2 cup of oat flour is made from 1/2 cup of whole oats – or is the flour measured after grinding? Also can you use pre-ground oat flour (I.e. from Bob’s Red Mull)? Thank you!

    1. Great question! One cup of dry whole oats creates approximately 1/2 cup of oat flour. This can vary, depending on how long it is blended and how powdery it becomes.

      Due to your question, I have edited the article to include this information and am even planning to create another article titled “How to Make Oat Flour & Recipes.” Thanks so much for the idea! Hope you enjoy the tootsie rolls!

  5. I made these this afternoon. They don’t taste like tootsie rolls, but they do resemble them a bit. They tasted, to hubby and myself, exactly like a piece of 80% cacao chocolate. We buy the bars, to have a square as a rare treat, and these taste exactly the same. I made them with 2/3 cup of cocoa which was plenty dark for us.. next time I may use even less cocoa and maybe a bit more oat flour, and a bit more sweetner. As someone else said, they are very rich. I have a hearty appetite and can only eat 2 at a time. But definitely satisfies the chocolate craving. I rolled them up into balls and they look like chocolate bonbons. I am guessing they could be rolled in colored sugar or sprinkles for holidays. So so rich and amazing! Thanks for the recipe!

    1. I am so glad you liked them! They are definitely rich, and I love the way they satisfy chocolate cravings. Thanks so much for the great feedback!

  6. Could I use a stand mixer or perhaps a food processor to knead the dough? I have rheumatoid arthritis and I want to make these but not sure I can knead with my hands for 1/2 hour. Thank you

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