I have to admit that I was never a fan of Tootsie Rolls as a kid. It always had a weird flavor that I could never get used to, even if it was coated in a fruity hard candy shell. But seeing that I have done several candy bars/candy ideas, I figured I better put my brains together to figure out a more decent gluten-free vegan tootsie roll version. All for you. I mean, I realize that though I don’t like these, doesn’t mean YOU don’t…
But this recipe; THIS recipe! Wow, I can stand behind these puppies. There are two things about this recipe that makes it so much better than it’s original counterpart: The first being dark cocoa powder. If you can find this at your local supermarket, buy it. You will immediately taste the difference. It makes for a more smooth, deeper-in-flavor experience that is worth every penny (not like it is that more expensive than the regular stuff but it’s still worth every penny). Secondly, the blend of powdered sugar and tapioca starch lend to a softer bite without it being overly sweet. I must admit that this part I did not come up with. I tried several times with no success a Tootsie Roll that was way too overly sweet. I had to consult several recipes on the web and they all used tapioca starch so I tried it myself. It’s such a light starch that it fit perfectly.
Easy Vegan Tootsie Rolls
- Yield: 40 1x
Ingredients
- 1/4 c. almond butter
- 1/4 c. Medjool dates, pitted and soaked in hot water for 5 minutes
- 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp. dark cocoa powder (or regular cocoa powder)
- 1 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted (refined for no coconut flavor)
- 1/4 c. powdered sugar
- 1/4 c. tapioca starch/powder
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with a piece of wax paper.
- In a high-speed blender, combine the almond butter, dates, and maple syrup together until completely smooth.
- Place in a medium bowl and add the cocoa powder, powdered sugar and tapioca starch. Mix until well-combined and can form into a ball.
- Dust a piece of wax paper with the powdered sugar and tapioca starch. Place the ball on top.
- Divide the ball in half. Repeat until you half 8 small balls.
- Roll in the powdered sugar/tapioca mix and between your hands for each ball until no longer sticky. You can add more sugar/tapioca if needed. You will want to absorb all the starch/sugar mix for all the combined tootsie roll balls.
- Roll each ball with one hand on the baking sheet coated with wax paper until a narrow string is formed. Repeat for each ball.
- Freeze for 20 minutes.
- Cut each string into 4-5 pieces. Cover in candy-grade wax paper.
- Keep chilled either in the freezer or fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Tootsie Roll
- Calories: 25
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 1.3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3.5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
These candies actually remind me a lot of the See’s Candies Chocolate Lollypops. For those of you who have no idea what those taste like, picture an ultra brownie, chocolate-y, buttery flavor on a lollypop stick. That is exactly what these taste like. But with a much softer bite. Plus, you don’t have to use a candy thermometer so this couldn’t be easier and I am sure just won over many of you. Yay, I love converts!
Give these a try and if you do, I’d love to see a photo of it on Instagram…
This has been brought to you as a VeganMofo post.
Nowhere in the directions do you say when to add the melted coconut oil. Also, you say to add the powdered sugar and tapioca starch in step 3. However, in step 6 you say to roll the balls in the sugar/tapioca mixture. Is this extra powders or were we not supposed to add them in step 3?????Nancy
When do you use the coconut oil?
These toffees sound way better than Tootsie Rolls!
Gah, I am SO excited you made vegan tootsie rolls! I was literally just saying last week that I was having an odd craving for them. You are a genius, Cara! xo
Either I’m a mind-reader or I have been eavesdropping in your conversations 🙂 xo
I am allergic to dates, do you know of any substitutes? They are for sweetness, but if I replace them with a liquid sweetener, how would I replace the texture? Thanks!
Bummer about the date allergy 🙁 They dates actually help not only with the sweetness but it does help with keeping structure so sadly there is no substitute…
YA! I’m not too fond of the ‘original’ tootsie roll. I don’t even think it tastes like chocolate… and we KNOW that I love chocolate! I found that the vanilla mini and the cherry mini flavor tootsie rolls are DELISH. Maybe we can tinker this recipe and try to make those flavors? On a side note… you should try them. They’re MUCH better than the ‘chocolate’ tootsie roll on the market 😉 MISS YOUUUUU
I really liked tootsie rolls as a kid, then when I got to my teen years I wasn’t such a big fan, but I can imagine a dark chocolate version would suit an adult palate nicely!
I’m allergic to almonds. What other nut butter would work?
Any will, really. Try sunflower butter!
Ooh, these would be good as pre-run snacks! I typically have Medjool dates stuffed with coconut or almond butter before I run. But this has some of the same ingredients and looks way more fun!
Candy for a pre-run? I like the way you think! 🙂
Sounds like a perfect alternative to the real thing! They are too sweet for me normally, so I’ll probably like these better 🙂
These sound amazing! And look so much easier to make (and healthier)than modeling chocolate that I usually make when I have a raving for tootsie rolls. Brilliant! Thanks for sharing and happy MoFo!
These are too cute! Love how easy they seem (don’t operate well with things requiring candy thermometers, eek). I’d love to see more F&B versions of See’s Candies too, just for the record 😉
Wow! Homemade tootsies! I get so excited about Halloween when I see your recipes. I might even be excited enough to start working on my costume….
You make me want to make these for all the trick-o-treters who have food allergies, but who knows if people would let their kids take them.
Great Job, It looks so good, But you forgot to stamp the side of the “tootsie Roll” with a fork and beans sign, name or logo. Just thought that would be a cute touch Ok I had no clue about vegan mofo.:( Thanks for telling me. I really truly am new to all if this. But all the big name bloggers I have talked with are so nice. Yes you included. Have a great day:)
By the way your zucchini fries that I #forkandbeans on instagram got more likes than my selfies, which I took down the full length black dress selfie because I got self conscious a lot. True. 🙂 But I left one filtered one. Hahaahahahahah
Again, you are amazing! I can’t wait to try these!
whhhhat? you made tootsie rolls? that’s craziness. they were never my favorite candy growing up (chocolate candy bars filled with nuts and/or coconut were, duh) but i never turned one down. especially the full sized ones. the little ones were like- what’s the point?
These sounds divine. Bookmarked!
Do you think coconut sugar ground in a food processor could be substituted for the powdered sugar?
how cool! tootsie rolls make me think of my grandpa, he always had some!
Oh my. I’m trying to cook my way through my at least some of my Pinterest pins and here you are being all amazing and making me add more.