Vegan chocolate chips can often be found in grocery store baking aisles — Nestlé Toll House even makes an allergen-free and vegan version of their chips, according to VegOut. But while this is an easy swap, finding an equal substitute for heavy cream may be a bit trickier. MasterClass notes that vegan ganache can be a little more complex than its dairy counterpart, but with a little bit of work, coconut cream can make a great substitute.
Canned coconut cream separates into liquid on the bottom, and a solid cream on top (via America’s Test Kitchen). The solid coconut cream can be scooped out of the can and swapped in the place of the heavy cream, as it is in Loving It Vegan‘s ganache recipe. The cream can be softened in short microwave intervals or on the stovetop. After it’s lightly simmered, the mixture can be poured over the chocolate and stirred until smooth.
Once your ganache is ready, it can be cooled and used for a variety of desserts.