Chocolate Raspberry Bavarois (Vegan & Grain-Free) Recipe

Dreamy Chocolate Raspberry Bavarois Recipe: Vegan & Grain-Free Bliss

Silky chocolate raspberry bavarois dances between decadence and delicacy, promising a sublime dessert experience that reinvents ordinary ingredients into extraordinary pleasure.

Rich plant-based ingredients merge seamlessly to create a luxurious texture that melts effortlessly on your palate.

This elegant French-inspired treat defies traditional dessert expectations with its smooth, creamy consistency and deep chocolate undertones.

Vibrant raspberry notes punctuate each spoonful, delivering bright, tangy counterpoints to the deep cocoa richness.

Vegan and grain-free diners will appreciate this sophisticated dessert that doesn’t compromise on flavor or technique.

Crafted with meticulous attention to balance and presentation, this bavarois elevates plant-based cooking to an art form.

Impressive yet surprisingly simple, this dessert guarantees a memorable culinary finale.

What Sets Chocolate Raspberry Bavarois Apart

  • Craft a Decadent Dessert: This vegan chocolate raspberry bavarois transforms simple ingredients into an elegant, restaurant-worthy treat that looks and tastes incredibly sophisticated.
  • Zero Compromise on Flavor: The recipe brilliantly balances rich chocolate depth with bright, tangy raspberries, creating a dessert that feels indulgent yet surprisingly light and refreshing.
  • Master Complex Techniques Easily: Despite appearing complicated, the step-by-step process breaks down intricate pastry methods into approachable, manageable stages that even novice bakers can successfully execute.
  • Celebrate Dietary Diversity: By using plant-based ingredients and avoiding grains, this dessert welcomes multiple dietary preferences without sacrificing a single ounce of deliciousness, making it perfect for inclusive gatherings and celebrations.

What You’ll Need for This Vegan & Grain-Free Treat

Crust Layer Ingredients:
  • Sunflower Seeds: Hearty base with rich, nutty flavor and nice crunch for the crust.
  • Hemp Seeds: Protein-packed addition that provides extra nutrition and texture.
  • Cacao Powder: Deep chocolate essence with antioxidant benefits and rich color.
  • Cinnamon: Warm spice that enhances chocolate and adds subtle depth to the crust.
  • Sea Salt: Balances sweetness and elevates overall flavor profile.
  • Pitted Dates: Natural sweetener that helps bind the crust ingredients together.
  • Maple Syrup: Optional binding liquid with rich, natural sweetness.
Chocolate Layer Ingredients:
  • Dark Vegan Chocolate: Rich, intense chocolate base for smooth and decadent layer.
  • Oat Cream: Creamy liquid that helps create silky chocolate texture.
  • Agar Flakes: Plant-based setting agent that provides structure and firmness.
  • Maple Syrup: Natural sweetener that complements chocolate flavor.
Raspberry Layer Ingredients:
  • Fresh Raspberries: Vibrant fruit providing natural tartness and beautiful color.
  • Water: Liquid to help break down raspberries and create sauce.
  • Oat Cream: Smooth, creamy base for raspberry layer.
  • Maple Syrup: Adds balanced sweetness to raspberry mixture.
  • Agar Flakes: Helps set the raspberry layer with firm texture.
Garnish Ingredients:
  • Fresh Raspberries: Bright, fresh topping for visual appeal.
  • Seasonal Berries: Additional colorful and flavorful decoration.
  • Chocolate Shards: Decorative element with extra chocolate crunch.

Method to Get a Smooth and Silky Texture

Step 1: Prepare Nutty Chocolate Base

Grab your food processor and toss in:
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Hemp seeds
  • Cacao powder
  • Cinnamon
  • Sea salt
  • Pitted dates

Pulse everything until it forms a deliciously crumbly mixture. Add a splash of maple syrup if needed to help it stick together. Press the mixture firmly into a 6-inch round cake tin, creating a smooth, even layer. Pop it in the refrigerator to chill while you work on the next magic layer.

Step 2: Create Decadent Chocolate Layer

Chop up some dark vegan chocolate and set aside. In a small pot, warm the oat cream and sprinkle in agar flakes. Bring to a gentle boil, then let it simmer, stirring occasionally until the flakes completely dissolve. Stir in the chopped chocolate until it melts into a silky smooth mixture. Add a touch of maple syrup for extra sweetness. Pour this luxurious chocolate goodness over the chilled base and refrigerate until it sets.

Step 3: Whip Up Vibrant Raspberry Layer

Toss fresh raspberries into a pot with water. Cook until they break down into a juicy, mushy texture. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds, collecting about 1 cup of liquid. Return the liquid to the pot and mix in:
  • Oat cream
  • Maple syrup
  • Agar flakes

Bring to a boil, then simmer, stirring constantly until the agar flakes dissolve completely. Let the mixture cool slightly, then carefully pour over the set chocolate layer.

Step 4: Final Stunning Presentation

After the layers have fully set, gently release the cake from the tin. Transfer to a beautiful cake stand. Decorate with:
  • Fresh raspberries
  • Seasonal mixed berries
  • Delicate chocolate shards

Slice and serve this stunning vegan dessert that’s sure to impress everyone at the table!

Handy Tips for Making Bavarois

  • Pulse Seeds Perfectly: Use a food processor with sharp blades to create a consistent, fine texture for the crust without over-processing the seeds.
  • Agar Activation Technique: Stir agar flakes continuously while simmering to ensure complete dissolution and create a smooth, stable layer in both chocolate and raspberry sections.
  • Chill Between Layers: Allow each layer to set completely in the refrigerator before adding the next to prevent mixing and maintain distinct, clean layer definitions.
  • Straining Strategy: Press raspberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve with a silicone spatula to extract maximum liquid while removing all seeds for a silky-smooth texture.
  • Garnish with Grace: Use fresh, room-temperature raspberries and delicate chocolate shards to enhance visual appeal and add complementary textures to the final dessert.

How to Chill and Store Perfectly

  • Refrigerate: Store the Chocolate Raspberry Bavarois in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover the cake with plastic wrap or place it in a sealed container to prevent absorption of other food odors.
  • Freeze: Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to maintain the best texture and flavor.
  • Reheat: This dessert is best enjoyed chilled. Allow the cake to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to soften slightly and enhance the flavors. Avoid microwaving, as it will destroy the delicate texture of the bavarois.

What to Plate with This Elegant Dessert

  • Pair with Raspberry Liqueur: Enhance the dessert's fruity notes by serving a chilled glass of raspberry liqueur alongside the bavarois, creating a complementary flavor experience.
  • Match with Espresso Martini: The rich chocolate base pairs perfectly with a smooth espresso martini, balancing the dessert's sweetness with a bold coffee kick.
  • Complement with Toasted Almond Milk: Serve a chilled glass of homemade toasted almond milk to highlight the nutty undertones from the sunflower and hemp seeds in the crust.
  • Garnish with Dark Chocolate Truffles: Accompany the bavarois with small dark chocolate truffles to amplify the chocolate layer's intensity and provide a luxurious texture contrast.

Vegan Twists and Ideas to Try

  • Berry Bonanza: Replace raspberries with mixed berries like strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries for a vibrant, colorful dessert that bursts with summer flavors.
  • Tropical Paradise: Swap raspberries with mango or passion fruit puree to create a tropical-inspired bavarois with exotic, tangy undertones that dance on your palate.
  • Nutty Sensation: Add crushed almonds or pistachios to the crust layer for extra crunch and a rich, nutty flavor that complements the smooth chocolate and fruity layers.
  • Spiced Elegance: Incorporate warming spices like cardamom or ginger into the chocolate layer to give the bavarois a sophisticated, aromatic profile that elevates the dessert.
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Chocolate Raspberry Bavarois (Vegan & Grain-Free) Recipe

Chocolate Raspberry Bavarois (Vegan & Grain-Free) Recipe


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4.7 from 11 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Luscious chocolate raspberry bavarois brings French elegance to plant-based desserts with silky smooth textures and rich cocoa notes. Delicate layers of vegan cream and intense raspberry essence create an irresistible finale you’ll savor with pure culinary delight.


Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate Raspberry Bavarois (Vegan & Grain-Free)

Main Ingredients:

  • 5 ounces (150 grams) dark vegan chocolate
  • 2 cups (200 grams) frozen raspberries
  • 1 cup (240 ml) oat cream
  • 6 medjool dates, pitted

Nuts and Seeds:

  • 1 cup (120 grams) sunflower seeds
  • ⅓ cup (40 grams) shelled hemp seeds

Supplementary Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons agar flakes
  • 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Fresh raspberries or other seasonal berries
  • Chocolate shards

Instructions

  1. Prepare the base by grinding sunflower seeds into a coarse texture using a food processor.
  2. Incorporate hemp seeds, cacao powder, cinnamon, sea salt, and pitted dates into the ground seeds, blending until the mixture begins to clump together.
  3. If the mixture seems dry, introduce maple syrup to enhance binding, ensuring a cohesive consistency.
  4. Firmly compress the mixture into the bottom of a 6-inch round cake tin with a removable base, creating an even and compact crust layer.
  5. Refrigerate the crust while preparing subsequent layers to maintain its structural integrity.
  6. Chop dark vegan chocolate into fine pieces and reserve in a medium bowl.
  7. Heat oat cream in a small pot, stirring in agar flakes and bringing the mixture to a gentle boil, then reducing to a simmer.
  8. Continue simmering and stirring until agar flakes completely dissolve, approximately 5-10 minutes.
  9. Introduce chopped chocolate to the heated cream, stirring until fully melted and incorporated with maple syrup.
  10. Gently pour the chocolate mixture over the chilled crust, creating an even layer, and return to the refrigerator to set.
  11. Combine raspberries and water in a pot, bringing to a boil and simmering until the fruit breaks down into a soft, mushy consistency.
  12. Strain the raspberry mixture through a mesh sieve, collecting 1 cup of liquid and discarding seeds.
  13. Return the strained raspberry liquid to the pot, adding oat cream, maple syrup, and agar flakes.
  14. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, stirring consistently until agar flakes completely dissolve.
  15. Allow the raspberry mixture to cool slightly before carefully layering over the set chocolate section.
  16. Refrigerate the dessert to ensure complete setting of the raspberry layer.
  17. Delicately release the bavarois from the cake tin and transfer to a serving stand.
  18. Garnish with fresh raspberries, mixed seasonal berries, and decorative chocolate shards to enhance visual appeal and flavor complexity.

Notes

  • Prep Like a Pro: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before starting to help everything blend smoothly and prevent clumping.
  • Texture Tip: Pulse seeds carefully to avoid turning them into a fine powder, maintaining a slightly coarse texture for the crust’s crunch.
  • Setting Secrets: Patience is key – allow each layer to completely set in the refrigerator before adding the next to prevent mixing and ensure clean, distinct layers.
  • Agar Magic: Stir agar constantly while simmering to dissolve completely and create a perfectly smooth, gel-like consistency in each layer.
  • Make-Ahead Marvel: This dessert can be prepared a day in advance, making it perfect for stress-free entertaining and allowing flavors to meld beautifully.
  • Garnish Guide: Fresh berries and chocolate shards add a stunning visual appeal and provide a delightful contrast of textures to the creamy bavarois.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 364
  • Sugar: 16 g
  • Sodium: 10 mg
  • Fat: 24 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Fiber: 8 g
  • Protein: 9 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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