Fudge is one of the sweetest confections you can buy – the soft, crumbly pieces simply melt away in every mouthful and take you up to gooey heaven. There are only a few main components to produce a basic fudge, and then you can add whatever you like to change up the flavors and create unique combinations.
When someone says the word ‘fudge’, it probably conjures up delightful images of kids at fun fairs, giddily picking out their favorites from a whole stall full of delicious flavors.
You might even be reminded of your own childhood, since it is exactly the sort of thing grandmas love to bake and dish out among their hungry grandkids. After all, there is no greater joy than seeing a child’s eyes light up as they take their first bite of blissful fudge.
Fudge is so creamy that you might assume it’s just another thing you have to miss out if you don’t eat dairy. However, this is not the case! There are so many vegan fudge recipes available that are easy to follow and quick to make, with the dairy ingredients substituted for things like alternative milks, coconut oil and peanut butter.
Why not whip up a batch next time you host a dinner party, to show your friends how much fun vegans can have? They also make wonderful birthday or Christmas gifts for the special people in your life, vegan or otherwise.
Here are our top 10 vegan fudge recipes to get you started:
1. Easy 5 Minute Vegan Fudge
How about a nice simple recipe to ease you into the world of vegan fudge? You can make it in the microwave or on the stove, and it contains everyday ingredients that are widely available in stores.
The only thing that is slightly more specialized is the vegan butter, but this is becoming more and more common and you can pick it up almost anywhere nowadays. The author recommends not to use coconut oil instead, as it is untested with this particular recipe and the fudge may not set properly.
If you use the microwave option, be aware that you may need to adjust the timings to slightly longer or shorter, depending on the specifications of your microwave. The main thing to remember is that the vegan butter must be almost entirely melted before you continue.
2. Vegan Fudge Recipe (Just 6 Ingredients!)
This recipe produces a very firm vegan fudge, due to the coconut oil in it. Nevertheless, it still melts fairly rapidly when left at room temperature, so make sure you store it in your fridge or freezer once made. On top of being vegan, it is also gluten-free and sweetened by only natural ingredients, so it can be enjoyed by people with a range of dietary requirements.
The suggested butter is almond butter, which can be substituted for cashew butter if you’d rather. Alternatively, you can avoid nuts entirely by using a variety of seed butter, such as sunflower, or a tahini paste. If you keep your chosen butter in the fridge, leave it out on the counter for a while before you start baking.
3. Super Easy Dairy-Free Fudge
Don’t you just love it when a recipe is described as ‘super easy’? For tentative bakers, this can be reassuring and persuade them that the best time to embark on their culinary adventure is now.
You don’t need any special tools or techniques to make this fudge, so you can get stuck in as soon as you’ve gathered all the necessary ingredients.
Ensure that your vegan butter is softened before you start, rather than hard or melted – otherwise the fudge will come out crumbly as it won’t have been mixed together properly. The process of adding the rest of the ingredients has to be done very quickly once you remove the mixture from the heat, or else the fudge will start to set before you’ve finished.
4. Vegan Maple Cream Fudge
This recipe insists that the vegan fudge it produces will make you forget dairy altogether. A big ask, but you will see what it means when you take your first bite of the heavenly dessert.
The recipe calls for coconut milk, but make sure you use the stuff that comes in a can, rather than the thin coconut milk that you drink.
A candy thermometer is highly recommended for getting the timings right, as it can be difficult to tell visually when you should take your fudge off the heat.
You can pick up a candy thermometer fairly cheaply in a grocery store or online, and it will help you to get perfectly creamy fudge every time.
5. No Cook Chocolate Vegan Fudge
There are no saucepans or ovens to be seen when making this fudge – the only heat you will need briefly is a microwave to melt your coconut oil. After that, it’s just room temperature and a fridge-freezer all the way.
Once you’ve spent 5 minutes prepping the fudge and left it to set for 15 minutes in the freezer, it’s ready to eat, or you can store it in the fridge until you need it.
Unlike the majority of fudge recipes, this one calls for a food processor to blend all the ingredients together. This gives the end product a super smooth texture, which you can top with nuts to create a crunchy contrast. The gooeyness comes from medjool dates, which act as a natural sweetener.
6. Healthy Vegan Fudge (30 minutes!)
As promised, this recipe delivers tasty, healthy fudge in just half an hour. Packed full of bold flavors that complement each other nicely, the fudge is dense, soft and wonderfully chewy.
If you want to leave out optional ingredients such as the pitted dates or the cocoa butter, feel free to do so, but we recommend following the recipe to the letter as all measurements have been carefully balanced for best results.
When cut into 21 equal squares as directed, there are only 71 calories in each slice, along with 0 g of trans fat and 0 mg of cholesterol. This means the fudge is heart-healthy and easy to eat without having any negative effects on your insides.
7. Vegan Fudge – 2 Ingredient!
Imagine a recipe that allows you to make delicious vegan fudge with just two ingredients – wouldn’t that be the dream? Well, you don’t need to imagine any longer, as your dreams have become a reality!
The only two ingredients in this recipe are vegan chocolate chips and almond butter; no hidden tricks or surprises. You can use other nut butter such as peanut or cashew butter instead, if you would prefer a different nutty flavor.
Once it has set in the fridge, this fudge will keep at room temperature for 2-3 weeks, as long as it is out of direct sunlight. Alternatively, it can be stored in the freezer for a couple of months, so you always have some on hand for when you have unexpected guests.
8. Foolproof Classic Vegan Fudge
Dairy-free butter and plant-based milk are used to make the base for this creamy fudge, along with a generous amount of cocoa powder. You can choose any brand of cocoa powder, but you may wish to try an especially dark one for a rich chocolate flavor.
Maple syrup gives the fudge a sweet, earthy tone, which makes a change from the traditional corn syrup that you will find in other recipes.
You don’t need a candy thermometer to get great results; this recipe works perfectly if you stir the mixture for precisely a minute once it is boiling. The only tool required to achieve this is a timer or stopwatch, which you should have lying around the house anyway.
9. Sugar-Free Vegan Fudge
Okay, you’ve accepted that fudge can be suitable for vegans, but surely it can’t also be sugar-free? Actually, it can! With this recipe, you can make a vegan fudge that is both delicious and good for you – it’s the perfect snack for all occasions.
Because there are only a few ingredients listed, there is plenty of scope for adding extras once you’ve got the main batter mixed. Try nuts, fruits or even different flavored extracts for a fun twist.
While the recipe suggests almond butter, you can just as well use other nut butters to suit your preference. Just make sure to keep an eye on the consistency, as you may have to adjust the amount you put in to achieve the same creaminess.
10. Old Fashioned Homemade Vegan Fudge
This vegan fudge recipe has a few more ingredients than many of the ones listed above, and takes longer to complete.
This is because it aims to recreate the same taste and texture of the traditional fudge that you could pick up from a candy store in years gone by. The resulting flavor is intense and chocolatey, transporting you back to your past.
One of the things you are required to prepare for this recipe is a vegan marshmallow fluff, which consists of aquafaba, vanilla, cream of tartar and sugar – there is a separate recipe for making it within the main one.
Aquafaba, or bean water, is used a lot in vegan baking as an egg white replacement, and here it gives the fudge an irresistibly fluffy texture.
In summary
Being on a vegan diet shouldn’t restrict you from enjoying your favorite sweet confectionary treats. Many fudge recipes call for dairy based ingredients such as condensed milk and heavy cream. As you can see from this collection of recipes that you’ll be able to create in your own kitchen.
