Easy vegan fudge made healthy with a base of coconut, nut butter, and cacao powder. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and dates, and intensely chocolaty thanks to melted cocoa butter and cacao powder. The ultimate rich, vegan-friendly fudge.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (170 g) unsweetened desiccated coconut (finely shredded)
- 1/2 cup (128 g) creamy nut butter (i.e. cashew butter, peanut butter*, or almond butter)
- 1/4 cup (55 g) melted cocoa butter*
- Heaping 1/3 cup (38 g) cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) maple syrup
- Pinch sea salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2-3 fresh (14-21 g) pitted dates*, chopped (medjool is best, or sub more maple syrup)
- optional: 3 Tbsp (15 g) cacao nibs for topping
Instructions
- Line a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add coconut to a food processor and mix until a creamy “butter” or liquidy paste is formed – about 4 minutes – scraping down sides as needed.
- Next, add nut butter, melted cocoa butter, cacao powder, maple syrup, sea salt, and vanilla. Mix until thoroughly combined, scraping down sides as needed.
- Lastly, add chopped (pitted) dates and mix once more to combine. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more vanilla for vanilla flavor, cacao powder for chocolate flavor, maple syrup for sweetness, or nut butter for nuttiness.
- If the mixture appears too thick, simply thin with a bit more maple syrup or melted cocoa butter! It should be semi-thick but pourable (see photo).
- Transfer the mixture to the parchment-lined loaf pan and spread into an even layer. Then top with cacao nibs (optional). Loosely cover with plastic wrap or another sheet of parchment paper and freeze until firm to the touch – about 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from freezer and cut into 21 even squares (or desired number). Enjoy immediately. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 1 month. Best enjoyed at room temperature.
Notes
*I like peanut butter the best!
*If you can’t find or don’t have cocoa butter, it can be omitted.
*Don’t add more than 2-3 dates total, as they can make the fudge seize up and get too thick. If you need more sweetness at that point, sweeten with stevia or maple syrup)
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 21 slices.
*If you can’t find or don’t have cocoa butter, it can be omitted.
*Don’t add more than 2-3 dates total, as they can make the fudge seize up and get too thick. If you need more sweetness at that point, sweeten with stevia or maple syrup)
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 21 slices.
credit: the minimalist baker