Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (2024)

  • Fudge
  • Desserts
  • Candy
  • American Desserts
  • Soy Recipes

By

Jolinda Hackett

Jolinda Hackett

Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 08/27/21

Tested by

Diana Andrews

Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (1)

Tested byDiana Andrews

Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for the Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer and product tester at Food Network.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Chill Time: 2 hrs

Total: 2 hrs 30 mins

Servings: 24 servings

Yield: 24 pieces

73 ratings

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Homemade dairy-free andvegan fudge is so delicious, not to mention easy to make. There's a secret that not too many people know about making homemade vegan fudge: It's actually quite a bit easier to make vegan fudge than it is to make regular fudge. This is because there are fewer variables in making this dairy-free candy, which means that there are fewer opportunities for something to go wrong. And that means that this simple vegan fudge, made from just five simple ingredients, is just about foolproof.

This chocolate fudge may bedeceptively simple, but the result is absolutely delicious. Even though it's a vegan recipe, that doesn't mean it's healthy. It is fudge, after all, and the main ingredients are margarine, sugar, and chocolate. This fudge recipe is also completely gluten free. The walnuts are optional and can be swapped for pecans or almonds.

This homemade vegan chocolate fudge recipe is reprinted with permission from "The Compassionate Cook Cookbook."

Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (2)

"You won't miss the dairy in these delicious bite-sized pieces of vegan fudge. Extremely easy to make and tastes great! Freeze them for more extended storage, but more than likely, once you taste them, they won't be around for long." —Diana Andrews

Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (3)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray, for greasing

  • 6 tablespoons vegan baking sticks, such as Earth Vegan Balance Buttery Sticks for baking

  • 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 pinch table salt

  • 1/4 cup soy milk, or another vegan non-dairy milk substitute

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, or any nuts, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (4)

  2. Lightly spray the pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom and sides of a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with parchment or foil, leaving about a 2-inch overhang on the long sides of the pan. Lightly spray the parchment or foil with cooking spray. Set aside.

    Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (5)

  3. Place the veganbaking sticks, the sugar, cocoa, vanilla, salt, and soy milk in a heatproof mixing bowl or the upper part of a double boiler. Place the bowl over simmering water and stir frequently with a silicone spatula, scraping down the bowl occasionally until the vegan baking sticks are fully melted and the mixture is smooth.

    Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (6)

  4. Add the chopped nuts if you're using them, gently folding them into the mixture just until well combined.

    Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (7)

  5. Pour the mixture quickly into the prepared loaf pan.

    Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (8)

  6. Place your vegan fudge in the refrigerator until thoroughly chilled. Be patient at this step, and plan at least 2 hours for your fudge to fully chill and set.

    Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (9)

  7. Once your fudge is firm, remove from the refrigerator. Using the parchment or foil as handles, gently pull the fudge up and out of the pan. Discard the liner and cut into 1-inch bite-sized squares. For a cleaner slice, you can also place your fudge in the freezer for about 5 to 10minutes just before slicing.

    Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (10)

Tips

  • We recommend using vegan butter in stick form. Try a brand like Earth Balance for this recipe.
  • The mixture can also be melted in the microwave instead of using a double boiler. Stir every 30 seconds and only microwave the mixture until everything is melted.

Recipe Variation

  • Omit or change up the walnuts to another type of chopped nut such as pecan, almond, or whatever nut you desire.
  • Add vegan chocolate chips for an even more decadent fudge.

How to Store

  • Store leftover fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Vegan Banana Cake

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
71Calories
0g Fat
17g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories71
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 7mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 17g6%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 3mg0%
Iron 1mg3%
Potassium 4mg0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Soy
  • vegan fudge
  • dairy free fudge
  • dessert

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Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is dairy free fudge made of? ›

Easy fudge recipe without condensed milk

Instead of condensed milk, my recipe relies upon a concoction of cashew butter (I like to use Artisana in this recipe), coconut oil, arrowroot, maple syrup, and coconut sugar.

Why is my 3 ingredient fudge not setting? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

Is there dairy free condensed milk? ›

1Nature's Charm. Founded by two vegan sisters, Nature's Charm is a go-to brand for most plant-based baking needs, including dairy-free condensed milk. The brand currently offers three varieties: Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk, Sugar-Free Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk, and Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk.

What is a non dairy substitute for evaporated milk in fudge? ›

Coconut Milk

Because it is already thick, this ingredient does not require reducing on the stove. Use the same amount of coconut milk in the recipe as you would evaporated milk.

Why is fudge not vegan? ›

What makes chocolate fudge unsuitable for vegans? Chocolate fudge is typically suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians. However, it usually includes several prominent dairy ingredients: sweetened condensed milk, butter, and, in most cases, milk chocolate.

How do you firm up homemade fudge? ›

The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.

How to make fudge creamy and not grainy? ›

How to Fix Grainy Fudge. If, despite your best efforts, your fudge is grainy when you go to transfer it to your pan, never fear! You can fix it. Just place the fudge mixture back in a saucepan on the stovetop with about 1½ cups of water and slowly melt the fudge to a smooth liquid.

Can I reboil fudge that didn't set? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

What is a vegan substitute for condensed milk? ›

Many vegan bakers agree that the easiest and tastiest dairy-free alternative to condensed milk is made with coconut milk. Since thickness is part of what you're looking for, it's helpful that full-fat coconut milk is already quite dense.

Is Cool Whip dairy-free? ›

From its introduction, Cool Whip was labeled and advertised as non-dairy, but as of 2018 it contains skimmed milk and sodium caseinate, a milk derivative. Even before the skimmed milk was introduced, Cool Whip was classified in Jewish dietary traditions as dairy because of the sodium caseinate.

What is a vegan substitute for evaporated milk? ›

There are plenty of plant-based products that can be used in place of evaporated milk, such as soy, rice, nut, oat, flax, hemp, quinoa and coconut milk.

Why can't you make fudge when it's raining? ›

As strange as it sounds, it is a fact that weather affects fudge making. This is because when the weather is damper with an increased humidity level your Homemade Fudge Recipe will take longer to boil.

What makes high quality fudge? ›

You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

What happens if you over stir fudge? ›

Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a boil, do not stir it. If you do, the sugar can crystallize, giving your fudge a gritty texture.

What is dairy free chocolate made from? ›

Most dark chocolates, especially those with a high cocoa percentage (usually above 70%), are naturally dairy-free as they typically contain cocoa mass, cocoa butter, sugar, and sometimes vanilla and soy lecithin, but no milk or milk derivatives.

What is non dairy frozen dessert made of? ›

Dairy-less frozen desserts replace milk and cream with alternatives like coconut, soy, oat, cashew, or almond milk. Many other ingredients remain the same between the dairy and dairy-free versions. And, just like dairy ice cream, non-dairy ice cream can vary widely in terms of sugar, fat, and calorie content.

Does Mackinac Island have dairy free fudge? ›

Ryba's Vegan Chocolate Mackinac Island Fudge is a blend of two kinds of cocoa, powdered sugar, pure Michigan maple syrup, pure cane syrup, coconut oil, and cocoa butter, ensuring each bite is a taste of perfection.

Are Betty Crocker fudge brownies dairy free? ›

The regular Fudge Brownie Mix in a Pouch and the Delights Supreme Fudge Brownie mix do contain milk. All of the bar mixes, kits, milk chocolate, and salted caramel varieties of Betty Crocker Brownie Mixes also contain dairy. The other varieties of brownie cups mixes all contain milk.

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