Easy Dairy-Free and Vegan Fudge Recipe (2024)

By

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.
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.)

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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.

What is the secret to good 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).

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.

Can you use evaporated milk instead of milk in fudge? ›

Evaporated milk is often called for in fudge recipes, for the creamy milkiness it imparts, and this Rocky Road Fudge is no exception.

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.

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.

What not to do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

How do you make fudge creamy and not grainy? ›

Grainy Fudge

The sugars probably crystallized, a common mistake when making candy like fudge or caramel. If the melting sugar splashes onto the sides of the pan, it turns back into crystals and causes the fudge to seize up. To avoid this issue, swirl the pan instead of stirring it with a spoon.

What makes fudge hard or soft? ›

If there is too much evaporation, when the cooking time is too long, there will not be enough water left in the fudge and it will be too hard. Conversely, if the cooking time is too brief and there is not enough evaporation, too much water will remain and the fudge will be too soft.

Why does fudge fail? ›

Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set

If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.

How to make fudge thicker? ›

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.

How do you make homemade fudge firmer? ›

​Harden the fudge:​ Place your container or tins in the fridge for 2 hours, which is the time it takes for the fudge to set. Once it's hardened, cut the fudge into 12 pieces or remove it from the muffin tins. Store in the fridge or the freezer (if you don't devour it right away).

Is it better to use evaporated milk or sweetened condensed milk for fudge? ›

As Leal explains: "Evaporated milk offers creaminess without sweetness and is suitable for savory dishes and some desserts. On the other hand, sweetened condensed milk is intensely sweet and used in desserts and sweet treats, thanks to its thick, syrupy texture."

What happens if I use sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated milk in fudge? ›

Use Evaporated Milk- Make sure to use evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk. If you accidentally use sweetened condensed milk your fudge will be incredibly over the top sweet.

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of milk for fudge? ›

Many fudge recipes say to let cool to 110 – I find that 120 degrees F is perfect so it's easier to stir and incorporate the melted butter into the mix. Ingredient substitution notes: Whole milk. heavy cream and half and half are good substitutions for whole milk, if necessary.

What is non dairy frozen dessert made of? ›

In its purest form, ice cream is very simple: only a few ingredients starting with milk or cream. While the typical non-dairy frozen dessert is made from a base of highly processed ingredients like vegetable oils, flours, sugar, and artificial fillers and gums."

Does fudge contain dairy? ›

Ingredients. Sweetened condensed milk is often an ingredient in easy fudge recipes, so I wanted to come up with a good substitution for that ingredient. I found that using full fat coconut milk and whisking in some powdered sugar works very well.

Is there a such thing as dairy free chocolate? ›

A growing number of brands are also producing explicitly dairy-free or vegan milk and white chocolates, often using alternatives like almond, rice, or oat milk.

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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