Vegan Chocolate Maple Fudge Recipe

Vegan Chocolate Maple Fudge Recipe

Today we are making a Vegan Chocolate Maple Fudge Recipe! A little backstory about fudge … I pulled the old vegetables-in-your-candy trick on my siblings again. My brother comes to the kitchen looking for brownies, chocolate, little-boy-dessert-stuff, and the like. What he got was homemade fudge – just what he wanted – but a healthy dose of avocado along with it.

He’s still stuck on the fact that a couple weeks ago I made mashed potatoes, or something that I called mashed potatoes. I served it up to him with a spoon of butter on top. He later found out that it was all mashed cauliflower, without a trace of potato, and ever since then it’s been stuck in his head that any dessert or meal I make will be bound to have vegetables snuck in there, or have a healthy twist in some way (which is pretty accurate).

So today, I made this double-layer fudge, with a very rich chocolate layer (made of avocados for extra creaminess/richness). On top, there is a maple butter layer made of maple syrup, vegan butter, and powdered sugar (no surprises there, it’s a sugar rush). This whole thing is so amazingly decadent that I could only have about a half slice before I gave up. Me, the one who could scarf down 6 donuts in one sitting (ask anyone who’s been with me to a vegan donut shop)!

This dairy-free fudge is a decadent treat to have in your fridge for someone who has a sweet tooth and can’t help but scarf down 10 Oreos at a time. With this, it won’t take long for your sweet tooth to be satiated!

Why You’ll Love This Vegan Chocolate Maple Fudge Recipe

Double Decker Fudge Flavors: This easy vegan fudge recipe contains two traditional fudge flavors! It has a rich chocolate layer, combined with an easy to make maple flavor. The toffee-like taste of the maple, combined with the underlying sweet bitterness of cocoa makes the perfect complement for a recipe!

Less Equipment: Making this recipe doesn’t require a candy thermometer, a double boiler or any other special methods of making fudge. Although a traditional version of fudge does use the aforementioned kitchen equipment, we’re going to make this simple and just melt the ingredients in a saucepan for the maple layer, and blend them together for the chocolate layer. This adds up to about 30 minutes of prep for both layers, then just waiting for 5-6 hours for the layers to set.

Substitutions: Maple Layer

Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup. There should only be one ingredient on the label (maple syrup) and no added sweeteners or flavorings (it should not be pancake syrup). Do not substitute with another liquid sweetener, as this is the main ingredient giving the maple flavor.

Powdered Sugar: You can make your own powdered sugar at home with white sugar (or xylitol as a healthier alternative to sugar), and some cornstarch. Alternatively, you can buy powdered xylitol instead of powdered sugar as well. Do not substitute with any granulated sugar substitute, as powdered sugar is very fine and doesn’t have the “crunchiness” that regular sugar will have, blending in well for a fudge recipe.

Vegan Butter: Making toffee requires butter, and this fudge recipe is similar. The vegan butter, when toasted in the saucepan, provides a hint of toffee flavor. Try using refined coconut oil as a substitute (not the kind that smells like coconut. It should not be virgin or extra-virgin). Specifically coconut oil won’t have as much of a toffee-like taste, but it can help to stabilize the fudge when frozen or refrigerated, as the butter would have.

Substitutions: Chocolate Layer

Avocado: This fudge has a hidden fruit inside! Avocado is rich is healthy fats, making it perfect to use in a recipe that you want to make super creamy. High fats = more creaminess! You can try to substitute this with a quarter cup of canned, full-fat coconut milk. Make sure it is canned coconut milk for best results, and not carton.

Almond Butter: Almond butter will be in the grocery store next to the peanut butter. Or it may be in the natural foods and alternative nut butters aisle. It should be creamy almond butter, and only contain one ingredient (roasted almonds). You can even make this at home if you have raw almonds, a bit of extra time and a blender.

Substitutions can be pecan butter, walnut butter, cashew butter or even hazelnut butter for a Nutella flavor.

Chocolate Chips: You can use pure dark chocolate chips or a chopped bar instead of semisweet chocolate, but dark chocolate will make the fudge quite bitter, albeit lower in sugar. Since you have to melt the chocolate anyways, it doesn’t matter what form (mini chocolate chips, regular size chips or a bar) are used. Check the ingredient label to make sure there are no animal products, such as milk powder, added to the chocolate.

Enjoy Life is a great brand for vegan chocolate. I’ve seen common non-vegan brands such as President’s Choice also have vegan chocolate.

Cacao Powder: Cacao powder is the raw, unprocessed version of cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is more common in baking, but cacao powder has more benefits due to undergoing less refining. However, you can easily substitute cocoa powder instead.

Vegan Chocolate Maple Fudge Recipe Notes

• Feel free to add your favorite add-ins to the fudge – crushed walnuts or pecans mixed into the maple layer before pouring it into the pan would give it an extra crunch!

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Chocolate Almond Butter Fudge

Banana Tarte Tatin

Tahini Freezer Fudge

If you make this Vegan Chocolate Maple Fudge Recipe, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!