Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Vegan Fudge

This vegan fudge is so rich and creamy that you would never even know it’s dairy free! Delicious vegan dark chocolate fudge is mixed with crunchy toasted almonds and layered with an almond butter topping. It’s not overly sweet and has the perfect balance of crunch, salt, and fudginess.

How to make vegan fudge

This recipe actually starts out just like most fudge recipes, with chocolate and sweetened condensed milk. Only this time, it’s sweetened condensed COCONUT milk. I just love how far the vegan and dairy free industry has come.

Sweetened condensed coconut milk is basically identical to the regular kind as it has the same color, sweetness, and consistency. It also doesn’t have a strong coconut flavor, so this fudge does not taste any bit like coconut in case you were wondering!

This is melted down with vegan dark chocolate and natural almond butter. I use Hu dark chocolate gems as they’re vegan and taste delicious. Also make sure to use natural almond butter (only ingredient listed should be almonds) as this will give the most flavor payoff.

All ingredients are melted down in a bain-marie, which is just a fancy term for melting over hot water. The contents are combined in a heat-safe bowl and placed over a pot of simmering water. The heat below will gradually melt the chocolate, giving it a super rich and fudgy texture.

Once it’s melted, vanilla and toasted almonds are added for both flavor and a bit of crunch. Spread the fudge into a baking pan so that it’s ready for the almond butter topping!

Almond butter vegan fudge layers

The almond butter topping is even easier to make than the dark chocolate fudge. Simply mix together melted coconut oil, natural almond butter, and maple syrup and pour it over the fudge layer. Then it’s frozen until firm.

To add even more texture, I like to top the fudge with dark chocolate covered almonds. They aren’t 100% necessary, especially if you can’t get your hands on a vegan option, but I do still recommend adding a bit of something on top.

This could be more chopped chocolate, chopped almonds, or anything with some crunch.

Slicing frozen fudge

When the fudge is firm and set, it will be VERY hard to slice. Because of this, it’s best to thaw the fudge for about 20 minutes at room temperature. This will help loosen it up just enough to slice, but not enough to where it’s completely melted.

Use a very large and sharp knife for cutting and try not to drag the knife along the fudge. Make one downward motion and lift straight up to cut one large slice across the entire hunk of fudge.

What can I use instead of almond butter?

If you aren’t a fan of almonds, it’s easy to substitute any nut or seed butter. Just make sure it’s natural with no added ingredients. Natural is much stronger in flavor and the more dripping consistency will yield a much creamier fudge.

Can I substitute with regular sweetened condensed milk?

If you don’t need this recipe to be vegan, you can definitely sub in regular sweetened condensed milk and non-vegan dark chocolate. It should provide the same exact result, just with dairy instead.

How to store vegan fudge

After the fudge is sliced, store it in the refrigerator (not the freezer). In the refrigerator, the fudge will remain firm but not rock hard. It can be eaten straight from the fridge, or thawed at room temperature for about 45 minutes for fudgier consistency.

Just note that the almond butter topping softens quick faster than the dark chocolate fudge, so I don’t recommend leaving the fudge out at room temp for more than an hour.

How long does vegan fudge keep?

I had loads of leftover fudge in my refrigerator that I was snacking on for weeks. This fudge holds up really well in the refrigerator, as long as it’s stored in an air tight container. It will keep for up to 12 days.

Alternatively, it can be stored in the freezer where it will keep for a couple months. Then just thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready for some fresh fudge!

For more no bake vegan dessert recipes, check out my:

• Healthy Cookie Dough Bars
• Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
• Vegan Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Bars
• Vegan Snickers Bars

Make sure to tag me @butternutbakery on Instagram and comment below if you make these vegan caramel pecan cheesecake bars. To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the button on the recipe card or on any of the photos above. Happy baking!

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