This vanilla maple nut fudge has only 5 ingredients, requires no oven or stove, and is gluten and grain free, paleo, vegan and low FODMAP. It’s also incredibly delicious and will soon become a favorite dessert to have on hand in the fridge or freezer!
Why do I feel like I’ve posted 10 fudge recipes, yet this is only the 3rd? Is that possible? I think it’s because I’ve made 3 batches of each recipe I’ve posted. That equals 9 fudge batches and 9 is only 1 away from 10. #Mathskills much? Only barely what I need for cooking, running, and not overdrawing my bank account.
But enough about this vanilla maple nut fudge for a moment, let’s talk about the week before a “vacation” when you have “kids” mmkay? I just can’t get over this and I probably never will. As I’m writing this, it’s Monday, we’re not leaving until Saturday and I’m already nervous about packing “all the things” and really, that does not belong in quotes because taking 3 kids to a rental house for a week – literally means – at least for us, packing the house up and moving for a week.
I am still on a cleaning spree left over from the weekend, except now it’s just gotten obsessive, which for me is a good thing from time to time. These 3 day cleaning spurts are responsible for allowing my house to stand upright, unburdened by the force of crap tons of crap that will cause the walls and ceilings to collapse.
But even though I find it necessary to actually clean occasionally, it does get to the point near the end where obsession kicks in and I start getting “spray happy” and wanting every corner to be squeaky clean.
The difference, though, between me and a person who cleans this way all the time, is that after the sun sets on the third day (an estimation), I notice that things just keep getting dirty no matter how many times you clean them. When I notice this, I don’t fight it – I give up and forget. Then, I quit for like 6 months – that’s the part that’s really bad.
And what does this have to do with packing for vacation? Or fudge? Well, everything. I mean when you just want the dang house to stay clean for 3 seconds, everything from packing, to fudge, to making breakfast, to wearing shoes is an obstacle. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but, really. Packing to go to a rental house for a week in addition to everything I normally do every day (that I cannot manage in the first place) causes me anxiety. Rant over! And onto my recipe for vanilla maple nut fudge, because it’s about to rock your world whether you’re ready or not!
If you’re like me and can’t manage your life, you’ll like this fudge. It has only 5 ingredients and requires no cooking whatsoever. No oven, no stove, just a little bit of thinking. And stirring, you have to be able to stir, something I find enjoyable most of the time. The work is done in about 5 minutes, and then you just have to let it chill for a few hours while you go do-yo-thang. I won’t judge what you do. You can sit by the fridge and check it every 5 minutes or take a 5 hour nap – it’s up to you, and the fudge won’t judge, but it will make you very, very happy 🙂
Vanilla Maple Nut Fudge {Paleo & Vegan}
Vanilla Maple Nut Fudge {Paleo & Vegan}
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups smooth nut butter of choice at room temp - I used a combination of almond and cashew butter
- 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp pure maple syrup - adjust sweetness to your taste
- 1 + 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil melted and cooled - make sure it cools to almost room temp
- *Pinch sea salt - optional
- 2/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts whatever you prefer
Instructions
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In a mixing bowl, mix together the nut butter and maple syrup until very smooth. Then stir in the coconut oil and vanilla and mix until fully incorporated and smooth.
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Add a pinch of sea salt if you choose to, then stir in the chopped nuts.
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Transfer the entire mixture to an 8 x 8 inch baking dish lined with parchment or freezer paper and spread out evenly.
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Chill until firm in the freezer or fridge, then cut into squares to serve. Store leftovers in the freezer and enjoy!
Nutrition
What’s your approach to cleaning? Anyone love it and have tips for me?
Is anyone packing for a summer vacation with kids? Thoughts?
What’s your favorite nut butter? Do you ever combine flavors?
The Cookie ChRUNicles says
August 11, 2015 at 5:34 amI do combine my peanut butters! Best combo right now is pb & co. crunch time with Trader Joe’s crunchy flax and chia. So good. I am with you on cleaning, it becomes a task over a few days to get every single corner clean once you get started and then the kids mess it up all again anyway.
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:29 pmI know – once I start getting nuts about cleaning I remember why I avoid it in the first place! I have enough stress! The flax and chia PB sounds great!
SuzLyfe says
August 11, 2015 at 6:47 amOH GOOD LORD. This sounds fabulous. Especially if you were to then happen to just maybe accidentally dip it into chocolate and then re-refridgerate. Just saying.
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:30 pmAhh, that would be a happy accident!
Skinny Fitalicious says
August 11, 2015 at 7:10 amI love Trader Joes almond butter and of course, NuttZo! I don’t combine flavors but often I throw dark pieces of chocolate bits in the jar. Since it’s so hot right now they melt and are so yummy to eat!
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:31 pmOoh that sounds really good! One good thing about the summer heat is that all the right things melt 🙂
cottercrunch says
August 11, 2015 at 7:45 amif you feed me this fudge, i’ll come help you pack. Deal?
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:31 pmOh I wish!!
hmtroupe says
August 11, 2015 at 7:52 amHooray for another fudge recipe! Maple fudge was always one of my favorites and this healthier version looks amazing.
I totally hear you about vacation anxiety! We rented a house in Savannah for a week last month and I was so stressed out during the packing process/week leading up to going. I cannot imagine how hard it is with 3 kids; we only have 1!
And my house never stays clean for 3 days. Ever.
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:33 pmI’ve finally broken down and the mess is creeping in! I’ll forget about it in another day or so 🙂 I have to keep reminding myself that I’m lucky I don’t have to pack diapers anymore. Or a breast pump, lol 😉
thisrunnersrecipes says
August 11, 2015 at 8:32 amThis fudge sounds amazing! I’m loving cashew butter right now. I feel like I constantly clean the kitchen, but I sometimes give up the battle against puggle hair. As soon as I clean, there’s more everywhere!
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:35 pmWe have a cat and that definitely adds to the mess, but there’s nothing I can do aside from following him around with a dust buster 😉 I also love cashew butter!
danielle saucy smith says
August 11, 2015 at 8:57 amOh this recipe speaks to me on so many levels! Maple flavors have been on my mind, thank you:)
Cleaning is not something I enjoy but I just get what I can done, done out of sheer stubbornness. If I could resurrect my great grandma she’d be spoiling me with her cooking AND cleaning… Ugh I miss that
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:36 pmI would SO love to be spoiled with cooking and cleaning for a week, THAT would be amazing! I guess what I really need is a vacation, so good timing on that 🙂
suzysuzyheather says
August 11, 2015 at 10:16 am“If you can’t manage your life, you’ll like this fudge.” LOL hilarious. And yeah, packing for a vacation with kids is bananas, especially with babies/toddlers. We went away last week and the playpen takes up so much space and Callum didn’t even end up sleeping in it, not even once! He’d way rather sleep horizontally across me and Andrew’s chests. I super love the kicks to my ribs all night long. GRRRRR…
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:38 pmBelieve it or not I actually thought of you when I wrote that (in the best way!) I somehow knew you would relate 🙂 And I keep reminding myself how much easier it is to pack now that we’re done with diapers and pack n plays. Of course we still have air mattresses and toys and sheets and towels, etc! Drew also still winds up sleeping with us in a tiny bed!
margaretmolteni says
August 11, 2015 at 11:10 amSomehow you managed to inspire me to take a day off running yesterday and deep clean my house! I am not one of those people who finds cleaning therapeutic. I find running therapeutic and cleaning torturous. That might be backwards, but it was miserable and now I definitely am in need of this fudge!
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:39 pmThat is exactly me! Cleaning just sucks, bigtime, but huge messes also give me huge anxiety! Glad you got it done 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
August 11, 2015 at 11:24 amPacking kills….And you really can’t pack until the last day since you still need stuff. When my dad would come down to pick me up from school I would madly pack the morning of, a few hours before he got there, haha! (And end up bringing WAY to much).
Hmmmm so when I have my favorite snack of an apple and nut butter, I always combine 2 flavors. Right now it’s either dark chocolate dreams PB from PB co with cashew butter (but just finished the cashew) so now it’s combined with PUMPKIN butter 😉 Green butter goodness!
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:41 pmI either over or under pack, it’s never the right amount and I always forget something essential! Your nut butter combo sounds way too good, YUM!
dietitianjess says
August 11, 2015 at 12:54 pmI actually love packing an fudge- but usually I can only handle a piece or two because its sweet. I’ve been into sweets more lately so I’ll have to experiment with this recipe
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:41 pmI agree, a piece or two, tops hits the spot! I love that you can save this as long as you want and it stays just as good!
lifewithniki says
August 11, 2015 at 3:32 pmYum! Your recipe looks even better than normal fudge- I can literally taste its sweet gooeyness! I can imagine that a vacation with three kids may not be the most stress-free way to relax, but nonetheless I hope you have a great time!
Michele says
August 11, 2015 at 8:42 pmThanks! We do always have a great time even with chaos, it’s a nice chaos!
taramdeal says
August 12, 2015 at 10:14 amLove this idea for fudge!! Can’t wait to try 🙂
Michele says
August 12, 2015 at 9:34 pmAwesome! Hope you like it!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says
August 17, 2015 at 6:12 pmUm so I was a fan of your last fudge recipe, but I want this one ever more. Mmm, maple vanilla nut. I need to make this stat!!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says
August 30, 2015 at 2:00 pmAnd I just stuck a batch in the freezer. I can’t wait to try the finished product.
Michele says
August 30, 2015 at 6:40 pmYes! Hope you like it 🙂
faithvandermolen says
March 5, 2016 at 7:43 amLooks amazing!!
Michele says
March 6, 2016 at 9:26 pmThanks! One of my favorites 🙂
Emily Swanson says
March 5, 2016 at 10:12 amKeeping this up on the browser so I can make it!!! I’m glad that I’ve actually been making a lot of nut butter lately. 🙂
Stephanie says
May 4, 2017 at 11:30 amHello there! I was planning on making this fudge with a cookie crust. I was thinking of using the crust you have for Paleo Pumpkin Caramel Pecan Fudge Bars, but maybe the crust you use for your Almond Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars would be better. Any thoughts?? Thank you in advance!
Michele says
May 4, 2017 at 11:36 amHi! That would definitely be good, either one would work but the almond butter crust would keep it totally vegan. The only thing is that crust recipe is larger than you’d need, so you’ll have some leftover but you could easily keep it for another use 🙂