Creamy and smooth this keto chocolate fudge is made from only eight ingredients and is naturally dairy-free. Sweetened with just a hint of maple syrup each square of fudge has only 3 net grams of carbs.
Not sure what to make for your next pot-luck? This dairy-free, keto chocolate fudge is a great addition to the dessert table.
Made with healthy ingredients and a hint of maple syrup for sweetness, this homemade chocolate fudge will quickly become a staple dessert for you -just like this peanut butter protein fudge.
Though most keto fudge recipes use full-fat whipping cream or keto chocolate chips as the base, this recipe uses good old-fashion cocoa butter for it's creamy texture.
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, I find this makes it not only much more delicious but also a bit healthier too.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Healthy: This keto chocolate fudge is naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, keto, and paleo-approved.
Easy to make: All you need to do is melt down a few ingredients, whisk in the others, and let it set in the freezer! No candy thermometer is needed.
Low Calorie: Each little bite has only 61 calories which makes it perfect for curbing mini chocolate cravings.
The Ingredients
Cashew butter helps make this keto chocolate fudge as creamy as possible. Since there’s no baking or tempering with this recipe, the cashew butter helps give it a traditional fudge texture.
Coconut oil: Since coconut oil is solid at room temperature this helps the chocolate fudge hold together.
Maple syrup: Used to sweeten the fudge but also to give it its texture. So, if you find you need a bit more sweetness, use powdered stevia or swerve in place of adding more syrup so that you don't ruin the texture.
Cacao powder: Gives it its chocolate flavor. Though you can use cocoa powder, using cacao offers more nutritional and immune-boosting benefits. Learn more about the differences between cacao and cocoa powder.
Cacao butter: don't skip this ingredient as it's what helps keep the chocolate fudge recipe from melting at room temperature.
How To Make It From Scratch
Step 1: Add all the ingredients except the cacao powder into a small pot.
Step 2: Heat on low until the cacao butter is just melted.
Step 3: Whisk in the cacao powder until smooth.
Step 4: Pour into mini silicone molds and freeze for thirty minutes.
Expert Tips
Know that any nut butter will work for the recipe but cashew butter gives it the silliest texture. Make sure to use a runny nut butter or it won't blend in as well. The hard stuff at the bottom of the jar won't mix.
If you need to make this dairy-free chocolate fudge recipe nut-free as well, use SunButter in place of the cashew - learn to make your own Sun Butter and save some money too.
Heat the ingredients over low heat and remove them from the heat when melted, otherwise, the nut butter could burn which results in a terrible taste.
When you're ready to enjoy the fudge, leave it on the counter for 2-3 minutes and it will soften.
How To Store It
The keto fudge is best stored in the freezer. It will keep in the fridge however it will still melt slightly.
One of the ingredients in chocolate fudge is coconut oil. Coconut oil begins to soften at room temperature, and so will the fudge.
The benefit of it being frozen though is that you can make big batches and keep it in the freezer and simply pop out a piece when you want some.
Which Silicone Molds Are Best
Any mold can work with the keto fudge. I prefer to make bite-sized portions though so I use a mini muffin mold when I whip it up.
If you're using larger molds you may want to double the batch. You can also just portion the batch into a rectangle silicone loaf and slice it into squares.
Flavor Variations
The base of this dairy-free keto fudge recipe is amazing, however, there are so many ways to adjust it and make it unique! Keep in mind that not all of the ideas below are keto-friendly.
Drizzle: Adding on some dairy-free caramel sauce is a fun twist.
Sprinkles or chocolate chips: Make the fudge more indulgent by sprinkling some low-carb chocolate chips or festive sprinkles on top.
Nuts for crunch: Chopped pecans or pistachios are a great addition in the fudge itself or on top for a crunchy texture.
Salt: Flakey sea salt on top gives the best kind of flavor contrast.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keto Fudge
Traditional fudge is made using sugar and milk or heavy cream. However, you can make healthier fudge by melting chocolate chips or using cocoa butter, and adding some coconut oils and flavor.
Most fudge needs to be tempered so that part of the liquid is evaporated and it reaches a soft, creamy texture. However, you can make “no-bake” or "freezer" fudge that only requires you to melt and then cool the ingredients.
Yes! Cocoa powder is more processed than cacao powder so it won't be as bitter. Cocoa powder subs interchangeably with cacao powder in fudge recipes.
More Dairy-Free Holiday Desserts
- Paleo cookies with chocolate frosting
- Keto graham crackers with almond flour
- Healthy caramel corn (this makes a cute homemade gift too!)
- Almond flour sugar cookies
- Fudgy protein brownies
- Low carb chocolate pancakes
- White chocolate protein truffles
- Chocolate protein fudge
- Candy cane Christmas fudge
- Creamy protein fudge recipe
- dairy-free hot chocolate
- Healthy chocolate frosting
- Hot chocolate bombs (with video)
- Dairy-free cake balls
- Healthy dessert recipes
Keto Chocolate Fudge (dairy-free!)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tbs coconut oil measured solid
- ¼ cup cashew butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1.5 tbs pure maple syrup
- 1.5 tbs cacao powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract optional
- 2 teaspoon cacao butter
Instructions
- In a small pot, place all ingredients except the cacao powder and sea salt.
- Heat over low heat until mostly melted. Begin stirring in the cacao powder.
- Remove from heat once cacao butter is melted or the nut butter will burn. Whisk until smooth.
- Pour into individual molds or a silicone baking pan and top by sprinkling the sea salt overtop.
- Freeze for two hours.
- Remove from the freezer and pop out of molds.
- Let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before consuming. Keep in the freezer or a chilly fridge.
Notes
- You can check out all the ingredients you need in my Pantry Staples
- The fudge is best stored in the freezer. It will keep in the fridge however it will still melt slightly.
- You can sub in sunbutter if you're hoping to keep the keto chocolate fudge recipe nut-free
- Any nut butter will work in the low carb fudge recipe. Cashew butter just gives it the silkiest texture.
- Make sure to use fresh cashew butter so that it blends well into the oils. The harder stuff at the bottom of the jar won't mix.
- Make sure not to heat the ingredients in the pot too long as you'll risk burning the nut butter.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Shelby S says
This was the furst fudge recipe I ever made and years later I still make it. It's so simple and you wouldn't even know that it's low carb!
Tessa Simpson says
we've got a wee bit of cashew butter addiction in this house...and as fudge seems almost too good to be true!! YUM!
fitasamamabear says
Bahaha just a wee bit 😉 It's a pretty awesome addiction!
Alice | Letters to my Daughter says
These look absolutely delicious! Think I'd leave out the peppermint though - not a fan. Salted choc though, hubba hubba!!!
And congratulation, because someone loved this post so much, they added it to the #BlogCrush linky! Feel free to collect your "I've been featured" blog badge 🙂
fitasamamabear says
They definitely taste yummy without the peppermint! I'm breast feeding so I can't have peppermint and I still devoured a few batches of them with out 😀
Noleen Miller says
These look yum. Thanks for sharing the recipe - will definitely try it.
fitasamamabear says
No problem! It's addictive so be careful 😉
jill conyers says
I'm more of a brownie kinda girl but the fudge looks good. It's the chocolate and peppermint. Yum.
fitasamamabear says
Mmm I have brownie addictions too haha There was a time when I ALWAYS had brownies in the freezer because I was on the hunt for the perfect healthy version.. 😉
Shelia Boudreaux says
oh my goodness! Those look so good! My mom makes us fudge every year and I will tell her about this recipe!
fitasamamabear says
Mmm lucky you!!
blu says
These look easy to make! I don't know why I was expecting a complicated recipe lol
fitasamamabear says
I always thought that too! But it's simple.. and freakishly addictive
Sophie says
Ohh these look so good! Gotta try these out.
fitasamamabear says
They're tasty- let me know what you think!
Jessica Small says
Wow! Looks amazing!
I’m gonna have to give this a go?
fitasamamabear says
It's horribly addictive- make sure you share or you'll eat the entire batch lol