Candy Cane Fudge

This delicious, dairy-free Candy Cane Fudge is perfect for Christmas or any other special occasion. You’ll love how easy and quick it is to whip up a batch of these fantastic fudge squares for a fun dessert or to give as gifts to family and friends.

When the holidays roll around, there are always a lot of fun dessert recipes using the refreshing taste of peppermint. This candy cane fudge is one of our favorites because it’s got that delicious peppermint flavor, but it’s also really easy to make.

You’ll only need a few simple ingredients, and you can have your candy cane fudge ready to go in no time.

This recipe uses full-fat coconut milk as the base which gives the candy cane fudge a really rich, creamy texture. It also makes this recipe dairy-free along with being both gluten-free and vegetarian.

You’ll make a homemade sweetened condensed coconut milk by mixing coconut sugar and full-fat coconut milk together and cooking down until a thick milk mixture is formed.

If you’re looking for a delicious, addictive treat for your family or for gifts, this candy cane fudge is exactly what you need.

💗Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The entire recipe is made with 4 simple ingredients.
• This fudge is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian.
• Whip up a batch to give as a fun Christmas gift.
• This decadent fudge has a rich, creamy texture that melts in your mouth.

🍬Ingredients You’ll Need

• Chocolate Chips – You’ll need dairy-free, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips to make up the base of the chocolate flavor.
• Crushed Candy Canes – Used to give this fudge a classic peppermint taste with a bit of crunch.
• Full Fat Coconut Milk – Adds a rich texture to the fudge that makes it creamy, dense, and free of dairy. You can also purchase a can of sweetened condensed coconut milk.
• Coconut Sugar – Helps sweeten the fudge with non-refined sugar.
• Chocolate Chips – You’ll need dairy-free, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips to make up the base of the chocolate flavor.
• Crushed Candy Canes – Used to give this fudge a classic peppermint taste with a bit of crunch.
• Full Fat Coconut Milk – Adds a rich texture to the fudge that makes it creamy, dense, and free of dairy. You can also purchase a can of sweetened condensed coconut milk.
• Coconut Sugar – Helps sweeten the fudge with non-refined sugar.

🥥How To Make Vegan Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk

Combine coconut milk and coconut sugar in a pot over the stove. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. The mixture will continue to thicken as it cools.

🍫How To Make Dairy-Free Candy Cane Fudge

1️⃣Prepare the sweetened condensed coconut milk: Combine coconut milk and coconut sugar in a pot over the stove. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. The mixture will continue to thicken as it cools.

2️⃣Combine milk and chocolate: Mix chocolate chips and vegan condensed sweetened milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about 2 minutes, then stir until chocolate is melted.

3️⃣Fold in the candy canes: To the melted fudge mixture, add half of the crushed candy canes and stir until evenly distributed.

4️⃣Pour and set: Pour mixture into a 4″x4″ food storage container lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle the remaining candy cane pieces on top. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Cut into 18 pieces.

👩🏻‍🍳Recipe Tips & Flavor Variations

When melting the chocolate with the condensed milk, be sure to only microwave 30 seconds at a time and stir to keep it from burning.

Most fudge is set and ready to cut in 30 minutes, but it may take longer depending on how cold your fridge is.

If your fudge mixture is too runny, add some powdered sugar to thicken it.

If anything goes awry with your fudge, simply re-melt the mixture at any time and adjust the ingredients as needed.

For variations on the recipe, try substituting the crushed candy canes with other ingredients such as candy bits, fruit zest, nuts, nut butter, or 1 tsp extract of your choice.

🧊Storing & Freezing

Storing: To store, wrap candy cane fudge in parchment paper or plastic wrap, place it in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to one week.

Freezing: If you want to store the candy cane fudge for longer, freeze it in an airtight container for up to a month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

❔FAQ

🎁More holiday gift recipe ideas

Homemade gifts are often the best gifts! If you’re looking for more gift ideas, check out these recipes:

• Cookie mix in a jar (vegan, gluten free)
• Chocolate-covered macadamia nuts (vegan, gluten free)
• Maple roasted almonds (vegan, gluten free)
• Rice crispy treat bars (vegetarian, gluten free)