This easy, healthier fudge is made with just 3 ingredients! It’s dairy-free, gluten-free and refined-sugar-free, but rich, smooth and fool-proof!
This dairy-free fudge is a long-time reader favorite on this site! The recipe was originally published in December 2013, but was updated with new step-by-step photos and instructions.
Why I Love This Recipe
I love making homemade treats like this caramel recipe and fudge around the holidays every year. While I love classic fudge made with sugar and marshmallow creme, it’s nice to have an option that isn’t full of dairy and refined sugar.
This healthier fudge couldn’t be easier! I was inspired by another popular fudge recipe that uses only sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips.
For this fudge you basically make your own sweetened condensed milk using coconut milk and honey.
That might sound hard, but all you do is simmer the two together for 30 minutes or so. Then add dairy-free chocolate chips, vanilla, and any other mix-ins you like!
Ingredients for Dairy-Free Fudge
- Chocolate Chips: You can use any kind you like. I like to use Trader Joe’s or Costco chocolate chips because they are also dairy-free.
- Coconut Milk: You’ll need 2 cans of unsweetened full-fat coconut milk. Do not use light coconut milk or coconut cream. You also do not want to use boxed coconut milk that is found in the refrigerator section.
- Honey: Liquid honey (rather than thicker creamed honey) works best for this dairy-free fudge.
- Vanilla/salt: Optional ingredients for a flavor!
Vegan fudge? To make this fudge vegan you can use maple syrup in place of the honey.
How to Make Dairy-Free Fudge
- Pour the coconut milk into a medium saucepan. Heat the milk over medium-high heat until boiling. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Whisk in the honey and simmer for another 25-30 minutes. You want to reduce the mixture to 2 cups of liquid.
- After about 20 minutes check to see how much it has reduced by pouring the mixture into a glass measuring cup.
- When you have reduced the mixture to 2 cups of liquid, remove it from the heat.
- Stir in the chocolate chips, vanilla, salt and nuts until the chocolate is melted. Stir in the nuts if using.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Refrigerate for 2 hours until set. Cut into squares and enjoy! Store the fudge in the refrigerator between serving.
Dairy-Free Fudge FAQ
Yes! You can easily use pure maple syrup in place of the honey. This fudge will be vegan if made with maple syrup.
Unfortunately this won’t work. The chocolate chips help the dairy-free fudge to firm up and add sweetness to the fudge.
Unfortunately almond milk won’t work in this recipe. Even boxed coconut milk from the refrigerator section won’t work. Boxed milks have added gums and stabilizers that will affect the consistency of the fudge. Full-fat canned coconut milk also has the right amount of fat for the dairy-free fudge to set.
More Dairy-Free Recipes
I hope you love this dairy-free fudge as much as we do! If you try it be sure to leave me a comment/rating below. I’d love to hear from you!
Easy, Dairy-Free Fudge (3 Ingredients!)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 13.5 oz cans of unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup honey
- 4 cups chocolate chips 24oz
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 3/4 cup chopped nuts of choice optional, I like walnuts or hazelnuts
Instructions
- Line a 8×8 pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Pour the coconut milk into a medium saucepan. Heat the milk over medium-high heat until boiling. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Whisk in the honey and simmer for another 25-30 minutes. You want to reduce the mixture to 2 cups of liquid. After about 20 minutes check to see how much it has reduced by pouring the mixture into a glass measuring cup.
- When you have reduced the mixture to 2 cups of liquid, remove it from the heat. Stir in the chocolate chips, vanilla and salt until the chocolate is melted. Stir in the nuts. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours until set. Cut into squares and enjoy! Store the fudge in the refrigerator between serving.
family has allergies to coconut, what else can be used?
Unfortunately I don’t have a good swap for the coconut milk in this recipe. Sorry about that!
I made two batches of this fudge for family. One batch set perfectly, while the other is still a bit soft. Do you have any advice for how to get the softer batch to set more firmly?
Great to know your sharing. I will try it for next Christmas.It must be suitable for our reunited cozy meal.
I absolutely love Costco and they do now carry a second type of chocolate chips that are dairy free but in the allergy section it may contain wheat or is used on the same equipment, I forget exactly what it says but I don’t feel safe using it for gluten free recipes. The last thing I would want to do is make someone sick.
Just an FYI, Unfortunately this is on many Costco food products.
I can’t wait for them to carry more gluten free and gluten safe products.
should I use semisweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips?
Enjoy Life vegan chocolate chips worked great.
Love this !!
Hi! I recently made this fudge the day before Christmas, and it wound up coming out great 🙂 The only thing I ran into was the coconut milk mixture took longer than 20 mins to reduce to 2 cups – it was more like an hour and a half. When i turned up the heat a bit more than a simmer it helped speed up the reduction process, but it wasn’t a big deal to me. I noticed in the comments that others ran in to this as well so I figured it just needed a bit more time. Also, the fudge did not set in 2 hours, it definitely needed more time. I left it in the fridge overnight and by morning it was all ready to go. If anyone’s curious I wound up using wholesome pantry unsweetened coconut milk from shoprite and the enjoy life dark chocolate chips.
I really enjoyed this recipe and I’m grateful I found it!
Need know what can sub in place of coconut milk…sis allergic and needs dairy free gluten free fudge recipe
Unfortunately coconut milk is the only kind of milk that will work in this recipe. Sorry this isn’t more helpful!
These were delish! Sooo good and creamy. I subbed the honey for maple syrup and added 2T extra and used Lily’s chocolate chips sweeter with stevia. Took the full 25 minutes of simmering. So happy to have fudge that isn’t going to kill my diet this christmas. Thank you! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes. This one hooked me!
Do you think using coconut butter with some water and honey would work instead of reducing coconuts milk?