Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

Ginny McMeans

Ginny McMeans

Published:

April 27, 2024

Last Modified:

May 8, 2024

A melt-in-your-mouth, old-fashioned style fudge made from vegan ingredients. Plant based butter, organic powdered sugar, a touch of floral vanilla, and plenty of peanut butter come together to create this insanely creamy treat! 

Stacks of candy on an ivory plate tilted towards the camera.

Smooth and creamy peanut butter fudge is a recipe that you just have to have in your recipe box. It doesn’t take a ton of effort or time, in fact, most of the time is spent waiting for the fudge to chill and set in the fridge. Love that!

I actually originally made this vegan fudge recipe for the blog over 6 years ago. It’s the same recipe, except I’ve tweaked it to be microwave-friendly because I’ll be honest, babysitting a pot of hot sugar syrup on the stovetop is not my favorite thing. I’ve been cooking professionally for years and I still get stressed out by traditional candy-making! Watching the thermometer like a hawk, worrying about scorching, having to kill the heat at just the right degree–it’s just a lot. 

I find the microwave to be a much easier approach, plus, there is far less clean up! Once you get your fudge into the fridge, feel free to move on to your next activity or just take it easy while it sets up. Ahhh yes. Now we’re cooking, and relaxing while we do it. 

Ingredients for Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge

Vegan peanut butter fudge ingredients labels
  • Vegan butter – There are many options available and I get into a few of my favorites in our Best Vegan Butter taste test and review. You can most certainly use your own favorite brand though. I like the flavor and texture that plant based butter brings to the recipe, but coconut oil would work too. 
  • Creamy peanut butter – Provides the all-important peanut flavor as well as helps the fudge to have a thick, creamy texture. Crunchy peanut butter will not work here as it will make your fudge difficult to cut, whereas smooth peanut butter makes for a very smooth fudge. I like to use salted, all-natural peanut butter with no additives
  • Salt – Gives a nice balance to all the sweetness and brings out the nutty flavor of the peanut butter. If you use unsalted peanut butter, you may want to add more salt than I do!
  • Vanilla extract – Provides a complimentary flavor to the sweet and nutty flavors in this dessert. 
  • Organic powdered sugar – Powdered sugar is essential for a smooth, creamy fudge, as using granulated sugar here would make the fudge gritty. Organic sugar is vegan, so I always choose that. 
  • Crushed peanuts – I like to sprinkle some crushed peanuts over the top of my fudge before serving for a bit of textural interest and visual appeal! This is optional. 
Serve as desired

How to Make Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge

  1. Combine. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the vegan butter and creamy peanut butter. 
  2. Cook and whisk. Microwave the bowl until the butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Whisk the mixture until smooth and well combined. 
  3. Add ingredients. Add the salt and vanilla extract, then gradually add the powdered sugar. 
  4. Stir. Stir the mixture until it becomes a thick and smooth batter, almost like a dough.
  5. Transfer and chill. Transfer the fudge mixture to a parchment paper-lined baking dish and smooth the top with a spatula. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
  6. Cut. I like to slice my fudge in a 6×4 grid, making 24 pieces. You can make the pieces smaller or larger if you like!
  7. Garnish and serve. Sprinkle the crushed peanuts over the top of your fudge squares if you like, and enjoy! The squares can also be wrapped in small sheets of wax paper for a nice presentation.

Watch Us Make Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge

Chef Tips 

Cutting fudge can be tricky–it’s sticky stuff! To make things go a little smoother, dip your knife in hot water to warm the blade, dry it off, and then use it to cut the fudge. If it starts getting stuck again, rewarm and dry the blade as needed. 

Lining your baking pan is important as it makes the fudge much easier to remove after it has set. I like to use parchment paper for this purpose, but a sheet of plastic wrap would work too. Whichever material you choose, be sure to leave a few inches of overhang so that you have something to grab a hold of when it comes time to lift the block of fudge out of the dish. 

Squares of candy lines up on a wooden cutting board.

How to Store 

At Room Temperature. Your fudge will keep just fine at room temperature, just be sure to pack it in an airtight container as it will harden if exposed to too much air. If you are stacking pieces of fudge inside the container, place layers or parchment or wax paper between them to prevent sticking. If you are in a very warm climate or season, it might be a good idea to refrigerate your container of fudge, just to keep it from melting. 

Freezing. If you are hoping to keep your fudge tucked away for some time, storing it in the freezer is a great option. Package it in the same method as above and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months. To Thaw: simply leave the fudge at room temperature until softened and enjoy! 

Vegan peanut butter fudge ready 2

Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

Ginny McMeans
5 from 3 votes
Old-fashioned fudge made from vegan ingredients–plant based butter, organic powdered sugar, floral vanilla, and creamy peanut butter make for one creamy treat! 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Resting time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 12 minutes
Servings 24 pieces

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Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup vegan butter
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups organic powdered sugar
  • Crushed peanuts, optional for garnish

Instructions
 

  • In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the vegan butter and creamy peanut butter. 
  • Microwave until the butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Whisk the mixture until smooth and well combined. 
  • Add the salt and vanilla extract, then gradually add the powdered sugar. 
  • Stir the mixture until it becomes a thick and smooth batter, almost like a dough.
  • Transfer the fudge mixture to a parchment paper-lined baking dish and smooth the top with a spatula. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
  • Slice the fudge in a 6×4 grid to create 24 pieces, or cut them into any sized pieces you like. 
  • Sprinkle the crushed peanuts over the top of your fudge squares if you like, and enjoy! Or, wrap them up in wax paper for a different presentation. 

Video

Notes

Ingredients

  • There are many amazing vegan butter options out there! I like Trader Joe’s Vegan Buttery Spread or Melt Organic Butter Sticks for recipes like this, but you can use any brand that is your favorite. 
  • Using creamy peanut butter is essential here as it gives the fudge a thick and smooth texture. Chunky peanut butter will have an undesirable texture as well as make your fudge difficult to cut, so best to avoid using it here.
  • You may need to add more than 1 tsp of salt if your peanut butter is an unsalted variety. 
  • Using powdered sugar as opposed to granulated sugar is also crucial to the overall texture of the fudge, as regular granulated sugar will leave the fudge gritty. Organic powdered sugar is vegan. 

Tips

  • Cutting fudge can be tricky–it’s sticky stuff! To make things go a little smoother, dip your knife in hot water to warm the blade, dry it off, and then use it to cut the fudge. If it starts getting stuck again, rewarm and dry the blade as needed. 
  • Lining your baking pan is important as it makes the fudge much easier to remove after it has set. I like to use parchment paper for this purpose, but a sheet of plastic wrap would work too. Whichever material you choose, be sure to leave a few inches of overhang so that you have something to grab a hold of when it comes time to lift the block of fudge out of the dish. 

Storage

  • Store your fudge in an airtight container at room temperature. If you are stacking your fudge in layers, be sure to place sheets of parchment or wax paper in between to prevent sticking. If you are in hot weather, you might want to refrigerate the fudge to prevent it from getting too soft. 
  • Freeze your fudge in a freezer-friendly airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. To Thaw: simply leave the fudge at room temperature until softened and enjoy! 

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Ginny McMeans

Ginny McMeans

Hi, my name is Ginny and it is fantastic that you have come to visit and see my recipes. I have a positive attitude and can’t seem to be in nature enough. My North American bird count is 678 and I’m always watching for mammals and insects too. My head is stuffed full of recipes that I want to create and life is just to dang short. The recipes feature healthy and delicious vegan food that you can enjoy now or freeze for future meals. Read more about me . . .

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