Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

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! 

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I actually originally made this vegan fudge recipe for the blog over 6 years ago.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 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. 

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. 

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!