Mom’s Health Fudge

My Mom’s Health Fudge is a tried and true family recipe. Can fudge really be healthy? This easy, no bake vegan fudge is packed with nutritious, all-natural ingredients like toasted nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate.

a plate with squares of Mom's Health Fudge on it

I like to make these no bake fudge bars around the holidays for a couple of reasons. One – they are a healthy fudge option compared to the white sugar and sweetened condensed milk variety. Two – I don’t physically have my mom with me anymore and her recipes are a way to connect with some wonderful memories.

Trigger warning! Hit the “Jump to Recipe” tab now if you aren’t up for an emotional blurb.

a plate with squares of Mom's Healthy Fudge on it

I know some readers come strictly for recipes and I totally understand that. But respectfully, some like to know a bit about the human behind the screen, and sometimes with recipes like this one, I have to honour where they came from.

Also, I have recently updated the photos for this post which I originally published in 2014. Back then blogs were allll about personal stories. Funny how things change!

Anyway, here is what my musings were six Christmases ago.

MOM’S HEALTH FUDGE

a plate with squares of Mom's Health Fudge on it

With my sweet tooth in the Christmas spirit, big time, I’ve been seeking out healthier options that still feel indulgent. Ones that still taste like Christmas, you know?

Enter this ‘Health Fudge”. Actually, we’re calling it Mom’s Health Fudge.

a plate with squares of Mom's Health Fudge on it

A few months back, my brother sent me a true piece of our family history. My Mom’s spiral cooking notebook. It’s filled with clippings from newspapers, recipe cards from church friends, and most importantly, handwritten recipes by both my Mom and my Grandma.

a hand holding a homemade recipe book

As a chubby kid who spent a big chunk of her childhood in the kitchen with my mom, my little life revolved around this book. I was always pointing out one recipe or another that I wanted my Mom to make or when I was old enough, would make myself.

Mostly, I wanted cookies. 😉

Not to get all serious and sad on you, but today would have been my Mom’s birthday. We lost her to cancer over twenty years ago, but every December 19th I still silently pay my tributes. Christmas was never really the same after she passed away. I try not to dwell on it and instead focus on all of the wonderful blessings I do have, but I still miss her and remember how much effort she would put into our family Christmas dinners.

It shows you the power of creating memories and how food can play such a role. The holidays can seem like it’s all commercial, yet it was the wonderful turkey dinner with stuffing and gravy and my Mom’s apple pie that I remember much more than the gifts under the tree.

So this year, in her honour, I’m starting my own tradition. Food-related of course. This was one of the few healthy dessert recipes (which, let’s face it, wasn’t common in the ’70s-’80s) I found taped onto the pages of my Mom’s book. I adapted it to what I had on hand.

a page of a recipe book with a printed recipe taped in it

*Note the recipe card on the left. It’s for Flo’s Balls. Had to.

Let’s get onto making the fudge.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR THIS VEGAN FUDGE

  • sunflower seed butter
  • peanut butter
  • honey
  • cacao powder
  • sesame seeds
  • chia seeds
  • unsweetened shredded coconut
  • nuts (toasted is best!)
  • seeds
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

HOW TO MAKE MOM’S HEALTH FUDGE

It’s fairly easy!

First, I use a combo of sunflower seed butter and peanut butter. The original recipe called for sunflower seeds which I didn’t have, so the sun butter seemed logical. It turned out to be the best part of this fudge! We highly recommend using it. There was this ever so slight saltiness that just tied everything together.

sunflower seed butter and peanut butter being stirred in a saucepan by a spatula

Another addition added was chia seeds. I LOVE chia seeds. They give such a great snap to no bake treats.

Add in your cacao and honey (maple syrup for vegan) for some beautiful natural sweetness.

Stir it all togather really well.

chocolate mixture in a saucepan

Press it all into a loaf pan and chill well in the fridge.

healthy chocolate mixture pressed into a parchment lined loaf pan with tosted nuts and dark chocolate chips on top

It slices into the best little squares. Both the taste and texture of this Health Fudge was bang on. We totally love and absolutely devour these bites of goodness.

We think you should too. My Mom would like that. She had a great love of food. Especially the sweet, chocolaty things. 🙂

a plate with squares of Mom's Health Fudge on it

Maybe this Health Fudge recipe will become a tradition in your house. Not just for the holidays either.

This healthy option can be enjoyed year round.

a plate with squares of Mom's Healthy Fudge on it

Originally Posted December 19, 2014. Updated December 24, 2020.

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a piece of mom's health fudge on a plate

Mom’s Health Fudge

Sharon Rhodes
My Mom’s Health Fudge is a tried and true family recipe. Can fudge really be healthy? This easy, no bake vegan fudge is packed with nutritious, all-natural ingredients like toasted nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill 2 hours
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 137 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt together the sunflower seed butter, peanut butter, and honey (or maple syrup for vegan). When it's blended together, remove from heat and stir in the cacao powder and mix well.
  • Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix well again.
  • Press into a parchment-lined loaf pan and top with the extra chocolate chips and chopped nuts.
  • Refrigerate for about 2 hours then slice into squares.
  • Store covered in the fridge for up to a week.

Nutrition

Calories: 137kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 5mgPotassium: 113mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg
Keyword healthy fudge recipe, healthy vegan fudge
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14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This looks even more delicious than you described it last week!

    Family recipes are such a great way to remember family. Whenever I make my Nana’s shortbread cookies, I always think about her and what would say to her if she were still here.

    1. So many of my memories just flood back whenever I eat certain things. I made a different fudge to sent back to my siblings (full of sugar, butter & condensed milk) and I swear it smelled like my childhood when I stirred it. 🙂

    1. 5 stars
      That’s the best compliment! I love when people are surprised at the health factor. 🙂 Thanks so much Kelley. Have a wonderful holiday season.

  2. 5 stars
    Sharon, I came across your website from another website that referenced your dried cranberries. I made those yesterday, along with this fudge and they are both wonderful! I just tasted the fudge and that is a keeper. I love the ingredient list of very healthy foods, for a snack! I am sending this to good friends who eat healthy. I am also sending the recipe and your website. Thank you.

    1. Hi Patty! Thank you so much. Nice comments are always very appreciated. 🙂 And I can’t agree with you more about this fudge. An absolute keeper! I hope you friends love it too. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂 Have a wonderful holiday season!!

  3. 5 stars
    Thank goodness for mom’s recipes! The book looks pretty amazing, and you’re lucky to have something like that which you can cherish from family generations, and of course pass down to your kids. 😉 The fudge does look amazing, but that’s nothing new. 😉

    1. I love this cookbook! There are so many recipes for me to ‘healthify’. And I love seeing the handwriting. It’s like I hear their voices. Not in a crazy way though … 😉

  4. 5 stars
    This fudge looks heavenly. Food and recipes can maintain such a powerful connection between us and our loved ones. It’s wonderful that you have the recipe book from your mom and grandmother – creating their recipes is one of many ways to keep the memories alive.

  5. 5 stars
    The fudge looks beautiful Sharon! In honour of your mom’s birthday Vanessa and I will make some today after work. A lovely post for Angela!

  6. This fudge was always one of my favorites. I had a feeling this recipe might make it onto your blog sooner or later! Happy birthday mom. Best wishes Sharon! Hope to see you again before too long.

    1. This fudge is awesome. In my opinion it’s better with cocoa than carob.
      Best to you too Tim!! Thanks so much for the cookbook. I have it on my desk right now and am using it as a mouse pad. There are a few more recipes I’m going to try out.