What is tree fudge you may ask? It is delicious fudge made with ingredients that come only from trees! With just a few household ingredients and 2 hours in the freezer, this fudge is so easy to make and surprisingly healthy too!
The tree ingredients used in this recipe are:
Almond butter– almonds are the seeds of the Almond tree, Prunus dulcis
Cocoa powder– cocoa is from the seeds of the Cacao tree, Theobroma cacao
Coconut oil– coconuts are the seeds of the Coconut palm tree, Cocos nucifera
Maple Syrup– maple syrup is made from the sap of the Sugar maple tree, Acer saccharum
Cinnamon– cinnamon is from the inner bark of a cinnamon tree, usually either Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum cassia
Cherries– cherries are the fruit (the pit inside is the seed) of the Cherry tree, Prunus avium
Servings: 30 squares (best for 6 people)
Prep time: 5 minutes
Freezer time: 2 hours
Vegan, gluten free, no refined sugars or artificial sweetners
Ingredients:
1 cup almond butter (peanut, cashew, or other nut butter would work too)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons coconut oil
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
8 cherries
First, wash and dry your cherries. If you are using frozen cherries, thaw and drain them. If you are using fresh cherries, take out the pits. Then finely chop the cherries into small pieces.
Make sure the rest of your ingredients are at room temperature. The coconut oil should be melted but not hot. In a large mixing bowl stir together the almond butter, cocoa powder, maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon and salt. The salt is really important because it offsets the sweetness and actually helps to intensify the flavors. After the mixture is thoroughly combined, gently fold in the cherry pieces.
Next, use a container that can go in the freezer and line the bottom and sides of the container with parchment paper. Then pour the mixture into the parchment lined container, smooth out, and cover with aluminum foil. Put it in the freezer for 2 hours. After that time, take it out and make sure it is firm to the touch. Then remove the fudge from the parchment and cut into squares.
The fudge can be stored in the freezer in a sealed container for up to two months- though it is so good, we doubt you will have any left after a day or two!
Feel free to leave out the cocoa powder and cinnamon for a more subdued flavors. You can also swap in different fruits, such as strawberries or raspberries!
ENJOY!
