Peanut Butter Fudge (Soy, Wheat, Fish and Egg-Free, Can Be Milk and Nut-Free)

Peanut Butter Fudge, before cutting into it.

I don't know about you, but Christmastime normally means family time, and family time normally means goodies (i.e. cookies, candies, pies).  One of the things I remember having most often as a child at Christmas was peanut butter fudge.  Now, the fudge I remember having wasn't made with very allergy-friendly ingredients, but this one is! :)  This recipe is a modified version of one I found on allrecipes.com as posted by ANGIEH.  This recipe is soy (if you use all soy-free ingredients), wheat, fish and egg-free, and can be milk and nut-free (see variations).  It also melts in your mouth, is deliciously rich and decadent and super simple to boot!  I hope you make it and that it becomes a part of your Christmas traditions! :)

Peanut Butter Fudge



1/2 Cup full fat, salted butter

2 Cups brown sugar

dash of salt (up to 1/8 teaspoon)

1/2 Cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Cup soy-free peanut butter (creamy or crunchy - the choice is yours)

(JIF Natural or Smucker's Natural are great choices here.)

3 Cups powdered sugar

(make sure this ingredient is gluten-free if you need the recipe to be)

1. Grease a 9x13 inch pan and set aside.
       
2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
     
3. Stir in brown sugar, salt and milk and bring to a roiling boil and boil and stir for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
     
4. Remove mixture from heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla until the peanut butter is melted and fully incorporated.  (Note: Feel free to go a little heavy handed on the peanut butter if you wish.  If you like it more peanut buttery, use a rounded Cup of peanut butter (up to 1 1/4 Cups).  If you like it not quite as peanut buttery, use a scant Cup (down to as little as 3/4 Cup).)
     
5. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
      
6. Pour/scoop the mixture into the prepared 9x13 pan and carefully press the mixture with a wooden spoon or spatula into the pan until the fudge is evenly distributed throughout the pan.  (Note: You can use your clean, bare hands to do this part, but the fudge mixture can be very hot, so I don't recommend this method.  If you want to do it that way, however, you may, but I recommend greasing your hands with butter first to reduce the risk of getting a burn.)
       
7. Chill the fudge until firm and then cut into squares and enjoy.

Makes at least 48 pieces.

Variations (Please keep your individual allergen needs in mind when using variations!):

• Milk-Free: Use a dairy-free butter (such as Melt or Earth Balance) and dairy-free milk (such as SoDelicious) in place of the butter and milk.  Make sure you grease the pan with a dairy-free fat, too.
      
• Other Nut or Nut-Free: If you can have tree nuts, you can easily sub a tree nut spread for the peanut butter.  If you can have neither, you can use a seed butter instead.
  
  
• Other Flavors: You can substitute any peanut butter, tree nut or seed butter spread or a combination of a few for the peanut butter in this.  This means you could use a flavored peanut butter (like the ones by Peanut Butter & Co.), Nutella or any other flavor that suits your fancy. :) 

Sounds good, right?  It is, trust me!  You really should make some and let me know what you think.  I promise you, you won't be disappointed! :)  Just start off with a small piece - this stuff is rich! :)

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I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and blessed holiday season!  Most likely I will not be back until after the New Year in order to spend some time with my extended family, including my Granny who will be up here for a month!  I am excited! :D  Anyway, stay safe, have fun and enjoy your time with loved ones!  I will still answer emails and comments, so feel free to send them along, but forgive me if it takes me longer than normal to respond. :)

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What are  your favorite Christmas goodies?

What are your favorite Christmas traditions?

What is your favorite part about Christmas?



(This recipe was originally posted on my original site, Natural and Free.)