No Bake Peanut Butter Fudge (Easy and 4-Ingredient)

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This super easy 4-ingredient no bake peanut butter fudge is completely vegan, high-in-protein and wonderfully melts in your mouth! Makes for an amazing dessert recipe or sweet snack you can make ahead that your whole family will enjoy.

View on many squares of no bake peanut butter fudge garnished with vegan white chocolate chips and peanuts.

I bet this no bake peanut butter fudge is going to be a new favorite vegan dessert to all peanut butter lovers! This is a fuss-free and no cooking recipe that feels like a REAL treat, but also is super simple to make. We absolutely love it!

It is SO creamy and smooth, just perfectly sweetened, done using only 4 simple ingredients and completely vegan and dairy-free. The flavor from the peanut butter is what really stands out, but the addition of vanilla and maple flavors makes for an absolutely amazing result. This is a must-try recipe!

All you need to do is combine peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract, then pour in a dish and let it set for about one hour. This recipe is ridiculously easy and other than the resting time, it comes together very quickly.

On top of being so delicious and easy to make, this no cook peanut butter fudge also is high in plant-based protein and made without dairy, butter or confectioner's sugar. There is some coconut oil, but this recipe overall is a little healthier than many PB fudge recipes I have seen.

You can have fun and garnish the fudge with all your favorite topping ingredients, such as dark chocolate, shredded coconut, peanuts, white chocolate or simply add some coarse salt to balance out the sweetness. You can include your kids and turn this recipe into a fun project!

I hope you give it a try! ❤️

Overhead on pieces of no bake peanut butter fudge.

What's to love about this recipe

Easy, no cooking and no stove required
Done using 4 simple pantry ingredients
Sweet treat that's a little healthier (no refined white sugar) and high-in-protein
Great make-ahead dessert or to give as a gift
Made without condensed milk
Perfect to serve during any gatherings or holidays
Customizable and fun to garnish!
Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free

Ingredients you'll need

The 4 simple ingredients needed to make the basic fudge recipe are explained below. Then, feel-free to garnish the fudge with your favorite ingredients for a personalized finish (see below for ideas!).

Peanut Butter: you will need the natural kind made only with peanuts (and a little salt) that's pourable. Do not use the kind of peanut butter that's solid and made with sugar.
Maple syrup: I think agave nectar should work too. Maple syrup is amazing in flavor in this recipe, but also makes the fudge SO smooth and prevent it from being gritty. Do not swap for regular sugar!
Coconut oil: regular oil won't work, so make sure to use coconut oil and no other kinds. When coconut oil chills, it become creamy and firm, which will be responsible for the texture of the fudge. Use refined coconut oil if looking for a fudge without any coconut flavor.
Vanilla extract: you can omit it if you don't have any, but it adds such a great flavor and boosts the sweetness of this treat.

Showing are the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

How to make it

So easy and quick to come together, the hardest part is to wait for it to set in the freezer! Definitely a great recipe to make ahead and meal-prep on the weekend.

Combine

In a medium bowl, melt the coconut oil (I like to use the microwave, 30-60 seconds) and then, add the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract.

Whisk well to create a super smooth and completely uniform mixture, which can take 30-60 minutes.

Pour + Garnish

Cover a loaf pan with some parchment paper and leave some extra length hanging on the sides to be able to grab and pull on it all at once whenever it is set.

Then, pour the peanut butter fudge mixture over. Tilt the pan slightly a few times to even out the surface of the fudge and then, garnish with your favorite ingredients. You can gently press on them so they stick to the fudge nicely.

Chill

Transfer the pan into your freezer and freeze for at least an hour to allow the fudge to harden and set.

Once done, pull on the parchment paper to get the whole fudge out of the pan and slice in squares or bars. Enjoy!

In process picture: showing the ingredients needed to make this recipe in a bowl.

In process picture: there is a whisk stirring a sauce in a bowl.

Watch how to make it

Helpful tips

Feel free to use crunchy peanut butter if you would like a crunchier texture with pieces of peanuts within the fudge. In any case, be sure to use a natural peanut butter that's pourable for best results!
If your fudge feels a little too soft after being in the freezer for 1 hour, then simply let it chill a little longer, it should do the trick!
This recipe is rich in flavor, so I recommend to slice it in smaller serving squares. You won't need a lot to satisfy your sweet craving.
Covering your loaf pan with parchment paper is essential for easy unmolding. If you don't use it, the fudge might stick the the pan and you won't be able to slice in squares.

Front angle view on pieces of no bake peanut butter fudge garnished with vegan white chocolate chips and peanuts.

Favorite topping ideas

Once you pour the fudge mixture into the dish, then you can garnish it with your favorite ingredients to customize it. Here are a few ideas you can press into the fudge:

Crushed/chopped nuts to add a nice crunch to the fudge
Roasted and salted peanuts for a sweet and salty dessert
Dark chocolate: sprinkle some vegan chocolate chips over the fudge or simply roughly crush a bar of dark chocolate. You can also drizzle some vegan chocolate fudge and swirl it within the mixture before freezing.
Shredded coconut or coconut flakes
Salty pretzels
Coarse sea salt: simple, but will balance out the flavor of the sweet fudge
Chopped or diced vegan chocolate chip cookies
Vegan white chocolate chips: the brand Enjoy Life now has an allergen-free vegan white chocolate chips. This is what I used to garnish my fudge (alongside some peanuts).

Storage tips

These peanut butter fudge bites store very well, which makes it a great sweet treat to make ahead.

Once all done, then I like to keep mine in the fridge. The fudge still holds well, but becomes a little softer and melts in your mouth once you take a bite. The fudge can be kept in the fridge for a week.

For a firmer fudge, then keep it in the freezer. You may want to slice it ahead for easy grab and go individual pieces and let it slightly soften at room temperature just for a few minutes before enjoying. The fudge can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Close up on squares of vegan no bake peanut butter fudge on parchment paper.

FAQ's

Can I make it nut-free?

I haven't tried using sunflower seed butter or pumpkin seed butter yet to make this recipe nut-free. Although the flavor will be different and the texture maybe not as smooth, I think it might work!

I don't have a loaf pan, can I use a different dish t set the fudge?

Yes! This is a no cook recipe, so you can easily swap the dish used to set the fudge. If the dish is narrower, then the fudge might end up thicker, which means that you will need to allow more time for the fudge to set. Another good idea would be to mold the fudge in a few paper muffin tins.

Close up on a pile of vegan no bake peanut butter fudge with the top one having a bite taken off.

More peanut butter recipes you might like

I hope you like this vegan peanut butter fudge recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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