Easy Vegan Fudge/Buttercream Frosting

 I have never been a fudge lady, even when I was little.  It was always overly sweet...and no wonder since the vast majority that were made in my childhood era included marshmallow creme!  If fudge had been made like this..I could have jumped on the bandwagon!  If you need a last minute something to throw together to bring to a party...this would be it..it takes  under 5 minutes!  It will need to set in the freezer for bit before you leave though, so be warned!  While still not necessarily slimming, this fudge is free of refined sugars, and has no nasty processed ingredients...and everyone can enjoy this treat as it is free of all major allergens.  If you want the fudge to stay firmer at room temp, I suggest using all Earth Balance or butter, the coconut oil softens the fudge more.  I got this recipe from The Nourishing Gourmet, a talented fellow blogger!

TIP:  Want a great vegan buttercream frosting?  This is it!  This fudge is so soft at room temp, it is just like a thick buttercream frosting....SO DELICIOUS!

1/2 cup fat (choose from coconut oil, Earth Balance, or butter) In this recipe, I used 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1/4 cup Earth Balance buttery cubes
1/2 cup high quality cocoa powder (remember, this is a KEY ingredient, so don't use a cheap cocoa powder, it will effect the taste dramatically!  I like Dagoba, but there are many tasty one out there)
1/4 cup sticky liquid sweetener of choice (maple syrup, honey, or agave) (you could add 1 or two more tablespoons here if you desire, or a few drops vanilla stevia
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or other if you want to play with the flavors)
Optional add in's: natural corn-free peppermint candy canes (crushed), chopped toasted nuts, tart dried fruits, cocoa nibs.

This recipe was shared on Gluten Free Wednesday, Traditional Tuesdays,