Healthy Hazelnut Fudge – Gluten Free 

 By Rachel Hofing

You’re never going to believe how good this treat is and all without any refined sugar!  If you are new to eating low or no sugar, then use a higher amount of the agave nectar.  If you can wean yourself off of sugar you will come to enjoy the dark creamy goodness of this less sweet version. 

I developed this recipe, inspired by raw food desserts, while on a strict no sugar diet and so I make it even without the agave nectar. But I do prefer it with the agave nectar – it is smoother and the sweetness is more balanced.  Try it both ways and see how you like it. – Rachel Hofing

YIELD: 35 squares

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup extra virgin coconut oil 
1/2 cup hazelnut butter
1 Tbsp. agave nectar or honey (can increase this up to 3 Tbsp. or to taste)
1/4 cup cocoa powder 
1/2 cup carob powder
1 1/2 tsp. Chocolate Flavoured Fitilicious Flavour Blaster**
Pinch of sea salt or Himalayan salt

PREPARATION:

If your coconut oil is solid (it will melt at 24 degrees Celsius), melt it gently over low heat. Add the hazelnut butter and agave nectar and mix well.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix all together until very smooth.  Spoon the mixture into a 9 inch glass pie plate and smooth the top.  
Refrigerate until slightly firm (about 45 mins.) and then cut into small squares.  This recipe makes about 35 small fudgy squares.   

VARIATIONS:

Carob Almond Fudge – Use Almond Butter instead of Hazelnut butter.
Cocoa Fudge – Use 3/4 cups cocoa powder instead of using any carob powder. Because Carob is naturally sweet, you will want to use 1/4 cup agave nectar to balance the chocolate.  But oh this fudge is blissful!  Who needs chocolate hazelnut spread full of modified fats and lots of sugar?
Macaroon Fudge – Use Almond butter instead of hazelnut butter and stir in 1 cup coconut before spreading into the pie plate.

Recipe Notes:
This recipe will become quite soft at room temperature so it needs to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.  

**The Chocolate Flavoured Fitilicious Flavour Blaster is a product made of chicory root, natural flavours and stevia leaf extract.  If you cannot find this product at your health food store, you can use a 1/4 tsp stevia extract in its place and/or use more agave nectar or honey or omit it altogether.  But if you can find this product, it is worth it as I find it doesn’t have the strong aftertaste that you can get when using stevia. – Rachel Hofing