When I was a girl I loved making Christmas cookies and candy for our neighbors. Back in those days (the 1970’s) I used a lot of sugar and gluten in my dessert recipes; this Hazelnut Fudge however, is both dairy-free and gluten-free and makes a wonderful Christmas treat for regular old folks as well as those with food allergies; frankly, no one will notice any gluten or dairy missing from this healthier dessert.
Hazelnut Fudge is made with a total of five ingredients, it’s a quick and easy candy recipe and makes an adorable DIY Christmas gift.
Hazelnut Fudge
Ingredients
- 3½ cups chocolate chips, 16 ounces
- 1 cup full fat coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon hazelnut extract
- 1 cup toasted hazelnuts, chopped
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate and coconut milk together over very low heat
- Stir in honey and hazelnut extract
- Stir in hazelnuts
- Transfer mixture to an 8 x 8 inch baking dish
- Refrigerate for 3 hours
- Serve
I use whole raw hazelnuts for this recipe and roast them on a large cookie sheet in the oven at 350 for 10 minutes. I then place the hazelnuts in a dry towel and rub the towel together to remove some of the skin. After that’s all completed I chop the nuts. I love using raw nuts (and roasting them myself) as I find them more fresh and flavorful when purchased and prepared this way.
Here are some other Christmas and holiday chocolate dessert recipes:
Clemma says
What kind of chocolate chunks are you using? Enjoy Life sweetened chunks?
Diane says
I always use “Ghirardelli’s 100% CACAO” bars for my chocolate – no sweeteners or dairy or lecithin or anything but cacao. It is bitter, but a little extra honey fixes that. Experiment to find the sweetness you prefer. It comes in a large 4 oz. bar, in a black wrapper, and I usually get it at Sprouts or Whole Foods, in the baking section (or with the holiday baking display). Works well in Chocolate Chip Cookies, too. Hope this helps.
Arleen says
I hate when I drool on my keyboard!
MamaCassi says
So funny. I used to make holiday platters w/ English toffee, snickerdoodles, cream cheese mints, fudge, and hershey kiss peanut butter cookies for my neighbors. one christmas, years later, when i was back home, i made another platter w/ just the candies and peanut butter cookies as i was gluten-free but didn’t have good gluten-free baked goods yet(i went gluten-free in 2001, and this was in 2009 or 10) and my neighbors told me that they had missed my platters and looked forward to them each year.
last year i did it again- toffee, your paleo samoas, cream cheese mints, and even the peanut butter kiss cookies, all gluten-free, but not sugar free. i’ve not quite been able to make the quantity w/ the quality i like to serve in my house.
but this is totally inspiring!!! THANK YOU!!!
Catherine says
Yum! I just made some chocolate hazelnut truffles earlier this week–something about those nuts just begs to be paired with chocolate!
Patti Krueger says
Could you use something in place of the coconut milk? Anything coconut doesn’t agree with me. I have some hazelnuts in my freezer that I would love to use for this!
a says
i think a normal thick/heavy cream would work
Charmaine says
My favorite combination ever. Looks like a winner.
Can’t wait to try these. Thanks!
Lisa ONeal says
Can you substitute heavy cream for the coconut milk if you eat dairy?
D @ The Kosher Cave Girl says
I love hazelnuts in almost any form. ‘Tis the season, right! Can’t wait to make these!
Lisa in Indianapolis says
Sounds yummy! What kind of “chocolate chunks” do you use, please? Found in the regular grocery baking aisle, or something special from Whole Foods, etc. No sugar, right.
D @ The Kosher Cave Girl says
I like using Enjoy Life’s chocolate chunks. They’re gluten, soy, and dairy free!
Noel says
Also, from Elana’s other recipes I’ve used chocolate bars and chopped them myself. You can taste test and use the chocolate that you like best. I’ve enjoyed Dagoba and Equal Exchange — 70 – 73% cocao.
PJ says
Lisa,
If you put your cursor over the green words “chocolate chunks” and click on the link, it will take you to the chocosphere.com website and list the product Elana has referenced: Kallari 70% Cacao.