Paleo Toasted Coconut Fudge

For years, I’d been toying with the idea of getting my hands on one of those beautiful machines that’s known as a Vitamix…

But I always resisted the temptation, first and foremost because I wanted to keep my recipes accessible and thought that most people out there did not own a Vitamix and therefore wouldn’t be able to duplicate the creations that I’d eventually come up with while using it.

My second biggest reason for not getting one was the financial investment that it implied. I couldn’t possibly justify spending that kind of money on a high-speed blender when I already had one of the standard model, which worked perfectly well and had been serving me flawlessly for the last 15 years.

But then something terrible happened. My mom just casually called me up one day and went “Guess what I got today? A brand new Vitamix! Whoa, what a machiiiiiiiiine…” And then she went on and on praising the virtues of her new acquisition. All the while, I was turning WAY green with envy.

I’m sure you’ll all guess what happened next… Of course, I asked if maaaaybe I could perhaps possibly borrow it one day and try it for myself, you know, just so I could see what the hype was all about.

Unfortunately, she said “Why absolutely, with great pleasure…”

And so the experimentation began… loads of different kinds of nut butters were created; that and coconut butter, of course! And then this surreal, insanely crazy Paleo Toasted Coconut Fudge came into existence.

That was it. I was hooked, done for… Right then and there, I knew that my life would never be complete until I got me one of those machines.

That fudge is just sinfully delicious! In fact, it reminds me of one of my ultimate favorite treats in the whole wide world, sucre à la crème, which is a true staple here in Québec. It’s made mainly out of sugar, maple syrup, cream and butter. Need I tell you it’s to die for? It’s to die for. However, it isn’t quite so optimal for one’s health…

This fudge, however, it calls for nothing but healthy ingredients, such as toasted coconut flakes, ghee and a little bit of honey…

Its flavor is absolutely divine for anyone who is a fan of toasted coconut, and its texture is even more perfect, if you ask me. Melt-in-your-mouth creamy but still firm enough that it holds its shape well and offers a little bit of resistance when you bite into it. Frankly, these Coconut Fudge Squares are something that simply need to be experienced.

Sadly, though, to really get that texture right, you absolutely need to use a high speed blender such as the Vitamix. A regular food processor or blender simply won’t cut it.

As an alternative, I suppose you *could* always try and use this technique to get the coconut butter ultra creamy before you add the rest of the ingredients, but I suspect the final result won’t be nearly as spectacular.

Before you do anything, you’ll need to grease a 6” x 6” Square Pan with coconut oil and then line it with parchment paper. Leave a bit of an overhang at either end so you can unmold your fudge super easily once it’s set.

Now add the toasted coconut to your high speed blender and process it on medium speed for about 30 seconds to a minute, then slowly increase the speed all the way up to the highest setting.

Keep processing until the coconut flakes turn into a thick paste, which shouldn’t take much more than 45 seconds to a minute.

I bet you won’t even need to stop to scrape the sides either, not even once… I know I didn’t!

Remove the lid and stick your nose in there. Take a nice long whiff or two and then scrape the sides with a rubber spatula just to make sure we have every last bit of coconut in there.

Add the ghee, salt, cinnamon and almond extract.

Note that the almond extract isn’t absolutely necessary, but it imparts such a lovely flavor to the fudge, I personally would’t leave it out.

Resume processing, starting on low again and increasing all the way up to the highest setting, until the mixture becomes super smooth and fairly liquid in consistency, almost like heavy cream.

Again, this won’t take very long, a couple of minutes at most…

Now add the honey and start the motor again. Slowly increase the speed to medium-high (variable 6-7) and process until the honey is completely incorporated, about 15 to 20 seconds.

A note about the honey: DON’T be tempted to add it early. There’s a reason why it gets incorporated only now: it will INVARIABLY, completely, totally change the consistency of your coconut mixture, rendering it thick and looking kind of “broken”. This IS desirable, but you need to get your coconut to the smooth, liquid stage BEFORE you take it to the next level.

So don’t you go add the honey at the same time as the ghee, salt etc. and then tell me that my recipe doesn’t work. 😉

See? I wasn’t kidding when I said that the honey would drastically change the consistency of the mixture. That, right here, is perfectly normal and is precisely what you’re looking for.

Transfer this thick mixture to your prepared pan and spread it as evenly as possible all the way to the edge.

Gently tap the sides a few times to remove any potential air bubbles and also make the top really nice and smooth.

And so now begins the waiting game… Your fudge must be placed in the cupboard to set until the next day.

Yes, that’s UNTIL THE NEXT DAY! No cheating allowed. Unless *maybe* if you were in a real hurry and really couldn’t wait that long… then I suppose you could probably put it in the fridge for a couple of hours.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the white film that you see on top is just a little bit of coconut oil that rose to the top while the fudge was setting. Don’t worry about it, since we’ll be flipping this baby over, none of it will show.

Now that your fudge has had time to set, run a knife or spatula around the sides and then gently pull on the parchment paper to free it from the pan.

Flip it upside down onto a cutting board and peel off the parchment paper, then lovingly cut your fudge into 36 squares.

If you’re going to be serving these at a party, or if you’re feeling fancy and want to make your fudge all pretty and dressed up, place each individual square into a cute little paper cup.

Keep your treats in a cool dry place in an airtight container for up to a few months. <– Yeah right, like that’s gonna happen! 

During the hot summer months, though, you will definitely have to keep your fudge in the fridge. This IS mainly coconut butter after all, and you know how this stuff melts in the heat like ice cream under the sun!

Just check out that texture… can you get a sense of how delicious this would be on your tongue?

I know I can, for I have experienced it first hand. And I can tell you it’s pure bliss. And that alone, I believe, is ample justification for me to finally invest in one of those dream machines!

Hey, incredibly delicious fudge without so much as an inch of guilt factor? I say that’s priceless!

Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Toasted Coconut Fudge

Servings: 36 squares

Ingredients

• 6 cups organic toasted unswseetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup ghee, or make your own
• 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
• 1/2 tsp ground Ceylon cinnamon
• Few drops pure almond extract
• 1/4 cup raw honey

Instructions

• Grease a 6” x 6” Square Pan with coconut oil and then line it with parchment paper, leaving a bit of an overhang at either end for trouble-free unmolding.
• Add the toasted coconut to your high speed blender and process on medium speed for about 30 seconds to a minute, then slowly increase the speed all the way up to the highest setting. Keep processing until the coconut flakes are turned into a thick paste, which shouldn't take much more than 45 seconds to a minute.
• Remove the lid and scrape the sides with a rubber spatula, then add the ghee, salt, cinnamon and almond extract. Resume processing, starting on low and increasing all the way up to the highest setting, until the mixture becomes super smooth and fairly liquid in consistency, almost like heavy cream.
• Add the honey and start the motor again. Increase speed to medium-high and process until the honey is completely incorporated, about 15-20 seconds. You’ll notice a drastic change in consistency: the mixture will become a lot thicker and will look almost broken up. That’s perfectly normal and it’s exactly what we’re after.
• Transfer this mixture to your prepared pan and spread it as evenly as possible all the way to the edge. Gently tap the sides a few times to remove any potential air bubbles and make the top really nice and smooth.
• Place this in the cupboard to set until the next day.
• Run a knife or spatula around the sides and then gently pull on the parchment paper to remove your fudge from the pan. Turn it upside down onto a cutting board and peel off the parchment paper. Delicately cut your fudge into 36 squares.
• Keep in a cool dry place in an airtight container for up to a few months. (During the hot summer months, you will definitely have to keep your fudge in the fridge.)
  

Notes

If you don't own a high speed blender, I suppose you could try and use this technique to get the coconut butter ultra creamy before you add the rest of the ingredients, but I suspect the final result won't be nearly as spectacular.

Author: Sonia! The Healthy Foodie

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