Fudge is a simple concoction of sugar, butter, and cream. A delicious, rich, and diverse treat, is fudge gluten-free?
Fudge is gluten-free as the main ingredients of fudge are milk, butter, and sugar. However, commercial fudge can be processed in facilities that also process treats containing gluten. Making homemade fudge is the best way to prevent cross-contamination. The best gluten-free and healthier alternatives to fudge are Larabar Fudge Brownie Bar and Quest Fudgey Brownie Candy Bites.
In this article, we will explore the nutrition information of common fudge brands, offer healthy alternatives to fudge, and simple gluten-free fudge recipes. Let’s dig in!
Contents
A trip down memory lane
Tracing its origins back to 1886 in the beautiful city of Baltimore, Fudge actually grew in popularity when a New York Vassar College student, Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, made a 30 lb. batch for fundraising auction. The treat like wildfire! Hartridge reported her recipes came from a classmate’s cousin who sold fudge in Baltimore for 40 cents a pound. On the other hand, Florida’s Gulf Coast Fudge Co. claims their recipes came dating back to 1837. Regardless of the origin, this budget-friendly treat enticed Vassar students so much they would cook in their dorm rooms over gas lamps. That’s true dedication.
Even though fudge grew its popularity in the Vassar dorms, companies took a while to jump on mass production. However, once entrepreneurs caught on to the money-maker sweet it made its way to the American tourism sector and could be found anywhere there were crowds. Large chocolate companies like Mars, Hershey, Mondalez, and Nestle of course produce fudge with varying recipes and spin-offs. If one has special dietary restrictions, like celiac or gluten-insensitivity, each company should be researched prior as commercial fudge can have varying ingredients.
Is fudge healthy?
The main ingredients of a common fudge bar are sugar, milk, and butter. Fudge is essentially “empty calories” meaning it provides little to no nutritional value, although quite delicious. Fudge can be made in a variety of ways and techniques, whether is commercially produced or homemade, it may or may not contain various additives that alter the nutritional value. Basically, fudge is high in calories and does not contain many vitamins or minerals. Common additives are milk fat and corn syrup.
Fudge is high in saturated fat and sugar which can lead to blood sugar spikes, weight gain, and risks associated with obesity. On the other hand, there are fudge recipes that can be made without sugar such as fruit fudge which uses natural sugar or the alternative is an artificial sweetener.
Fudge Nutritional Information
Mackinac Island Chocolate Fudge
Mackinac Island Fudge is one of the most famous fudge brands. If we examine the ingredients, we will see that this commercial fudge brand is not 100% gluten-free as it contains whey solid.
Ingredients:
- Cream
- Milk
- Cane sugar
- Coconut oil
- Soybean oil
- Cocoa processed with alkali
- Chocolate liquor
- Cocoa
- Peanut oil
- Whey solids
- Stabilizer (locust bean gum, guar gum)
- Vanilla
- Natural flavor
- Soy lecithin
- Salt
- Corn starch
Nutrition Facts (per 4 oz. serving):
- 260 cal per serving
- Fat Calories: 140
- Fat:16g
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Cholesterol: 50
- Sodium: 80
- Carbs: 28
- Protein: 3
- Fiber: 0
- Sugar: 14
- Vitamin A: 10
- Vitamin C: 0
- Calcium: 8
- Iron: 2
- Trans Fat: 0
Mackinac Island Chocolate Fudge
Mackinac Island Fudge is one of the most famous fudge brands. If we examine the ingredients, we will see that this commercial fudge brand is not 100% gluten-free as it contains whey solid.
Ingredients:
- Milk Chocolate
- Sugar
- Glucose Syrup
- Palm Oil
- Skimmed Milk Powder
- Cocoa Butter
- Cocoa Mass
- Whey Powder
- Milk Fat
- Emulsifier
- Bicarbonate of Soda
- Salt
Nutrition Facts (per 1 bar/100g):
- Calories: 448
- Fat:15g
- Saturated Fat: 8.2g
- Cholesterol: 74
- Carbs: 74
- Protein: 3
- Fiber: 15
- Sugar: 65
- Vitamin A: 10
- Vitamin C: 0
- Calcium: 8
- Iron: 2
- Trans Fat: 0
Fresh Market Rocky Road Fudge
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Fondant
- Cream (milk)
- Baking Chocolate
- Butter (cream, salt)
- Corn Syrup
- Vanilla
- Salt
Nutrition Facts (per 28g):
- Calories: 130
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fat: 6g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sugar: 18g
- Protein: 1g
- Fiber: 1g
Winfrey’s Chocolate Fudge
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Fondant
- Cream (milk)
- Baking Chocolate
- Butter (cream, salt)
- Corn Syrup
- Vanilla
- Salt
Nutrition Facts (per 28g):
- Calories: 100
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fat: 3g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sugar: 18g
- Protein: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
Nestle Toll House- Famous Fudge Recipe
Ingredients:
- Nestle Toll House Sweet Morsels
- Granulated Sugar
- Marshmallows
- Evaporated Milk
- Canola Margarine
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- Salt
Nutrition Facts (1 serving):
- Calories: 81
- Carbs 13.4g
- Fat: 2.5g
- Sodium: 38.2mg
- Cholesterol: 1.5mg
- Sugar: 12.1g
- Protein: .4g
- Potassium: 16.1mg
- Carbohydrates: 13.4g
Hershey’s Rich Cocao Fudge Recipe
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Hershey’s Cocoa
- Salt
- Milk
- Butter
- Vanilla Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 1 serving):
- Calories: 186
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fat: 4g
- Sodium: 46mg
- Cholesterol: 1mg
- Sugar: 34g
- Protein: 1g
Carnation Nestle Famous Fudge Kit Nutrition
Ingredients:
- Nestle Toll House Semi-sweet Chocolate Morsels (semi-sweet Chocolate [sugar, Chocolate. Milkfat, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors])
- Sugar
- Carnation Evaporated Milk (Milk, Dipotassium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Vitamin D3)
- Marshmallows (corn Syrup, Sugar Modified Corn Starch, Dextrose, Water, Gelatin, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate)
- 2% Or Less Of:
- Salt
- Natural Flavor
Nutrition Facts (per 27g):
- Calories: 140
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fat: 4.5g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sugar: 23g
- Protein: 1g
- Fiber: 1g
Roly’s Fudge
Ingredients:
- Nestle Toll House Semi-sweet Chocolate Morsels (semi-sweet Chocolate [sugar, Chocolate. Milkfat, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors])
- Sugar
- Carnation Evaporated Milk (Milk, Dipotassium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Vitamin D3)
- Marshmallows (corn Syrup, Sugar Modified Corn Starch, Dextrose, Water, Gelatin, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate)
- 2% Or Less Of:
- Salt
- Natural Flavor
Nutrition Facts (per 27g):
- Calories: 60
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fat: 4.5g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sugar: 23g
- Protein: 1g
- Fiber: 1g
Healthy Gluten-Free Alternatives
Larabar Fudge Brownie Chocolate Sea Salt
Larabar bars are a great healthy alternative that uses very minimal but high-quality and nutritious ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Dates
- Cashews
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla extract)
- Hemp Seeds
- Cocoa Powder
- Sea Salt
- Vanilla Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 1 bar/45g) :
- Calories: 200
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fat: 9g
- Sodium: 125
- Cholesterol: 1mg
- Sugar: 34g
- Protein: 1g
Quest Fudgy Brownie Candy Bites
Quest offers a range of high-protein indulgent treats with less sugar and carbs than regular fudge.
Ingredients:
- Almonds
- Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate)
- Palm Kernel Oil
- Polydextrose
- Soluble Corn Fiber
- Water
- Allulose
- Cocoa Processed With Alkali
- Erythritol
- Sodium Caseinate
- Glycerin
- Contains Less Than 2% Of The Following:
- Palm Oil
- Butter (Cream)
- Sea Salt
- Natural Flavors
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Carrageenan
- Sucralose
- Annatto (Color)
- Turmeric (Color)
Nutrition Facts (per 1 piece/21g) :
- Calories: 80
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fat: 6g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sugar: <1g
- Protein: 5g
Picky Bars ah, fudge nuts! chocolate & peanut butter
Picky Bars are high in protein and also low in carbohydrates and cholesterol.
Ingredients:
- Almonds
- Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate)
- Palm Kernel Oil
- Polydextrose
- Soluble Corn Fiber
- Water
- Allulose
- Cocoa Processed With Alkali
- Erythritol
- Sodium Caseinate
- Glycerin
- Contains Less Than 2% Of The Following:
- Palm Oil
- Butter (Cream)
- Sea Salt
- Natural Flavors
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Carrageenan
- Sucralose
- Annatto (Color)
- Turmeric (Color)
Nutrition Facts (per 1 bar/45g) :
- Calories: 190
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fat: 8g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sugar: 13g
- Protein: 7g
Healthy Gluten-Free Fudge Recipes
Most common fudge recipes use loads of processed ingredients like sugar, evaporated milk, and corn syrup. However, there are many healthy alternatives to making your favorite fudge at home! Coconut oil is a great replacement for butter and other hydrogenated oils. Raw cacao is loaded with antioxidants and can be sweetened naturally with dates, agave, or maple syrup.
Peanut Butter Date Vegan “Chocolate Fudge” Recipe
The original recipe from Addicted to Dates can be found here.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons raw cacao
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup chopped dates
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/8 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Nutrition Facts (per 27g):
- Calories: 140
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fat: 4.5g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sugar: 23g
- Protein: 1g
- Fiber: 1g
Instructions:
- Blend all ingredients. Spread into baking pan and let harden. Cut into squares and enjoy.
Vegan Chocolate Fudge Recipe
This easy vegan chocolate fudge recipe comes from Detoxinista and can be found here.
Ingredients (16 servings):
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate
- ⅓ full fat coconut milk
- ¼ cup almond butter
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- 1 pinch sea salt
Nutrition Facts (1 serving):
- Calories: 169
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fat: 11g
- Sugar: 9g
- Protein: 2g
- Fiber: 2g
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients. Melt chocolate over low heat then combine with the rest of the ingredients. Make sure not to burn the chocolate.
- Transfer to parchment-lined 6.5 x 6.5 baking dish. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours until firm.
- Store at room temperature for 5-7 days.
2 Ingredient Almond Butter Keto Fudge
This easy two-ingredient recipe is gluten-free and keto-friendly and can be found here.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup creamy almond butter
- 1 ½ cup low carb Sugar-free chocolate chips
Nutrition Facts (1 square):
- Calories: 108
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fat: 10g
- Sugar: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Fiber: 5g
Instructions:
- Melt almond butter and chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat. Stir until smooth. Make sure not to burn.
- Transfer to parchment-lined 6.5 x 6.5 baking dish. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours until firm.
- Once the fudge is set, soften at room temperature before cutting into squares with a sharp knife.
Vegan Dark Chocolate Fudge
This vegan dark chocolate fudge recipe uses coconut oil, peanut butter, and maple syrup for its sweet and fudgy consistency. Coconut oil is a great vegan butter replacement in baking and is healthier alternative other hydrogenated oils. The recipe can be found here.
Ingredients (yield 16 squares):
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ vanilla extract
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Nutrition Facts (1 square):
- Calories: 100
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fat: 9g
- Sugar: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Fiber: 5g
Instructions:
- Blend together coconut oil, peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. Then add cocoa powder.
- Transfer to parchment-lined 6.5 x 6.5 baking dish. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours until firm.
Related Questions
Is Fudge vegan?
Unfortunately, no, just like most chocolate products fudge contains milk and butter which are not vegan.
Is fudge chocolate?
The word fudge is oftentimes misidentified with chocolate. Although there are chocolate fudge flavors, traditional fudge is not necessarily chocolate. Fudge is made with milk, sugar, butter, and various flavoring like cocoa which can give it its chocolatey appearance.