Oh do I have a fun treat for you today. It showcases one of my old favourites – carob. Have you tried carob powder before? The pods of the tropical carob tree contain a sweet pulp which is dried, roasted, and ground into powder form. Carob is caffeine-free and contains antioxidants as well as calcium, iron, potassium, and fibre. I love mixing a spoonful of it into my vegan overnight oats, banana soft serve, homemade almond milk, or tossing some into a smoothie for a natural sweetener. I usually buy it in bulk from Bulk Barn (a great way to sample it if you are on the fence), but certain brands like Bobs Red Mill also sell it by the bag in many grocery stores and you can also find it online.
Here’s the kicker –
carob powder is naturally sweet which reduces the need for a lot of added sweeteners in a recipe – a total bonus if you ask me. If you can get over the fact that carob doesn’t taste like chocolate, you are golden. Some people say carob has a flavour similar to dates. I think that’s a better comparison, but you really just have to try it for yourself!
The makings of freezer fudge…
In this recipe, I paired carob with a touch of cocoa powder to add some chocolate flavour. You really can’t go wrong when these two powders are combined as you get the sweetness from the carob and the rich chocolate flavour of the cocoa powder. Of course, if you want to skip the cocoa powder all together you can do that too. Or if you want to use all cocoa powder you can try that, although you’ll need to add more liquid sweetener to the recipe to make up for carob’s lost sweetness.
I worked off my favourite Seductive Raw Chocolate Walnut Freezer Fudge and this carob variation was born. This recipe has a fraction of the added sugar (about 75% less), but I promise you won’t notice anything is missing. Now that’s my kind of treat. Best of all it takes 10 minutes to whip up and only another 20 minutes to set in the freezer. The only downside is that the hubby keeps eating it all on me!
Carob Almond Freezer Fudge
Yield
10 large or 16 smaller squares
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Chill time
20 minutes
Total time
Ready in 30 minutes, this carob freezer fudge is low in sugar while still tasting quite decadent. Feel free to change up the nut butter, sweetener, and mix-ins as you see fit. The coconut oil is necessary in this recipe though as it helps solidify the fudge when chilled. It melts quickly so be sure to enjoy it straight from the freezer and don't let it sit on the counter for more than a couple minutes.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup creamy natural almond butter (roasted or raw are both fine)
- 1/4 cup carob powder, sifted
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- 2-3 tablespoons pure maple syrup (or liquid sweetener of choice), to taste
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- 1/2 cup gluten-free rice crisp cereal (to add crunch - optional)
Directions
- Line a very small loaf pan (4" x 8") with plastic wrap for easy removal.
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until smooth.
- With a spatula, scoop the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth out.
- Freeze for about 20 minutes, or until solid.
- Slice into squares and enjoy! Store leftovers in a container in the freezer as it melts quickly at room temperature.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
pssst – Bonus recipe alert! Carob powder makes a healthy “frosty” too. Just blend 1 large frozen banana, 1 1/2 tbsp carob powder, 3/4 cup almond milk, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tsp cocoa powder, 1 ice cube, and 1 tbsp chia seeds until smooth, icy, and thick. Absolutely delish! It reminds me of the Wendy’s frosty drinks of my youth.
Looks out of this world amazing! My mom used carob all the time in her baking when I was a kid. So nostalgic! I must try. :)
This is officially on my ‘to try’ list. Carob here I come! :)
Holy yum! The Mr will flip for these! I can’t wait to surprise him with it.
If I only have cocoa powder, can I use that instead of carob powder?
You sure can, but you’ll probably need to add more sweetener to make up for the bitter quality of cocoa powder. Just add to taste and you should be good!
I used cocoa instead of carob and chopped pecans instead of the rice crisp cereal with no more sweetener than 3 T of maple syrup, and it was delicious!
This is a FANTASTIC recipe! Super easy and delicious… the perfect amount of sweetness for everyone who has tried them so far… Highly recommend!
I agree with Kathryn’s comment – this fudge is insanely delicious and so easy to make! I actually like it better than chocolate, which I didn’t think was possible! I too give it a five-star rating.
I love the taste of carob! I have gestational diabetes so I won’t be eating these for the time being (although if I left out the rice puffs and paired it with protein it might work…not worth the risk though), but I’m pinning these to whip up for when I get some kitchen time at some point post-partum…they look amazing.
Carob? Never heard of it! Eager to give it a whirl.
Love how your husband was gobbling this fudge down….translation, this IS really good. Because one thing I’ve learned, men do NOT fake it, when I cook something not so great….my husband can’t tell a lie. His eyes say it all! Love the idea of the gluten free rice crispy for that crunch factor, gotta have it =)
I love freezer fudge, so this has got to be great! I love how easy this looks!
O man! This looks delicious and so easy. I can’t wait to try this treat.
Ooh looks delicious!! I must get myself some carob!
Yum! These look perfect. Pinned and can’t wait to try them!
I love freezer fudge and I especially love the idea of adding the cereal because it is otherwise so dense and rich. Will have to try this recipe soon :)
Wooah Ange, this sounds unreal! Love the simplicity of it and the low sugar content too! I really enjoy carob but haven’t had it in a while. I used to swirl it into Greek yogurt with some cocoa powder and cinnamon – so so tasty. Sounds like you need a new hiding spot so that you can keep some of the fudge for yourself! ;)
oh yum!
This looks beyond amazing! I love the combination of almond butter and chocolate mm!
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Carob… I really wanted to like it but I tried it literally one time after I got it from the health food store. No matter how much sweetener I added I couldn’t get over that ‘weird’ – I’m not sure how to describe it – taste. However, your recipe looks so promising I’m tempted to try it again. Yet I’m still scared…
I can’t believe I’m craving carob right now!
Freezer fudge is dangerous because it’s so easy I make it ALL the time! This looks delicious :) But I kid you not, a PB freezer fudge recipe has literally taken over my life. I should be careful!
Oh my word! This freezer fudge looks deee-lissh!!! I can’t blame your hubby for eating it all because I am not sure if I could resist this chocolatey summer treat! I can’t wait to try and ‘bake’ with carob for the first time! This might just fix the Almond butter + chocolate cravings I have been having lately :D
Both of these treats sounds amazing. I must try the smoothie asap. I love a cold refreshing drink!
I have never tried carob powder. It is one of those things that is on my list to try. I like that it is naturally sweet. I didn’t know that.
These look fab, especially with the addition of cripsy rice cereal. It reminds of the cripsy cakes I used to make when I was younger.
I’m making this today! I love carob :)
I’ve NEVER made freezer fudge before either. What is wrong with me??!
All you had to say was “easy” and “fudge.” Yes, please! This looks incredible and l love switching things up and using carob. Great recipe!
I absolutely adore carob, and this looks similar to a few less neat mixes I’ve thrown together. Your version is far more professional!
Carob always takes a little bit getting used to, but you’re spot on- it tastes NOTHING like chocolate! That’s like when people say that cauliflower “rice” tastes like real rice. Um no, BUT that doesn’t mean it’s not awesome in it’s own right. That being said, I think there’s a lovely little nook where carob and it’s tasty-sweetness belongs and this fudge puts a brilliant spotlight on it :)
Oh yes, this recipe is a keeper! My kids and husband will go crazy for it!
Ooh, yummy! I’ve never tried carob before, but this looks wonderful. We have a pretty good bulk section at our biggest local health food store and I’ll definitely pick some up to try this! Thanks for sharing :)
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I’ve never tried carob before but this sounds like a really great way to do so!
I can never quite get my head around the carob taste, perhaps mixing it with cocoa powder will help :-) thanks!
Yum, carob! A bakery near my old place used to sell these amazing carob-chip cookies, which definitely got me on board with carob. Carob fudge sounds super tasty.
I find myself wanting to visit your pantry – just to see what you keep on hand. Would you consider giving us a tour and listing of your favorite vegan pantry staples?
Just stumbled across this article that Angela posted a while back – ohsheglows.com/2012/04/09/my-vegan-pantry/ – might be helpful :)
I’ve never actually heard of carob before but this looks amazing! It looks like such a yummy treat that I would enjoy!
This recipe looks like a great treat to cool off on a hot summer day. I have tried caco nibs, but have not experimented with carob powder yet. I am looking forward to trying it out with this recipe. Thanks!
Ohhhh, I LOVE carob! This looks so good and super crazy easy, definitely need to make this… and yes, the frosty too. YUM!
Oh my goodness!! My grandmother always made things when carob when I was growing up. It’s such a nostalgic flavor for me now. I can’t wait to make both of these recipes…
I have to update… I’ve made these twice now! They are so, so rich and delicious. The 1st time I used 2 tbsp of maple syrup. The 2nd time I only used one (and I’m thinking of using none the next time around… They just seem sweet and rich enough without the need for added sweetener). I also added some chopped up raw almonds to the batter and then sprinkled some course sea salt on the top. Oh my goodness. Addicting!
Wow! Will have to try carbo soon! Made the frosty with Valrohna cocoa powder, and it was amazing-and very, very chocolate-y! What a great summer alternative to a milk shake or malt!!
This sounds delicious! How would you substitute using carob chips though? Is it even possible?
love the crispies in this! I definitely want to try this with a touch of cocoa cocoa powder so i dont miss the chocolateyness to much, looks delicious and so easy a quick too. Trying it tonight!
Realizing I have all of these ingredients right now – this might need to happen ASAP! Thanks for sharing – I’m sure these would be a great treat to have throughout the week. :)
Looks so amazing! I cannot wait to try it out! I just purchased your book and love all the recipes I’ve tried thus far!
These look delish! Just pinned them for later. :)
It looks delicious! I don’t have crisp rice cereal, but I enjoy a crunchy texture. Is there anything else you would recommend adding in place of the cereal?
I used puffed millet. I think puffed rice would work too. I think you could take some rice cakes and chop them into little pieces and use them.
I picked up Bob’s Red Mill Carob Powder – reader beware – it can make quite the mess! I’m not sure if it is because the powder is super fine, but I realized fairly quickly that I wouldn’t be able to store it in the original package for too long without everything in my pantry getting a fine dusting of carob!
I’m super excited about this recipe! I recently purchased raw cacao powder, so I think I will add that in along with the cocoa and carob powder. I’m finding with pregnancy that my chocolate cravings are becoming more of a daily thing than a “monthly” thing lol.
Made it! Wou is delicious ….another wonderful recipe , thank you Angela!
Hi Angela,
Oh. My. Drooool! Just made these and they are awesome!
I have to say, though, that I made some swaps to what I had on hand and to alleviate some pesky allergies I have. I used half the amount of cocoa powder and subbed in some instant hazelnut coffee powder for the rest. And I used chopped hazelnuts instead of the rice crisps.
The great culinary tragedy in my life is that I have developed an allergic reaction to cocoa. If the cocoa concentration is too high or I have eaten too many other foods that I have an intolerance for (the list is looooong and hard to avoid consistently without going insane) my face breaks out in an angry rash – so much fun! :(
In this tragic turn of events I have been experimenting with carob powder, but I have found it very, very hard to balance. In fact this is one of only two recipes where I feel like I’m eating chocolate and not a substitute.
So anyway.. This long rant was basically just to tell you: Thank you for sharing your amazing recipes and teachings :)
Love Kikki
omg! I need to try these :-) yummy in my tummy… and the smoothie looks delicious also!
Made this today. Incredible! I was debating about whether to use the cacao I had or buy carob and decided to buy the carob. I have always liked the flavor and this recipe doesn’t disappoint. I liked the carob so much in fact I added it to a frozen banana smoooooothie. Deliciousness!
Oh my! This look so freakin’ gooood!
These are delicious but how do I stop the rice crispie cereal pieces from just floating?!
Just pulled mine out of the freezer. SO FREAKING RICH AND DELICIOUS!!! How to stop eating them is my question now…
Oh my gosh this looks like an amazing swap for a crunch bar! I love it!