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!
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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.
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. :)