Peppermint Fudge

I owe you so many pictures, I know. I am going to try to get the camera set up this weekend. IF, I can find the software and cords and all that...........

I decided to make a little treat for the folks at Peter's office and some friends of mine who are coming over this weekend for haircuts.
I love fudge, pretty much anything chocolate is my friend.
I've tried a few vegan fudge recipes and have not been so happy with them. In My Sweet Vegan there is a 5 minute fudge recipe that claims it's rich and creamy. The others I tried said that too but never lived up to the claim.
This fudge is rich and creamy and soft. I you are going to cut it into shapes you may want to either chill it for just 5 minutes (so the candy doesn't sweat) or keep your cutters very, very cold.
The original recipe is for a coconut fudge and calls for regular coconut milk, which I am sure it pretty tasty too, but 'tis the season..............
In this recipe I used lite coconut milk because that's what they sell at Trader Joe's. I turned out just fine.
I decided to do a peppermint fudge instead of coconut. I saw a pretty picture of some in the Martha Stewart Handmade Gifts magazine.

Peppermint fudge

spray and 8x8 square pan and set aside

crush into small crumbles and sift out the dust (save both the dust and chunks in separate bowls)
9 regular sized candy canes or peppermint sticks

In a bowl mix:
1c semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 1/2c confectioner's sugar
1/2 c dutch process cocoa powder
set aside

in a small sauce pan heat until small bubbles form and the butter is melted
2T Earth Balance or margarine
1/2 cup reg coconut milk (you can use light too)

pour over the chocolate mixture
let sit for 1 minute or so

add:
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp Peppermint Extract
the peppermint dust
mix until completely smooth and all chocolate is melted (if you need to pop it in the microwave to reheat slightly)

pour in to prepared pan and sprinkle generously with peppermint crumbles
let cool
cut into squares
makes about 32 small squares

take out the peppermint extras add coconut, or nuts or your favorite add-ins instead!

The funny part about this recipe is that after I had come home from the store I was surfing the web and reading some blogs and what not. Low and behold there on the Go Dairy Free site there was a recipe for Peppermint Fudge, FROM THE SAME BOOK!
I laughed and then rejoiced that my own speculations about the measurements for the peppermints were right on point! How often does that happen?

enjoy!
xoxo