Healthy Nut & Seed Fudge: A Year-Round Delight with a Spooky Halloween Secret

This incredible healthy fudge is packed with wholesome nuts and seeds, and it’s completely refined-sugar-free. But there’s more to this unassuming treat than meets the eye! It leads a fascinating double life, transforming into something hilariously unexpected once a year. Read on to discover its secret . . .

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In the realm of wholesome treats, this unassuming little fudge stands out not just for its incredible taste and nutritional value, but for a truly unique characteristic: it leads a vibrant double life. For the majority of the year, it serves as a reliable workhorse in any healthy kitchen, effortlessly delivering a powerhouse of nutritious ingredients in an appealing, delightfully simple-to-make package.

It’s truly a master of disguise, completely fooling the eye. Each bite of this rich, satisfying fudge is brimming with wholesome goodness, yet it feels like a decadent indulgence. What makes it even more remarkable is its adaptability. You can craft this healthy delight with virtually any combination or variety of nuts and seeds you have readily available. The process is straightforward: measure out a few key ingredients, gently stir them together in a pot on the stovetop, and in a remarkably short time, you’ll have a batch of delicious fudge ready to chill and enjoy.

The exact origins of this cherished recipe are a bit of a mystery. It’s a treasured entry, handwritten on a splattered and well-thumbed page within the sturdy covers of my old hard-covered lab notebook – a book now exclusively dedicated to housing my collection of tried-and-true culinary masterpieces. Its source remains unknown. I might have meticulously copied it from the glossy pages of a magazine, a forgotten pamphlet, or perhaps it was shared by an acquaintance whose name has since slipped my mind. Despite the fuzzy memory of its beginning, I’ve returned to this recipe countless times over the years, making only the slightest alterations to perfect its already delightful consistency and flavor.

In my personal recipe book, it’s humbly titled “Health Fudge.” However, I’ve grown quite fond of calling it Birdseed Fudge or Seed Fudge, given its generous inclusion of various seeds. Alternatively, Eat More Fudge feels equally fitting, as its delightful chewiness and robust flavor profile often remind me of a classic Eatmore Bar. Ultimately, you’re welcome to call it whatever resonates most with you. Regardless of its moniker, this fudge consistently delivers outstanding results. It’s remarkably resilient, making it indestructible for transport, and is naturally gluten-free, catering to a wide range of dietary preferences. Above all, it is incredibly yummy, satisfying sweet cravings without the guilt associated with refined sugars.

Now, let’s delve into the fascinating “double life” of this fudge – a deep, dark, and wonderfully wicked secret. For 364 days of the year, this versatile treat cuts beautifully into perfectly square, neat, and tidy little fudge-like cubes, presenting itself as an elegant and wholesome dessert or snack.

EXCEPT, that is, when Halloween rolls around.

During the spooky season, with a little bit of creative play-dough wrangling expertise – and for a short, gloriously mischievous time only – this healthy fudge undergoes a comical transformation. It morphs into what we affectionately, and somewhat disgustingly, call “Pumpkin Poop.” Yes, you read that correctly: Pumpkin Poop. This beloved, nutritious fudge embraces its inner prankster and transforms into these hilariously grotesque shapes, perfect for eliciting giggles and groans during Halloween festivities.

Please, I implore you, do not judge this wholesome fudge for its deep, dark, and admittedly childish side. It genuinely cannot help itself when the spirit of Halloween calls. And rest assured, it behaves perfectly, maintaining its elegant square form for all the other days of the year. I promise. After all, we’re all allowed a little bit of playful weirdness now and then, aren’t we? Especially when it comes to celebrating the most delightfully eerie holiday of the year!

The Versatile & Nutritious Ingredients of This Healthy Fudge

Kitchen Frau Notes: One of the best features of this healthy fudge recipe is its incredible flexibility. You can truly make it your own by utilizing whatever combination of seeds and nuts you happen to have in your pantry. Don’t have any pumpkin seeds on hand? No problem! Simply use a full cup of sunflower seeds instead to maintain the perfect texture and volume. Out of walnuts? Feel free to substitute with pecans, cashews, or even peanuts – each will lend its unique flavor profile to the fudge. If you’re a big fan of coconut, you could even make it an all-coconut affair, using a higher proportion of shredded coconut. For a different flavor twist, consider using almond butter or sunflower butter in place of peanut butter. The key is to have fun and experiment! Just remember to keep the total combined quantity of seeds, nuts, and raisins to approximately 3 cups to ensure the fudge sets correctly and maintains its delightful consistency.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the star ingredients and their benefits:

• Peanut Butter: A fantastic source of protein and healthy monounsaturated fats, providing sustained energy and satiety.
• Honey: A natural sweetener that also offers antioxidants and a distinct flavor profile, providing a healthier alternative to refined sugars.
• Roasted Carob Powder: This chocolate alternative is naturally sweet and rich in fiber, calcium, and antioxidants, contributing to the fudge’s deep color and unique taste.
• Pumpkin Seeds: Known for being rich in magnesium, zinc, and healthy fats, these seeds add a wonderful crunch and nutritional boost.
• Sunflower Seeds: An excellent source of Vitamin E, selenium, and healthy fats, they contribute a slightly nutty flavor and satisfying texture.
• Toasted Sesame Seeds: Packed with calcium, magnesium, and healthy fats, toasted sesame seeds add an aromatic depth and delightful crispness.
• Shredded, Unsweetened Coconut: Offers healthy medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and a lovely tropical flavor and chewy texture without added sugar.
• Chopped Walnuts (or other nuts): Walnuts are famous for their omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, while other nuts like pecans, cashews, or almonds bring their own unique nutritional benefits and flavors.
• Raisins: Provide natural sweetness and a chewy texture, along with a good source of fiber and iron.

Healthy Fudge (a.k.a ‘Eatmore Fudge’) Recipe

• 1 cup (250gms) natural peanut butter
• 1 cup (340gms) honey
• 1 cup (102gms) roasted carob powder
• ½ cup (60gms) pumpkin seeds
• ½ cup (65gms) sunflower seeds
• ½ cup (70gms) toasted sesame seeds
• ½ cup (35gms) shredded, unsweetened coconut
• ½ cup (50gms) chopped walnuts (or other nuts like pecans, cashews)
• ½ cup (80gms) raisins

Instructions:

1. In a medium-sized bowl, measure out all of your chosen seeds, nuts, and raisins. Give them a quick stir to combine and set this mixture aside. This pre-mixing step ensures even distribution later.

2. In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, gently heat the honey and peanut butter over low to medium heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula, allowing the mixture to warm and combine until it becomes perfectly smooth and glistening. Be careful not to let it boil vigorously. As soon as it’s smooth, remove the pan from the heat.

3. Add the roasted carob powder to the warm honey and peanut butter mixture. Stir vigorously until the carob powder is completely incorporated and the mixture is uniform in color and texture. This step ensures no dry pockets of carob remain.

4. Now, ‘dump’ – or rather, carefully pour – the reserved nut and seed mixture into the saucepan. Stir diligently until all the nuts, seeds, and raisins are thoroughly and evenly coated with the fudge base. The mixture will be quite stiff and thick at this point, requiring a bit of arm work!

5. Indeed, the mixture will be quite stiff and robust at this stage, showcasing its dense, nutrient-packed nature.

6. Press the warm, stiff fudge mixture evenly into a greased 9×9-inch pan. You can use your fingers (lightly dampened to prevent sticking), the back of a spoon, or even a piece of parchment paper to firmly pat it down into an even layer, ensuring it’s compact and smooth.

7. Chill the pan in the refrigerator for several hours, or ideally, overnight. This crucial step allows the fudge to firm up completely, making it easy to cut and handle.

8. Once thoroughly chilled, cut the fudge into neat 1-inch (2.5cm) squares. For the cleanest cuts, I often tip the entire pan onto a large cutting board, gently prying the solid slab of fudge out in one intact piece. From there, it’s significantly easier to slice into perfectly uniform squares.

9. Store the finished healthy fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It keeps wonderfully for several weeks, though it rarely lasts that long in our household!

This recipe makes a generous batch, yielding approximately 2 ½ lbs. (which is over 1 kg) of delicious, nutrient-dense fudge – perfect for sharing, or for keeping all to yourself!

* * * * *

The Halloween Special: Pumpkin Poop

Ready to unleash the spooky, silly side of your healthy fudge? Follow the exact recipe above for the Healthy Fudge, but with a slight, delightfully disgusting modification for Halloween!

Here’s how to create the infamous Pumpkin Poop:

You have a couple of options: You could pat half of the freshly made fudge mixture into a traditional loaf pan for the adults to enjoy in its sophisticated square form. Then, reserve the other half of the mixture for its ghoulish transformation. Alternatively, you can turn the entire batch into a Halloween spectacle!

Instead of pressing the entire mixture into a pan, allow the fudge to cool slightly until it is just warm enough to comfortably handle. This pliable texture is key for successful sculpting. Once cooled to the right temperature, pinch off small, “turd-sized” chunks – yes, there truly is no more accurate or humorous way to describe the desired size and shape! With eager hands, mold, pinch, or artfully shape these chunks into appropriately realistic (and hilariously disgusting) little logs or plops of “pumpkin poop.”

You will undoubtedly have no trouble whatsoever enlisting the enthusiastic help of willing little hands for this hilariously offensive and delightfully disgusting task. Kids absolutely adore the chance to get messy and create something so wonderfully gross! However, be warned: while they may eagerly participate in the creation, I can’t entirely promise they will be as keen to eagerly eat the end results, especially if the “poop” looks a little *too* realistic!

Store your freshly sculpted Pumpkin Poop in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep it firm and fresh.

This method yields approximately 2 ½ lbs. (over a kilo) of Halloween-themed pumpkin poop. That, my friends, is a significant amount of you-know-what, guaranteed to bring laughs and a touch of spooky fun to your Halloween party!

Guten Appetit! And Happy Halloween!

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