Mandarin Orange Fudge Slices-Guest Post with Spabettie

Today I am excited to share a recipe from one of my favorite food bloggers: Kristina of spabettie. I look forward to each and every one of Kristina’s recipes every week. Each one is more tantalizing than the last!

Kristina’s recipes constantly inspire me. When you visit her blog I know you will fall in love with her as I have. Kristina’s creativity with mostly plant based and gluten-free recipes will make you hungry and her stories will make you smile.

I have recently fallen hard for this Maple Cream Pumpkin Pie with Buttery Gingersnap Crust. How about these Double Chocolate Espresso Brownies? Raspberry Jalapeno Chocolates and Brownie Bottomed Cheesecake…ok, my head is spinning in delight!

I am always honored to be invited to guest post on another blog – and when it is someone I adore as much as I do Lora, I like to take time  planning something extra fun.

At spabettie I focus on bright and vibrant food creations – generally plant based, often gluten free, and (hopefully!) always delicious. Foods that are appealing in both presentation and taste, that leave people surprised to discover are plant based and healthy.

Decadent can be healthy.

mandarin orange fudge slices

dairy, soy, and gluten free, vegan

makes 28-32 fudge wedges

Ingredients:

8 small mandarin oranges

3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

1/3 cup coconut butter

3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate

1 tablespoon mandarin zest

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 3/4 cups powdered sugar (make your own!)

Directions: 

Cut mandarins in half. Scoop the fruit out and place in a fine mesh strainer. Continue to scrape the pith so you are left with smooth orange peels. Set aside. Strain orange fruit until all juice is removed; reserve juice to use in recipe, discard the rest.

In small saucepan, melt chopped chocolate. Stir in coconut butter, juice and zest, combine to smooth consistency. Remove from heat. In large mixing bowl, sift together cocoa powder and powdered sugar, whisking out all lumps. Stir in chocolate orange mixture, combine completely, until all lumps are gone.

Fill mandarin halves with fudge, pressing into peels until smooth and flat across top. Set mandarin halves in mini muffin tins to keep upright. Transfer to refrigerator to set fudge. Once fudge is set: using a sharp knife, carefully slice each mandarin half in half again, making quarters. Enjoy!

In making these, I discovered the mandarin peel is edible. If you are adventurous you can eat this whole thing, or you can simply bite out the fudge as we did here.

Thank you Lora for having me here today, and thank you all for reading.

Happy Holidays!

Thank you, Kristina!! It’s such a pleasure to share your delicious mandarin orange fudge slices with my readers! Want to see more of Kristina?:)