"Christmas baking" to me isn't cookies (though I do make some this time of year!) Christmas baking is delectable homemade, old fashioned candy and treats piled high in blue, red, and green patterned tins. It's the pop of the lid and the layers of wax paper protecting the aromatics and releasing sugary particles in the air. All stored as a child's dream of confectionary heaven in my great-grandmothers spare bedroom. Divinity, pralines, buckeyes, peanut brittle, and...the fudge! Oh, how I loved the fudge. Big thick squares of melt-in-your mouth salty chocolate fudge.

See, fudge has to be salty or it's just chocolate in my opinion. The salt couches the sugar content and makes your taste buds dance and sing. "Give me more!," they say of that first (and second, and third!) smooth and toothsome bite. With that in mind, frosting is missing that extra special note for me; until now!

This fudge frosting is 100% my favorite flavor of the holidays; largely because of how much memory a fudge flavor holds. Add to that, the fact that it really only takes 5 minutes? You need no other other chocolate frosting recipe; this one is it! Vegan, not vegan; doesn't matter. The frosting is amazing!

Sustainability Spotlight: Frosting is one of the easiest things to make homemade. Yet, many continuously purchase this ingredient from the stores packed in plastic containers (that many may not fully rinse and recycle) complete with aluminum safety seals (also not recycled) and including many preservatives.

Even though purchase of pre-packaged frosting has stabilized over a 10 year period (from 2011 to 2021 as reported by statista.com) sales are expected to increase; ~154 Million people used pre-packaged frosting in 2021.

Today's sustainability spotlight is short and sweet (pun intended!) - make your own frosting. Save the resources that go into pre-packaged materials by creating and crafting homemade food. Even when there are vegan options at the store, if you could avoid a processed and pre-packaged product without creating tons of layers of time or energy on your part, a sustainable effort would be to "make it yourself!"

Start with this easy recipe and have it in your repertoire for this holiday season (or really any time; it's that good!) to see for yourself - you can make a difference, and it starts with your choices at home!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1/2 cup vegan butter (cut into pieces to help incorporate faster)

• 3 cups powdered sugar

• 1/4 cup cooled brewed coffee (room temperature!)

• 1/2 tsp salt (Note: slightly less is good here if you don't like as salty of fudge)

• Garnishes (optional): Vegan Sprinkles

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients (except optional garnishes) to a stand mixer bowl with whisk attachment. Turn on mixer on low to start to incorporate the frosting ingredients.

2. Gradually turn up the mixer in 30 second intervals until you are on medium-high speed setting.

3. Beat for ~2 minutes (stopping to scrape down the bowl as needed) until the frosting is smooth and fluffy. If needed, add a few more tablespoons of coffee to the mixture to smooth it out.

4. Apply frosting to cupcakes, cake or even cookies and top with vegan sprinkles (I used Pop! available on Amazon) if using.

With love & hope for a better future for all of us - Jamie