This No-Bake Coffee Walnut Fudge Slice is a lovely rich slice with plenty of coffee flavour and a delicious combination of walnuts and biscuits. Condensed milk and butter bring the base together, with coconut adding a little extra texture.

Finished with a coffee flavoured icing, it’s an easy no-bake slice that is perfect for afternoon tea, sharing with friends or adding to the baking tin.

A Kiwi favourite from my childhood

This recipe has been around since forever! One I have in my handwritten recipes from my lovely Aunty Marilyn from when I was a little girl. Seems like this has been a favourite for Kiwis for many, many years, so it deserves a spot on my website. 

How one recipe became two favourite slices

The original recipe I was given was using the same base recipe to create both a coffee fudge slice and a peppermint slice, I have both of these versions now here on my website, although I did tinker with the peppermint slice as I tend to do! 

Which biscuits work best for this no-bake slice?

I have made a little tweak here as well of course, I have doubled the topping but otherwise it is as written! This is a lovely simple recipe with pantry basics, vanilla biscuits, condensed milk, butter, coffee, coconut, walnuts, icing sugar and vanilla essence.

I am often asked about which biscuits I use when I am baking no-bake slices, and depending on where you are in the world that will vary. Here in NZ you can use Vanilla or Super Wine, Arrowroot, Scotch Fingers or Krispies. In Australia they have Marie biscuits, and elsewhere they may be called Rich Tea biscuits. 

Adjusting the coffee flavour and topping

The original recipe, which is at the very bottom of this post, includes coffee essence. I do not have that on hand, so I have used a very strong coffee mix in its place.

I have also doubled the topping here, just to make it more of a topping than an icing. That does make it sweeter, so you can reduce the size of the slices if you wish (or not!).

Can I make this slice gluten free or without coconut?

This recipe can easily be made gluten free by simply swapping the biscuits for your favourite gluten free biscuits. If you are not a fan of coconut, you can replace this with one cup of crushed cornflakes instead. Both are easy swaps and mean you can still enjoy this lovely no-bake slice.

What can I use instead of coffee essence?

If you do not have coffee essence or coffee extract on hand, there are a few easy alternatives you can use. For this Coffee Walnut Fudge Slice, I use a quick strong coffee mixture made with equal parts boiling water and coffee granules. Simply combine 1 tablespoon of boiling water with 1 tablespoon of coffee granules, increasing the quantity at the same ratio if you need more.

DIY alcohol-free coffee extract:

For an alcohol-free homemade coffee extract, add 1 cup of strong coffee (made with at least 4 teaspoons of coffee) and ¾ cup of sugar to a saucepan. Heat slowly until the sugar has dissolved, then bring to a gentle boil for 5–7 minutes, until it begins to reduce and thicken. Allow it to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for a few weeks and using as needed.

DIY coffee extract made with vodka:

You can also make your own coffee extract using coffee beans and vodka. Add ½ cup of whole coffee beans and 1 cup of vodka to a clean glass jar, seal well and leave in a cool, dark place for around 1–2 weeks, giving the jar a gentle shake every day or so. Once it has developed a lovely strong coffee flavour, strain out the beans and store the extract in a clean, airtight bottle or jar. Use a small amount as you would coffee extract, adding more to taste if needed.

Other no-bake slices to try 

If you are a fan of no-bake slices, please check out some of my favourites on my website:

• No-Bake Peppermint Slice 
• Caramilk No-Bake Slice
• Lemon & Ginger No-Bake Slice
• Chocolate No-Bake Slice

If you have any trouble getting your slice just right, my No-Bake Slice Troubleshooting Guide has some handy tips to help.

No-Bake Coffee Walnut Fudge Slice recipe

I really hope you love this No-Bake Coffee Walnut Fudge Slice as much as we do. It is such a simple slice to have in your recipe collection, and one I know I’ll be making again and again.

If you give this recipe a go, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you in the comments. You can also leave a ⭐ rating in the recipe card above, it really helps others find and enjoy this recipe too.

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Happy baking,
Anna x