The short answer: this fudge recipe takes 4 ingredients and about 10 minutes: melt 3 cups of semisweet chips with a 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk and butter, add vanilla, spread and chill.
- Pan: a lined 8-inch pan
- Chill for 2 to 3 hours, then cut
- No candy thermometer and no beating
- Classic cooked fudge, flavor swaps and fixes below
- Next step: Plan it with the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99).
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This fudge recipe takes 4 ingredients and about 10 minutes. Melt 3 cups of semisweet chocolate chips with one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk and 2 tablespoons of butter, stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and a pinch of salt, spread it in a lined 8-inch pan and chill for 2 to 3 hours. Then cut it into squares. There's no candy thermometer and no beating. Below are the exact steps, a classic cooked fudge for anyone who wants the old-fashioned texture, flavor swaps, fixes and storage.
I love giving homemade treats at Christmas. Fudge is one of the easiest ways to fill a stack of tins from one pan.
Easy fudge ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Semisweet chocolate chips | 3 cups (18 ounces) | Milk chocolate makes a softer, sweeter fudge |
| Sweetened condensed milk | 1 can (14 ounces) | Not evaporated milk |
| Butter | 2 tablespoons | Optional, for a creamier bite |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon | |
| Salt | A pinch | Flaky salt on top is nice too |
| Add-ins | 1 cup chopped nuts, optional | Stir in at the end |
How to make easy fudge, step by step
- Line the pan. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment or foil, leaving extra over two sides as handles.
- Melt gently. Put the chips, condensed milk and butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Stir until smooth, about 5 minutes. In the microwave, heat in 30-second bursts and stir between each.
- Flavor it. Take it off the heat and stir in the vanilla, salt and any add-ins.
- Spread. Scrape it into the pan and smooth the top.
- Chill. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours, until firm.
- Cut. Lift it out by the parchment and cut it into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts.
Low heat matters. Chocolate that gets too hot turns thick and dull, and the fudge can feel dry.
Classic cooked fudge
Cooked fudge has a firmer, more crumbly-smooth texture. It takes about 45 minutes and a candy thermometer.
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Granulated sugar | 3 cups |
| Evaporated milk | ⅔ cup |
| Butter | ¾ cup (1½ sticks) |
| Semisweet chocolate chips | 2 cups (12 ounces) |
| Marshmallow creme | 1 jar (7 ounces) |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon |
- Boil. Stir the sugar, evaporated milk and butter in a heavy 3-quart pan over medium heat until it boils.
- Cook to soft ball. Clip on a candy thermometer and boil, stirring often to prevent scorching, until it reaches 234°F, about 5 minutes after a full boil.
- Stir in the rest. Take it off the heat and stir in the chips, marshmallow creme and vanilla until smooth.
- Set. Pour it into a lined 13-by-9-inch pan and cool at room temperature, then cut.
Hot sugar can burn badly. The National Fire Protection Association's cooking safety tips say to stay in the kitchen while you cook on the stovetop, so keep kids and pets out of the way while the pot boils.
Fudge flavor variations
| Flavor | Change to the easy recipe |
|---|---|
| Peanut butter fudge | Use peanut butter chips and stir in ½ cup creamy peanut butter |
| Rocky road | Stir in 1 cup mini marshmallows and ¾ cup chopped almonds after it cools slightly |
| Peppermint fudge | Add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract and top with crushed candy canes |
| White chocolate cranberry | Use white chips; add 1 cup dried cranberries and orange zest |
| Salted caramel | Swirl ¼ cup thick caramel sauce on top and finish with flaky salt |
| Cookies and cream | Use white chips and fold in 15 crushed chocolate sandwich cookies |
| Maple walnut | Use white chips, 1 teaspoon maple extract and 1 cup toasted walnuts |
Fixes for common fudge problems
- Grainy cooked fudge: sugar crystals formed. Don't stir once it boils hard, brush the pan sides with water, and let it cool before beating.
- Soft fudge that won't set: cooked fudge didn't reach 234°F, or the easy version had too few chips. Test your thermometer in boiling water first; it should read 212°F at sea level.
- Oily top: the butter separated from too much heat. Stir in a tablespoon of warm milk off the heat.
- Dry, crumbly easy fudge: the chocolate overheated. Melt on low and take it off the heat while a few chips still show.
- Messy squares: cut it cold, with a long knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry.
Packing fudge as a gift
- Set pieces in mini paper liners inside a tin, with parchment between layers.
- Add a tag with the date and the ingredients. The FDA's food allergy guide lists milk, peanuts, tree nuts and soy among the major food allergens, and fudge often has several.
- Mailing it? FoodSafety.gov's holiday food gift tips suggest shipping early in the week so the box doesn't sit over a weekend.
Mix fudge with other treats from our Christmas candy ideas or a Christmas cookie box, and find more homemade Christmas gifts.
Storing fudge
| Where | How long | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Cool room temperature | 1 to 2 weeks | Airtight, with parchment between layers |
| Refrigerator | 2 to 3 weeks | Sealed tight so it doesn't pick up fridge smells |
| Freezer | 2 to 3 months | Wrap well; thaw in the container |
Plan your homemade gifts
Homemade treats are cheaper than store-bought tins only when you count the ingredients, the containers and the postage. A plan keeps every batch on budget. For a cereal-based sweet snack alongside the candy, make chocolate peanut butter puppy chow and label the peanut ingredients for guests. If you want a cereal-based addition to the sweets tray, make Rice Krispie treats alongside the candy.
- Christmas Budget & Gift Planner, $4.99. List everyone getting a tin, set a total and track what each batch really costs.
- Holiday Season Bundle, $15.99 (regularly $25.94 for the six items bought separately). The gift planner plus the Meal Planner & Grocery List, a cleaning schedule and savings trackers.
- Family Recipe Binder, $6.99. Save your fudge recipe with the variations your family asks for every year.
Browse the rest of the Holiday shop or all our Printables. Want a head start on the season's numbers? The free Holiday Budget Starter Kit is 3 US Letter pages, emailed to you after you join the list.
For a crisp sweet-and-salty addition to a gift box, make Christmas crack and break the cooled tray into pieces.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest fudge recipe? The easiest fudge recipe melts 3 cups of chocolate chips with one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk, then stirs in vanilla and a pinch of salt. Spread it in a lined 8-inch pan and chill for 2 to 3 hours. It needs no candy thermometer.
How do you make fudge with sweetened condensed milk? You make fudge with sweetened condensed milk by warming the milk and chocolate chips over low heat or in short microwave bursts, stirring until smooth. Stir in butter, vanilla and salt, pour it into a lined pan and refrigerate until firm.
Why is my fudge grainy? Cooked fudge turns grainy when sugar crystals form, usually from stirring while it boils or beating it while it's still too hot. Wash down the pan sides with a wet pastry brush, don't stir after it boils, and let it cool to about 110°F before beating.
Why didn't my fudge set? Cooked fudge that won't set didn't reach the soft-ball stage, about 234°F to 237°F. Easy condensed milk fudge stays soft when there's too little chocolate for the milk, so use the full 3 cups of chips for one 14-ounce can.
Can I make fudge without a candy thermometer? Yes, the condensed milk method needs no thermometer at all. For cooked fudge without one, drop a little syrup into cold water; it's ready when it forms a soft ball that flattens when you lift it out.
How long does homemade fudge last? Homemade fudge lasts about 1 to 2 weeks in an airtight container at cool room temperature and 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge. Wrapped well, it freezes for 2 to 3 months.
Can you freeze fudge? Yes, fudge freezes well for 2 to 3 months. Wrap the uncut slab or pieces tightly, freeze in an airtight container, and thaw it in the container so moisture doesn't spot the top.
How much fudge does one batch make? One batch in an 8-inch square pan makes about 64 one-inch pieces, a little over 2 pounds. That fills 6 to 8 small gift tins of 8 to 10 pieces each.
Can I use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk? No, you can't use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk in the easy fudge recipe. Evaporated milk has no added sugar and won't set with chips alone. Evaporated milk belongs in cooked fudge, where it's boiled with sugar to the soft-ball stage.
How do I budget for fudge as a Christmas gift? Price one batch, divide by the number of tins it fills, and add the cost of tins and liners. The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner from HomeBase Paper Co. ($4.99) gives you a gift list and a budget page to track that cost per person.
Sources
- FDA: Food allergies, what you need to know fda.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: Holiday tips for food gifts foodsafety.gov
- NFPA: Cooking safety nfpa.org