This Easy Fudge Recipe is absolutely delicious and quick to make! Learn how to make fudge without condensed milk in under an hour!
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This easy fudge recipe delivers the great taste of old fashioned fudge using a super easy method. This chocolate fudge requires only about 10 minutes of prep!
Fudge is one of my favorite holiday recipes to prepare at Christmas time! This simple fudge recipe packs in rich chocolate flavor and is easy to make.
The nuts deliver just the right amount of crunch.
Old fashioned fudge can be challenging to make, it's often hard to get your candy to the right temperature and sometimes the mixture just does not thicken up.
The secret to easy fudge is marshmallows! Marshmallows help the fudge to thicken up without the need for intensive labor.
Why we Love This Easy Fudge Recipe
- Quick to make! This fudge can be ready to refrigerate in only 10 minutes.
- Tastes like old fashioned fudge - This easy fudge recipe tastes like old fashioned fudge- without all the work!
- Perfect for the holidays- This recipe is affordable and delicious- making it the perfect DIY gift or treat for sharing this holiday season!
Fudge Ingredients
To make easy fudge you'll need:
- semisweet chocolate bar
- milk chocolate chips
- mini marshmallows
- pecans
- white sugar
- canned evaporated milk
- salted butter
How to Make Fudge
Here's how to make the best easy fudge recipe!
- In a bowl combine semi-sweet chocolate bar, milk chocolate chips, marshmallows, and 1 ¾ cup pecans together. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat bring sugar, butter, and evaporated milk to a boil. Allow mixture to boil for 5 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Immediately pour boiling mixture over the chocolate and marshmallows.
- Stir the mixture together until all of the chocolate is melted and it is fully combined.
- Scoop mixture into a parchment-lined 8x8 pan.
- Sprinkle on ¼ cup pecans over the top.
- Place fudge in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until completely set. Once set, cut into small cubes and serve.
Easy Fudge Recipe Substitutions
- Chocolate: You can substitute chocolate chips for a milk chocolate bar chopped into smaller pieces.
- Nuts: If you don’t have pecans available, you can replace them with walnuts in the recipes. It tastes great with either.
- Marshmallows: I haven't tried making this without marshmallows but I wouldn't recommend it.
- Evaporated Milk: Evaporated milk and condensed milk are not the same. Condensed milk is sweetened but evaporated milk is not. Don't substitute with condensed milk because it will be too sweet!
Fudge Recipe Tips
- Melting Marshmallows: You may choose to keep stirring sugar and chocolate mixture until all of the marshmallows are melted, but I prefer to leave my marshmallows less melted. It’s completely a matter of preference.
- Prep the chocolate/marshmallow mix before melting butter and sugar! I highly recommend preparing your chocolate and marshmallow mixture before you begin melting your butter and sugar together. This will make it so that you can pour the boiling mixture directly into the chocolate and marshmallow mixture. The chocolate will melt much more quickly and result in less work for you.
Cutting Easy Fudge
The best way to cut fudge is first to make sure you've poured it into a parchment lined baking sheet.
Once the fudge has completely cooled, remove the fudge block and place on a flat surface.
Run a very sharp knife under warm water for 15 seconds. Dry completely.
Score the fudge with the knife and then cut all the way through
How to Store Fudge
Storage: Fudge can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Can you freeze fudge? You can freeze fudge. It's best to double wrap in plastic wrap and store in a freezer bag.
Does fudge need to be refrigerated? Yes, fudge should stay in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
How long does fudge last? Fudge will last for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Is fudge gluten free?
Most fudge recipes are gluten free. It's important to check the ingredients in the recipe - don't assume it is gluten free.
Some marshmallow brands do contain gluten, so just make sure you're using all gluten free ingredients.
FAQ for an Easy Fudge Recipe without Condensed Milk
The basic ingredients for fudge are butter, sugar and chocolate. Every fudge recipe is different!
Fudge gets hard when it is over cooked. Softer fudge is cooked at the right temperature.
Fudge is delicious with evaporated or condensed milk. Evaporated milk can be heated at high heat without curdling so it's an ideal choice for making an easy fudge recipe!
Other Easy Holiday Desserts:
Here are some of our favorite holiday desserts!
- Easy Butterscotch Haystacks
- Pecan Snowball Cookies
- Christmas Rice Krispies Treats
- Best Christmas Cookies for the Holidays
- Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprint cookies
- Easy Nutella Cookies
- Peppermint Fudge Recipe
Easy Fudge
Ingredients
- 4 oz semisweet chocolate bar broken into chunks
- 11.5 oz milk chocolate chips
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 ¾ pecans chopped
- 2 ¼ cup white sugar
- 6 oz canned evaporated milk
- ¼ cup salted butter
Topping
- ¼ cup pecans chopped
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate chips, marshmallows, and 1 ¾ cup pecans together.
- Set this bowl aside for later.
- In a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat bring sugar, butter, and evaporated milk to a boil. Stir this mixture continuously (this is important!) Allow mixture to boil for 5 minutes while stirring continuously. You will see the mixture darken slightly in color and become thicker.
- Immediately pour the boiling mixture over the chocolate and marshmallows.
- Stir the mixture together until all of the chocolate is melted and it is fully combined. Your mixture should be very thick and elastic.
- Once combined, scoop mixture into a parchment-lined 8x8 pan.
- Even out all of the edges and make sure that the mixture is level.
- Sprinkle on ¼ cup pecans over the top. With the palm of your hand, press down on the pecans so that they are not loosely sitting on the top.
- Place fudge in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until completely set.
- Once set, cut into small cubes and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- You may choose to keep stirring sugar and chocolate mixture until all of the marshmallows are melted, but I prefer to leave my marshmallows less melted. It’s completely a matter of preference.
- If you don’t have pecans available, you can replace them with walnuts in the recipes. It tastes great with either.
- I highly recommend preparing your chocolate and marshmallow mixture before you begin melting your butter and sugar together. This will make it so that you can pour the boiling mixture directly into the chocolate and marshmallow mixture. The chocolate will melt much more quickly and result in less work for you.
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