Homemade Fudge

Nothing beats a slice of fresh chocolate fudge! This easy homemade fudge is perfect for holiday parties, gift giving, or Santa’s cookie plate!

If you need more treats to add to your cookie plate, be sure to check out Peppermint Bark and Microwave Toffee.

A stack of homemade fudge

Classic Chocolate Fudge

Fudge was never a Christmas tradition in our home, but it was for my husband. It was one of the very first things we made together, and after a few failed attempts, we finally figured it out!

Now that we have it down, we’ve been making all sorts of variations of this classic fudge.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Today we’re keeping things simple. Chocolate + toasted nuts. We like to switch between walnuts and pecans, however, chopped peanuts or almonds would be yummy too!

A pile of homemade chocolate fudge with nuts

How to Make Homemade Fudge

PREP. Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with foil. Lightly spray or grease with butter, then set aside.

COMBINE. In a medium heavy-bottomed sauce pan set over medium heat, combine the marshmallow creme, sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and salt. Stir frequently, until to allow the sugar to dissolve.

BOIL. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes. *See note about high altitude below*

ADD. Remove from the heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted, then add the nuts and vanilla, stir to combine.

SET. Pour into the prepared baking pan, place in the refrigerator for 45-60 minutes before cutting into squares.

(I was in a bit of a rush (to beat the setting sun… because daylight savings is a food blogger’s nightmare) and it was still soft when I cut it at the 30 minute mark. Thus the less than clean cut slices pictured above. Sometimes you just have to roll with it. I promise it looks picture perfect after chilling for the proper amount of time!)

CUT. When you’re ready to slice it, cut it into 36 pieces.

STORE. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

High Altitude: We live at about 4,200 ft. which means we have to either boil the mixture for a minute or two less, or at a slightly lower temperature. I find that at high altitude I only need to boil the mixture for 4 minutes instead of 5. However, my mother-in-law lives at sea level and she boils the mixture for the full 5 minutes.

A baking sheet of freshly prepared perfect candied nuts. Easy, flavorful and great for gift giving!

Variations

Want to change up this fudge? Here are a few ideas to help out!

  • Add festive sprinkles to the top before its fully set
  • Add crushed m&ms to the fudge before its fully set
  • Drizzle with white chocolate before the fudge is fully set
  • Add butterscotch chips, either mixed in, or drizzled on top
  • Stir in a couple/swirl on top of the fudge of tablespoons of peanut butter for an easy peanut butter fudge recipe
  • Add in some mini marshmallows along with your nuts for rocky road fudge

A stack of easy homemade fudge on a small cake stand

Storage Tips

As I mentioned before, you should STORE your fudge in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

If you’d like to FREEZE the fudge, it is best to freeze it as a solid block, rather than individual pieces. I suggest doubling the recipe and then freezing the second block. Double wrap the fudge in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer safe bag. It will last for about 3 months in the freezer, then you need to let it thaw to room temperature!

For more of our favorite holiday treats, try:

 

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Easy Homemade Holiday Fudge | lifemadesimplebakes.com

Homemade Fudge Recipe

Nothing beats a slice of fresh chocolate fudge! This easy homemade fudge is perfect for holiday parties, gift giving, or Santa's cookie plate!
4.84 from 6 votes
Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 36 pieces
Calories: 111kcal
Author: Andrea
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 (7 oz) jar marshmallow creme
  • 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 (5 oz) can evaporated milk
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/4 tsp salt - (or a pinch or two more to taste)
  • 12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup nuts - chopped, (toasted/roasted walnuts, pecans, peanuts, almonds)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with foil. Lightly spray or butter; set aside.
  • In a medium heavy-bottomed sauce pan set over medium heat, combine the marshmallow creme, sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and salt. Stir frequently, until to allow the sugar to dissolve.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted, then add the nuts and vanilla, stir to combine. Pour into the prepared baking pan, place in the refrigerator for 1 hour before cutting into squares.

NOTES

I find that at high altitude I only need to boil the mixture for 4 minutes instead of 5. However, my mother-in-law lives at sea level and she boils the mixture for the full 5 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 36serving | Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

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About the Author

Andrea

Hi I'm Andrea!

Hotelier turned Food Blogger to help make your life simple, one recipe at a time.

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Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    Homemade fudge for the holidays is a must here! I love this version with marshmallow creme. It’s smooth, creamy and delicious!