Enjoy rich and creamy squares of decadent fudge thanks to this old-fashioned recipe for chocolate fudge. It takes just 6 ingredients to make this easy chocolate fudge.
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Ladies and gentlemen, this is not just a recipe for chocolate fudge I am bringing you today. This is ammunition 😉. Yes, you heard me right! Put a good easy chocolate fudge recipe in the right hands and you can take over the world. You can get your car tuned up, your grass cut, your dog walked, and have the doors to any building opened for you with a red carpet rolled out in your honor. How do you do this, you ask? Just hold out a plate of fresh, homemade fudge.
This is a no-fail and super easy fudge recipe that anyone can make (I promise!). Mama and Grandmama have been making it this way for as long as I can remember. So, how do you make chocolate fudge? All you have to do is boil the butter sugar, and evaporated milk (yep, we don’t use condensed milk in this fudge recipe), and then add in the chocolate chips, marshmallow creme, vanilla, and nuts (these are optional). Then you have to patiently wait for the chocolate fudge to set before you can indulge.
This recipe for chocolate fudge makes the creamiest melt-in-your-mouth fudge imaginable. If you can stop at one piece… well, you have more control than me!
Recipe Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- Marshmallow creme
- Evaporated milk
- Vanilla extract
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips (dark chocolate chips)
- Sugar
- Pecans or chopped nuts of your choice (optional)
How to Make Chocolate Fudge
Place your butter…
Sugar…
And evaporated milk in a saucepot.
I like to get a really big can of evaporated milk so I can use what is left in my coffee. It makes the BEST coffee creamer!
You’ll need a candy thermometer because we are going to cook this to the “soft ball” stage.
The candy thermometer has that written on it so you know.
While that is heating up in your saucepan, take some butter and smear it all over the bottom and sides of a 9×13 pan.
Place your candy thermometer in the pot. Make sure just the tip is beneath the liquid but don’t let the tip touch the bottom.
It has a handy dandy clip that lets it hook onto the sides.
Bring that to a rolling boil, stirring constantly.
Keep a watch on your thermometer so you will know when it gets to the soft ball stage.
This is going to take about five minutes on medium-high heat.
Once it gets to the soft ball stage, remove the saucepot from the heat and pour in the chocolate chips.
Add in the marshmallow creme and mix together.
Add in your vanilla and nuts if using.
Stir that all up until the chocolate chips melt. It is gonna take a few minutes but don’t worry, it’ll melt.
Pour into your prepared pan.
Allow the homemade chocolate fudge to cool completely before cutting into squares.
This old-fashioned chocolate fudge recipe makes 3 pounds. Enjoy that delicious bite-sized chocolate flavor!
Storage
- Store leftovers of this easy chocolate fudge in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can store it at room temperature, but it will become quite soft.
- You can also freeze them for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge before devouring!
Recipe Notes
- Here are some fun variations to make this recipe for chocolate fudge your own:
- Substitute the pecans for chopped walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, or pistachios.
- Add 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows and 1/2 cup of chopped peanuts to make rocky road fudge.
- Top the fudge with crushed peppermint candy canes at Christmas. You could also substitute vanilla for peppermint extract.
- Another festive touch is to add 1/2 cup of red and green candied cherries along with (or instead of) the chopped nuts.
- Top the fudge with sprinkles before cooling.
- When you add the vanilla extract, stir in a tablespoon of bourbon or rum for an adults-only fudge.
- Add 1/2 cup of dried fruit, like dried cranberries, raisins, or candied cherries.
- Add 1/2 cup of peanut butter chips instead of the nuts.
- Use white chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips instead.
- If you have leftovers, you can add crumbled fudge to a cup of hot milk to make the best hot chocolate you’ll ever taste. You can else melt it to make a hot fudge sauce and pour it over ice cream or a cake.
Check out my other fantastic fudge recipes:
Fuss-Free Striped Fudge
Cinnabun, Chocolate, and Peanut Butter Fudge!
Fuss-Free Oreo Fudge
Chocolate Meltaways: A Fabulous Fudge Recipe
Fuss-Free Peppermint Fudge
Easy Chocolate Fudge Recipe
Enjoy rich and creamy squares of decadent fudge thanks to this old-fashioned recipe for chocolate fudge.
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Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate, fudge
Ingredients
- 3 cups sugar
- 2/3 cup evaporated milk
- 3/4 cup butter or 1 1/2 sticks
- 1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips 12 ounces
- 1 1/2 cup marshmallow cream
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Combine sugar, milk, and butter in a heavy saucepan and heat to boiling.
3 cups sugar, 2/3 cup evaporated milk, 3/4 cup butter
Stir constantly for about 5 minutes over medium heat or until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage on your candy thermometer (238 degrees).
Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Add the remaining ingredients. Stir vigorously until well blended.
1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 1/2 cup marshmallow cream, 1/2 cup pecans, 1/2 tsp vanilla
Pour into a greased 13x9-inch pan. Cool completely and then cut into squares. Makes 3 pounds.
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Optimism and humor are the grease and glue of life.
Without both of them we would never have survived our captivity.
~Philip Butler, Vietnam Prisoner Of War
Found in a book of quotes given to me by my friend and Southern Plate Family member, Terri.
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