Easy Fudge Recipe
This really is the easiest fudge recipe ever! Chocolate chips, butter, and sweetened condensed milk create the fudge base, and from there you can add as many mix-ins as you’d like. No candy thermometer required!
*Post and pictures updated November 2022*
Homemade fudge is the easiest no-bake treat to prepare around the holidays. You need just three simple ingredients to make it — butter, sweetened condensed milk, and chocolate chips — and the recipe variations are endless!
Whether you prefer your chocolate fudge plain or with chopped nuts, dried fruit, shredded coconut, or another mix-in, you can customize this base recipe as you see fit.
This fudge recipe makes the perfect hostess gift and is also great for cookie exchanges as it travels well and tastes just as good on day one as it does on day seven!
Recipe Ingredients
The ingredients for this fudge are simple and straightforward. Exact measurements are provided in the recipe card below, but here’s an overview of the ingredients list.
- Chocolate Chips: You’ll be using three cups of chocolate chips for this fudge. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but feel free to swap them for white chocolate chips or even dark chocolate.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: You’ll need one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. I suggest sticking with the regular version and skipping the fat-free kind. Make sure that you grab a can of sweetened condensed milk and NOT evaporated milk. Sweetened condensed milk is thick and sweet and will give you the proper consistency for this fudge. Evaporated milk is much thinner, and if you use it by accident you will end up with hot fudge sauce, which is not what we’re going for here!
- Butter: You can technically make this fudge with just the first two ingredients, but I’ve found that adding just a couple tablespoons of butter helps create a smoother consistency. Trust me here!
- Chopped Walnuts: This ingredient is completely optional! If you don’t love nuts, feel free to leave them out. You can even swap the chopped walnuts with chopped pecans too.
How to Make Fudge
Don’t bother taking out your candy thermometer, you won’t need it to make this simple recipe. The toughest part about making chocolate fudge is waiting for it to set up in the fridge, otherwise it’s an almost foolproof recipe!
- Prep the baking pan: Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil or parchment paper. Leave a bit of an overhang to make removing the fudge easier later on.
- Melt the fudge mixture: Add the sweetened condensed milk, butter, and chocolate chips to a saucepan. Stir often over medium heat until the mixture is fully melted and smooth.
- Add mix-ins, if using: Remove the fudge mixture from the stove and stir in any chopped nuts or dried fruit you wish to use.
- Chill the fudge until set: Spread the melted fudge into an even layer in your prepared baking dish. Refrigerate it until fully set; this will take about 3 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fudge Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes, this chocolate fudge must be refrigerated. It will soften at room temperature, so keep it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Can the Sweetened Condensed Milk Be Substituted?
Not for this particular recipe. You must use full-fat sweetened condensed milk. Do NOT use evaporated milk, as it’s much thinner and the fudge won’t set properly if you use it.
Can This Recipe Be Doubled?
Yes, simply double the ingredients list and use a 9×13-inch pan instead of an 8-inch pan.
Can Fudge Be Frozen?
Yes, this fudge freezes well for up to three months. Store slices in a freezer bag or freezer container and thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Recipe Variations
There are several different ways that you can make this fudge, here are a few of my favorite variations:
- Cookies & Cream: Swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for white chocolate chips and add 1 cup of chopped Oreos.
- Cranberry Pistachio: Use either semi-sweet or white chocolate chips and add 1/2 cup of sweetened dried cranberries and 1/2 cup of chopped pistachios.
- Mint Chocolate: Use either semi-sweet or white chocolate chips and add 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract. Taste and add more extract as needed.
- Rocky Road: Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts to the melted fudge mixture, then very gently stir in 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows.
- Peppermint Chocolate: Swap the nuts with crushed peppermint candies or candy canes.
Baking Tips
- You do not need to bring the chocolate mixture to a boil, you simply need to warm it until melted. If you’re worried about your chocolate chips seizing up, you can melt the chocolate mixture in a double boiler.
- Make sure to stir the chocolate mixture often, otherwise it may stick to the bottom of the pan and burn.
- When lining the pan with foil or parchment paper, leave some overhang so you can easily remove the hardened fudge and slice it.
More Easy Fudge Recipes You’ll Love!
Recipe Video
Easy Fudge Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (525 grams)
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
- 2 tablespoons butter (30 grams)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional (125 grams)
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving some overhang for easy removal. Set aside.
- Add the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter to a large saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir often until the chocolate chips are fully melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Remove from the heat and scoop the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread around into one even layer.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until fully chilled and the fudge is firm. Remove from the pan using the overhang from the parchment paper or foil, slice the fudge into pieces, and enjoy.
They are so easy amd amazing!!!!
Doubled the recipe and added 2 tsp Mexican Vanilla. Must admit I added too many chocolate chips but it turned out fine. Thanks for the simple recipe.
Hi, I’d love to try this recipe. Just a question, do I have to use chocolate chips or could I use chopped up chocolate from slabs? My local grocery store does not stock chips.
You can use chopped chocolate, just be sure to use an equal amount (525 grams).
Excellent recipe, I will try. Great tips and info.
Easy to follow, great clarity.
Hi Danielle, if I use white chocolate, how do I reduce the sweetness? If I were to add less sweetened condensed milk, the consistency becomes too thick. TIA !
I don’t recommend reducing the sweetened condensed milk because it will make the mixture too thick. You could possibly reduce the white chocolate chips, but I’m not sure how much.
Good evening from Idaho! I was wondering, I make homemade sweetened condensed milk. Could I use that in this recipe? It looks amazing and I am anxious to try this recipe. Thanks!
As long as the consistency is similar to what you would buy at the store and you use an equal amount, I think it would be fine!
Can you add Peanut Butter in place of the butter to make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge!
I haven’t tried it, but I think that would be fine!
Easy to make. Seemed harder consistency than amish fudge, but still very good.
I used the microwave. Turned out ….. PERFECT
Can this be made with peanut butter chips as well?
I think that would be fine, I have a peanut butter fudge recipe here too.
hi, i was wondering if I could use dark chocolate and just chop it in the milk. thanks
Yes, it would be fine to use dark chocolate.
Hi, can this be made as sugar free? Using sugar free chocolate chips and either evaporated milk or homemade sugar free sweetened condensed milk?
I haven’t tried it, but you probably could. Just keep in mind that it will change the taste and texture of the fudge.
Love this recipe! I’ve made it several times and keep forgetting to weigh the final block of fudge. Do you happen to know roughly how much it weighs- I know serving size says 16 pieces. Thank you!
I haven’t weighed the whole block of fudge, but based on the weight of the other ingredients I’d guess it’s about 900-950 grams.
Can you add marshmallow fluff
You could probably mix a little bit into the fudge, but I haven’t personally tried it.
I tried the marshmallow fluff and it changed the consistency to much, my advice make the fudge in a bit larger pan and when it’s set cut in half and spread fluff on one side and then put other half on top firmly and return to fridge for a couple hours.
wonderful fudge!
Can this recipe be made with peanut butter chips
I think it would probably work. I have a peanut butter fudge recipe here too.
I make this in the microwave and it’s perfect every time. I use a glass bowl and microwave for 2 minutes then stir until smooth and creamy, at this point I add 1 tsp. vanilla and microwave for 45 seconds more than stir and pour into 8×8 lined pan. Note: I have added nuts and in another batch I sprinkled Expresso powder on top of warm fudge or powdered sugar on top. It’s so versatile you can try some of your own ideas.
This is the best and easiest fudge recipe I’ve had.
I thought there was too much chocolate. The fudge was very hard and actually difficult to prepare. Maybe next time I’ll only use 2 cups of chips or go back to the marshmallow recipe
I made cookies and cream and it was good but I would recommend 1 1/2 to 2 cups cookies as 1 cup is not enough and mix in the crumps from chopping the cookies it mixes really well
This was so easy and so good! I brought some to my mom and to my work. It was a big hit!
Thank you!
This recipe was super easy, and the kids loved it. My only reason for not giving it a higher rating is that it’s missing something. The result is more like a soft chocolate bar, than actual fudge. It’s just not as creamy as it needs to be.
Is the fudge supposed to boil? I got my consistency smooth enough (I think), but when searching the internet for some reassurance, I saw a TON of people saying it needed to be boiled. I’m now questioning my fudge more than ever. :,(
No, you don’t have to boil this one. You only need to heat it until the chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth.
Thanks for the quick response! My fudge is currently setting in the fridge – I hope it turned out! ?
My little 3 (almost 4) year old daughter loves to help Mommy in the kitchen… Especially with sweets. This was the easiest and quickest fudge recipe. We had so much fun making it and adding our own little extras into it. This turned out wonderfully delicious! Thank you for helping create memories.
I made the simple fudge and it was simple but just tasted like melted chocolate chips.
EASY AND YUMMY!! After two ruined batches of a friend’s recipe that involved marshmallow fluff I gave up and found this easy recipe online. It came out smooth and decadent. I did cook mine on low heat because I have some pans that conduct heat really well but they cook too fast on a higher temperature. This recipe saved my treat boxes for the family! I gave it 5 stars!
I don’t understand, followed the directions to the T, but it came out like a paste….to think for frosting and way to soft for fudge. I put it in the freezer hoping I could freeze it to save it…..that didn’t work at all. My squares defrosted in to balls….sticky, gooey blobs. Not good.
Did you make sure to use semi-sweet chocolate chips? Or did you use something else? Or did you happen to use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk?
Love this recipe, it’s so easy to make. Used dark chocolate morsels. Yum.
Made this today and oops! The chips siezed. I cannot imagine what went wrong. I’m not a novice at candy making and I know I’ve made it before. I’ve read through the recipe very carefully for temps, ingredients etc. etc. Bummed out here in Little Prairie Wisconsin!
Maybe your stove top runs a little too hot? You can try cooking it over low-medium heat or use a double boiler.
If mailing to someone, what do you put between layers of fudge? Foil or wax paper?
This fudge will soften at room temperature, so it won’t hold up well unless it’s kept cold. You could probably ship it with some dry ice/ice packs, I would place layer of wax paper between each layer of fudge.
Does this fudge only harden cause the chocolate in it? So can’t be made without chocolate?
Yes, you do need the chocolate in order for it to set up.
My kids love making this recipe! So easy and it turns out perfectly every time! Thank you so much for sharing it. Yum!!!