Creamy Easy Fudge Recipe - House of Nash Eats (2024)

This Easy Fudge Recipe makes the best, creamiest chocolate fudge ever, just like grandpa used to make! It's made with pantry ingredients, can be easily customized with other flavors, and makes plenty for sharing bricks of fudge with friends and neighbors during the holidays!

For years now I've made Rocky Road Fudge to deliver to friends and neighbors at Christmas time.

But there is something so amazing about this classic fudge recipe. And really, why do I only make fudge at Christmas? It's so good I ought to be making this year-round!

This smooth, creamy but firm easy chocolate fudge recipe has no frills, no mix-ins, no swirls, and no bells and whistles. But I promise it does not disappoint!

If you love making homemade candy to share during the Christmas season like we do, be sure not to miss myEasy Homemade Cream Caramels,Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy (if you've never had it, it's kinda like fudge, but not - just try it!) and Classic Southern Pecan Pralines. Or to try my other fudge recipes, be sure to check out my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge, Chocolate Walnut Fudge, and Rocky Road Fudge!

I love to cut the fudge into large bricks to share with others during the season of giving. But fudge is also a great treat to keep on hand for when guests drop by unexpectedly.

This fudge has the PERFECT creamy texture without being too soft, on the one hand, or too dry and crumbly on the other.

It's melt-in-your-mouth fudge with the perfect balance of chocolate achieved by combining both milk chocolate and semisweet chocolate chips.

How to Store Fudge

Fudge will keep on the counter for a week or so and it will last even longer - up to 2-3 weeks - in the fridge. Just be sure to keep it in airtight containers or wrap in plastic wrap so it doesn't dry out.

You can even freeze fudge by wrapping bricks of it in a double layer of plastic wrap and storing in a freezer-safe ziploc bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the fridge and slice into squares before serving!

How to Make Fudge

There are a number of methods for making fudge, but my favorite fudge is made with evaporated milk and marshmallows. I feel like it gives the best texture and flavor to the finished fudge and it's really easy to the point of being almost foolproof.

1.Prep a 9x13-inch pan by lining it with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Once the fudge is set, you will be able to lift the entire slab of fudge out of the pan for easy, clean slicing.

Have milk and semisweet chocolate chips, cubed butter, and vanilla on hand to mix in once the sugar mixture finishes cooking so you don't have to scramble to unwrap and cube butter and measure out chocolate.

2. Bring the sugar, marshmallows, and evaporated milk to a boil over medium heat in a large heavy-bottomed pot or dutch oven. Once it starts to bubble, you will cook the fudge for about 10 minutes or so until the temperature reaches 235-240 degrees F on a candy thermometer (affiliate link).

3. When the sugar mixture is a light golden brown color, remove it from the heat and add the cubed butter, both kinds of chocolate chips, and vanilla. Stir well with a wooden spoon until the butter and chocolate is completely melted and everything is combined, then pour into the prepared pan.

4. Let the fudge cool completely in the fridge before lifting the foil or parchment paper sling out of the pan and cutting bricks or small squares.

Troubleshooting Fudge

If your fudge ends up seeming too dry and crumbly, it was likely cooked at too high of a temperature for too long.

I've also made fudge with medium-high heat cooking it for around 6 minutes, but it tends to run more of a risk of getting burned bits scraped up from the bottom of the pan in the fudge.

Cooking at medium heat for the slightly longer time provides more reliable results that are easier to control. It also means you don't absolutely require a candy thermometer (affiliate link) for this recipe, although I still always recommend one when making candy because it helps me turn out consistently excellent fudge.

Fudge Mix-Ins or Toppers to go with this Easy Fudge Recipe

This basic fudge recipe is what I use for making all kinds of other fudge variations. Most are as easy as sprinkling something over the top of the fudge.

Here are some ideas I've been brainstorming of easy ways to fancy up this easy fudge recipe.

• After pouring the fudge into the pan, top with melted caramel and pretzels
• Sprinkle with seasonal M&M's
• Let the fudge set up, then top with coconut pecan frosting for German chocolate fudge
• Mix in your favorite nuts before pouring the fudge into the pan for a wonderful crunch
• Sprinkle the top with crushed Oreo chunks for a cookie crunch
• Stir in 2 cups of broken up graham crackers and 3 cups of large marshmallows cut into ¼ths for s'mores fudge
• Stir in toffee bits, then sprinkle more on top for a toffee crunch

More Fudge Recipes You Won't Want to Miss

• Homemade Rocky Road Fudge
• Chocolate Walnut Fudge
• Mint Chocolate Fudge
• Peanut Butter Fudge
• German Chocolate Fudge
• Maple Walnut Fudge
• Caramel Pecan Fudge
• Cookies and Cream Fudge
• Peppermint Fudge
• Tiger Butter Fudge