Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published December 13, 2018. Updated October 23, 2020

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Fudge is a holiday staple and this recipe for it is so straightforward and foolproof! It only requires 5 ingredients (you could even omit the salt and nuts and make that 3) and everyone loves it! It’s deliciously rich and chocolaty and it’s perfect for gifting. Who doesn’t love fudge?

Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (1)

The Easiest Fudge Recipe Ever!

If candy making isn’t your thing then this is most definitely the recipe for you, anybody can make this simple fudge!

It can be made on the stovetop or in the microwave. I’ve tried both several times and my personal preference is the actually the microwave because there’s less stirring and attending to it and it’s faster. But either method will work great based on what you prefer.

Once you try it it’s a recipe you’ll have on repeat ever year when the holidays roll around! Give it as gifts but just be sure to save a small stash for yourself.

Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (2)

Ingredients You’ll Need for Fudge:

Here’s the 5 basic ingredients you’ll need:

  • Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • Salt
  • Vanilla
  • Walnuts or pecans (optional)

Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (3)

How to Make Fudge on the Stovetop:

  • In a medium saucepan stir together chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and salt.
  • Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until chocolate chips have melted.
  • Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and nuts. Pour into prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
  • Chill until set, about 2 hours. Lift from pan using parchment then cut into squares.

Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (4)

How to Make Fudge in the Microwave:

  • In a medium microwave safe bowl stir together chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and salt.
  • Heat in microwave on 50% power in 30 second increments, stirring well between intervals, until melted and smooth (it should take about 5 – 6 cooking periods).
  • Stir in vanilla and nuts. Spread into prepared dish and chill until set, about 2 hours. Cut into squares.

Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (5)

Tips for This Recipe

  • Don’t use low fat or fat free sweetened condensed milk or it could throw off the consistency and it won’t be as rich.
  • You can also use a blend of semi-sweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate for fudge with a more mild milk chocolate flavor.
  • Can I freeze it? Fudge freezes, well wrap in foil and store in an airtight container in freezer.

Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (6)

More Easy Christmas Treats You’ll Love:

  • Microwave Caramels
  • Microwave Peanut Brittle
  • Sweet Holiday Chex Mix
  • Candied Pecans
  • No Bake Cookies
  • Turtle Pretzels

Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (7)

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (8)

4.96 from 23 votes

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Easy Fudge (Microwave or Stovetop)

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Fudge is a holiday staple and this recipe for it is so straightforward and foolproof! It only requires 5 ingredients (you could even omit the salt and nuts and make that 3) and everyone loves it! It's deliciously rich and chocolaty and it's perfect for gifting. Who doesn't love fudge??

Servings: 30

Prep10 minutes minutes

Cook5 minutes minutes

Chill2 hours hours

Ready in: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Butter and line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper (leaving a 1-inch overhang on all sides), butter parchment.

Stovetop Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan stir together chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and salt.

  • Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until chocolate chips have melted.

  • Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and nuts. Pour into prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.

  • Chill until set, about 2 hours. Lift from pan using parchment then cut into squares.

Microwave Instructions

  • In a medium microwave safe bowl stir together chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and salt.

  • Heat in microwave on 50% power in 30 second increments, stirring well between intervals, until melted and smooth (it should take about 5 - 6 cooking periods).

  • Stir in vanilla and nuts. Spread into prepared dish and chill until set, about 2 hours. Cut into squares.

Notes

  • *For the milk chocolate version use 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup milk chocolate chips.
  • Recipe adapted from Eagle

Nutrition Facts

Easy Fudge (Microwave or Stovetop)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 167Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 5mg2%

Sodium 19mg1%

Potassium 162mg5%

Carbohydrates 16g5%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 45IU1%

Vitamin C 0.4mg0%

Calcium 52mg5%

Iron 1.2mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Fudge Recipe

Author: Jaclyn

Categorized:

  • Christmas
  • Desserts
  • Treats and Snacks

Tagged:

  • chocolate chips
  • sweetened condensed milk
  • vanilla extract
  • walnuts

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  • Simple Hot Fudge Sauce (only 5 ingredients)

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126 Comments

  • Kath Wigan

    Thanks Jaclyn

    • Jaclyn

      Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (13)

      You’re welcome Kath!

  • Martha Winders

    I couldn’t find the chocolate wafer cookies where I live. Therefore I used the thin chocolate Oreo’s (thin Oreo’s with chocolate crème). And I found peppermint crumbles in the baking aisle department which worked well. Simple and so easy.

  • Geniva

    Mind didn’t get hard how can I fix it

    • Jaclyn

      Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (14)

      I would keep in the freezer for a little bit.

  • Teresa Waddell

    I have made many different fudge recipes but this one is way too sweet. Some of the other recipes called for unsweetened condensed milk. That’s where I believe this one went wrong.

  • Susan

    Can this recipe be used to pour into small molds for Easter candy shapes?

    • Jaclyn

      Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (15)

      That should work as long as the molds are greased.

  • James miller

    Definitely not my normal fudge but I liked it. Came out darker than the photos shown here

  • alex

    i just tried this but why is it so oily?):

    • Jaclyn

      Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (16)

      I’m sorry to hear that! It may be based on the brand of chocolate chips used it shouldn’t be oily.

More Comments

Easiest Fudge Recipe (Microwave or Stovetop) - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

Why won't my condensed milk fudge set in the microwave? ›

The most common culprit behind unset fudge is inaccurate temperature control. If the sugar mixture hasn't reached the correct temperature, your fudge won't set. Ensure you use a reliable candy thermometer and follow temperature guidelines meticulously to achieve the desired consistency.

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.

How do you make fudge not hard? ›

Reset the fudge

Just as you read earlier you have to mix the ingredients and heat it at 234 degrees. But as you are doing it again just add a little amount of water to bring out the consistency. Along with this make sure to add moisture to make it soft.

What makes high quality fudge? ›

You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

What is the best pan to make fudge in? ›

Secondly, the pot's material should allow for good heat distribution hence your top choice should be copper cookware or a pot with a copper core. Copper's exceptional heat conductivity offers unparalleled temperature control, an asset when working with finicky ingredients like sugar.

Why won t my microwave fudge set? ›

Fudge Didn't Set

If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).

How do you thicken microwave fudge? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

Why is my microwave fudge grainy? ›

Graining can be caused by stirring the fudge mixture during the cooling process or not adding enough fluid to dissolve the sugar. The trick to fixing graininess is to melt the sugar crystals to give them another chance at setting properly.

Why is fudge so hard to make? ›

Conversely, if the cooking time is too brief and there is not enough evaporation, too much water will remain and the fudge will be too soft. A temperature of 112°C to 114°C (234°F to 237°F) must be maintained. This will ensure the fudge has the ideal concentration of water and sugar. Fudge is difficult to make.

Why is my old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›

If you didn't reach the correct temperature during the cooking process, it might not set properly. Use a candy thermometer to ensure that you reach the recommended temperature. Overcooking or Undercooking:Solution: Cooking the fudge for too long or too short a time can affect its texture.

Should I stir fudge while boiling? ›

Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.

How do you firm up homemade fudge? ›

If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream. Stir the fudge as it heats, but only until the sugar in the chocolate is completely melted again.

How do you make homemade fudge firmer? ›

​Harden the fudge:​ Place your container or tins in the fridge for 2 hours, which is the time it takes for the fudge to set. Once it's hardened, cut the fudge into 12 pieces or remove it from the muffin tins. Store in the fridge or the freezer (if you don't devour it right away).

Why does my fudge crumble when I cut it? ›

The ingredients for fudge are combined and cooked to 234 degrees, cooled to 110 degrees without stirring, then beaten until creamy. Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard.

Should you stir fudge constantly? ›

It is important to stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to thicken and its surface starts to look dull or matte. Now is the time to stop beating and pour the fudge into a mould. Another tip: Do not scrape the sides of the pan or the spoon used for stirring.

What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›

Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

How do you keep fudge from being sugary? ›

If the sugar crystals are not properly dissolved before cooling, they can create a gritty texture. To avoid this, ensure that you stir the fudge mixture consistently and remove any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan using a wet pastry brush.

What is traditional fudge made of? ›

At its simplest, fudge is a dense, soft candy, often made with sugar and dairy products like butter and milk. Nowadays, fudge is usually flavored with chocolate, but you can utilize pretty much any flavor, such as peanut butter, pumpkin, even birthday cake.

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