Old fashioned fudge recipe with sweetened condensed milk

“Oh fudge.” My favorite line from A Christmas Story. Also, what I said to myself when I realized that I hadn’t made fudge in a while. The kids reminded me and so we whipped up a batch together. It’s dangerously good and because it’s so easy, perhaps even more dangerous. No need for a lot of fuss, but if you want fudge to indulge with or to make as gifts for someone sweet, this old fashioned fudge recipe has your back!

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What makes the best fudge recipe? I’d say that rich, chocolate fudge texture and taking barely any hands-on time to make. This one tops it off with nuts, but if you have nut allergies (or just don’t want them in your fudge) you can leave them off.

What are the main ingredients in fudge?

To make fudge, you need semisweet chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and vanilla extract as the main ingredients. You can add chopped nuts or anything else you like to it but these are what you must have to make fudge.

Chocolate Fudge Ingredients

Chocolate chips – semi-sweet gives just the right amount of chocolaty goodness. An absolute must when making the best chocolate fudge recipe.
Sweetened condensed milk – adds a creaminess to your chocolate fudge recipe and gets it to that right texture. Sweetened condensed milk fudge is the classic type of fudge we all know and love.
Butter – helps form the bonds of fudge and create a cream-y texture.
Vanilla extract – adds depth to the sweetness with vanilla contrast.
Chopped nuts – pecans and walnuts are added at the end (though they can be omitted if you’d prefer).

Easy Fudge Recipe

This easy fudge recipe with condensed milk is super fun to make with the kids. The only hard part about making a homemade fudge recipe is waiting for it to set. It takes only a few minutes to make. After pouring it though, you have to remain patient until it is fully chilled.

Families are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts.
Anonymous

How do you Make Old Fashioned Fudge from Scratch?

In a traditional fudge recipe, you simply melt the ingredients together on the stove top until they get the right smooth texture, then pour into a lined and prepared baking sheet. Add the nuts if you desire. Pop it in the fridge to chill and then remove the aluminum foil for easy cutting. That’s all there is to it!

Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Fudge Every Time

Choose the right butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter, though using salted gives it a bit of contrast, like salted caramel. If you’d prefer to enjoy the richness of chocolate, choose unsalted butter.
Don’t over-stir the fudge. While you want to keep stirring while the chocolate chips melt, it’s overkill after that. When making a simple fudge recipe you don’t need to over stir it.
Slick trick – You can spray the aluminum foil with cooking spray for easy chocolate fudge removal. This way, you can be sure no fudge gets stuck on there.

What is the secret to making fudge?

A heavy bottom pan always helps in evenly heating your fudge ingredients. Also, be sure to use real vanilla extract. It’s far superior to imitation.

Could I use evaporated milk rather than condensed milk for fudge?

No, that is not recommended. Evaporated milk and condensed milk are two very different products so make sure you use the sweetened condensed milk in your fudge.

How long should you beat fudge?

Only stir your fudge enough while the chocolate chips are melting to keep it from sticking and burning on your pan. Once it becomes a smooth and melted mixture, it’s time to stop.

What makes homemade fudge grainy?

Fudge can come out with a grainy texture if you stir it too long. Don’t stir it too much and you should get the perfect texture.

How Long Do I Boil Fudge?

It will take roughly 10 minutes to melt the ingredients on your stove top. Look for the chocolate chips to completely melt and become smooth before removing from the heat.

Can I bake fudge that didn’t set?

No, you’ll need to heat the mixture back over the stove top once again to get it right. If you keep having trouble, a candy thermometer can help. You can also check that it’s ready by seeing if it forms a soft ball when you put a drop of it in cold water.

What to Serve with Fudge

We love fudge all on its own, though you can serve it with fresh berries and other fruits to balance out the chocolate flavors. Strawberries and raspberries definitely go best, but choose what’s seasonal and fresh. The kids love marshmallows on their fudge. Another perfect partner? Wine! A nice Syrah or a ruby port should do the trick.

How to Store Fudge

Fudge can be kept out on the counter as long as it is contained in an airtight container. If you’d prefer it chilled, you can keep it in the fridge too. That’s up to you!

Does fudge made with sweetened condensed milk need to be refrigerated?

No, sweetened condensed milk is a shelf-stable item. It’s not the same as regular milk in the dairy case. For this reason, you do not need to refrigerate your fudge.

How Long Does Homemade Fudge Last?

You can keep fudge for about 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge. If you’re keeping it on the counter, assuming it’s contained properly, you can keep enjoying it for a week to 2 weeks.

Can You Freeze Fudge?

Yes, frozen fudge is amazing because you can enjoy it now with a frozen texture as needed or save it to enjoy at a later date. It helps to wrap it up in pieces so it’s easier to eat. You can keep it this way in a freezer safe bag or bowl for up to 3 months.

How to Thaw Frozen Fudge

You can just let frozen fudge thaw on your counter. It’s so good cold or room temperature, it won’t matter!

Watch How To Make Fudge (Video)

This holiday fudge recipe is one of the easiest to make and a family favorite! This recipe is even easy enough for the kids to help with and is very forgiving. One of my holiday staple desserts

3 cups chocolate chips (semi sweet)
1 14z can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp butter
1/2 cup pecans (chopped)
1/2 cup walnuts (chopped)

Line an 8-inch baking dish with aluminum foil with overhang for easy removal.
In a large saucepan, add the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, butter and vanilla extract on medium heat. Stir constantly until the chocolate chips are fully melted and the mixture is smooth in texture.
Ladle the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread into one even layer. Top with the chopped nuts and refrigerate until fully chilled. Once the fudge is fully chilled and firm remove from the pan using the overhang, slice into pieces, and serve.

More fudge recipes:

What’s special about fudge?
Microwave Fudge
Dr. Brosing’s Fudge Recipe
Easy Best Peanut Butter Fudge

Which is better for fudge evaporated or condensed milk?

Unfortunately, you cannot use evaporated milk instead of condensed milk in fudge. You can substitute evaporated milk for regular milk in many instances, but it will not give the same rich, creamy taste that you get from the sweetened condensed milk.

What is the secret to perfect fudge?

The trick to good homemade fudge is to cook the ingredients to the right temperature to form a sugar syrup, and cool the mixture properly so the texture of the fudge turns out smooth and firm, but soft enough to cut.

Why did my condensed milk fudge not set?

Not reaching the proper temperature If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cools, 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).

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

The key to successful, nongrainy fudge is in the cooling, not the cooking. The recipe calls for heating the ingredients to the soft-ball stage, or 234° F, then allowing it to cool undisturbed to approximately 110° F.