Introduction: Easiest Ever Fudge Recipe
If you're like me and are pretty much useless when it comes to candy making, you'll be excited to know that this fudge recipe take five minutes to make and doesn't involve ANYTHING tricky. It is honestly the easier fudge recipe ever! :D
No candy thermometers, no stressing over temperatures, no stirring it for a perfect amount of time.
And best of all, this fudge recipe tastes amazing! At first I wasn't sure because it wasn't exactly like the fudge I grew up eating. But considering I kept going back to the fridge all weekend to get more, it's obviously pretty damn tasty.
Step 1: Ingredients and Tools
ingredients:
- 3 cups chocolate chips - I mixed milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons good vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup chopped nuts or dried fruit - optional
You can mix whatever chocolate chips you like here. I've even seen folks use peanut butter or butterscotch chips in this fudge and it's amazing. :D
I highly recommend these with 3/4 cup of walnuts - that's my favorite! The walnuts are a little bitter so they balance out the sweetness of the milk chocolate.
tools:
- wax paper
- pan for forming and cooling the fudge - 8x8 inches or smaller
Step 2: Pick a Pan and Line It With the Wax Paper
As long as the pan is smaller than 8x8 inches, it should be totally fine! I chose a slightly smaller roasting pan.
Press a piece of wax paper down into the pan and cut off any crazy excess. :)
A note about the wax paper: if you're using a deep rounded pan like I am, you may have problems getting the fudge out, even with the wax paper in the bottom! However, it is easy to cut it and pry out a piece - the wax paper will peel right off!
Step 3: Melt the Chocolate With the Condensed Milk (+ Add in Your Extras!)
Take a saucepan and set it over low heat.
Pour in the condensed milk and add the three cups of chocolate chips along with a pinch of salt. Stir this frequently until it all melts together. The milk chocolate chips melt nearly instantly, but anything darker will take a little longer.
Now you can add in any mix-ins you want! Nuts, dried, fruit, seeds, etc.
As soon as it's smooth, take it off the heat. Add in the vanilla and mix it well. :)
Step 4: Pour Into the Pan and Cool in the Fridge
Once the fudge is all melted together, you'll want to pour it into the pan lined with wax paper. Use a spatula to spread it out. :)
The one downside to this fudge: it takes about two hours in the fridge to cool down.
The fudge will look super glossy when you pop it in the fridge, but after the two hours are up it will have lightened and look pretty matte.
Step 5: Cut Into Pieces and Enjoy!
Once it's cool, use a large sharp knife to cut it into pieces.
This fudge is great cold OR at room temperature. Right from the fridge, this fudge is fairly creamy and dense. If you leave it out at room temperature, it stays solid and creamy, but the texture is more similar to traditionally made fudge. :D
I'd store it in the fridge for the longest shelf life, though!