This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Easy Chocolate Fudge recipe is made with just 3 ingredients! Chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla come together to make a homemade fudge that’s bursting with chocolate flavor. It’s a simple treat to put together for gifts and sharing this holiday season.
Table of Contents
Easy Homemade Chocolate Fudge
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE FUDGE
THIS FUDGE RECIPE ONLY TAKES 3 MINUTES!
Get the Recipe
Easy Homemade Chocolate Fudge
I’ve been loving testing out new fudge recipes lately. Did you catch my Easy White Chocolate Cranberry Fudge recently? SO good! Both that fudge and this one are so rich and creamy, it’s hard to stop eating them!
Now, there are two great things I’ve found about fudge lately. One – it can be incredibly easy to make. And two – it’s a delicious treat to snack on when taking care of twins. 😉 The only problem with that is it might be too easy.
But of course easy is exactly what we need this time of year. So much going on, so little time and oh my gosh, Christmas is like 10 days away. When did that happen?!? I’m so not ready. And if you’re not fully prepared and need something quick, this fudge is for you. Not to mention, it’s a great chocolate fix if you’re losing your mind a bit and chocolate makes you feel better. 🙂
So to get started making this easy chocolate fudge, you’ll need just three ingredients – chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract. Hopefully you’re like me and already have those 3 things in your pantry at all times.
Grab a 9×9 inch pan and line it with parchment paper and set that aside. Then put the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk into a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave them for one minute, then stir to combine and let the residual heat do as much of the melting as it can. If it needs another 30 seconds or so, go ahead and heat it some more, then stir it until it’s melted.
Once everything is melted together, add the vanilla extract and combine everything. Working quickly, pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly. Let the fudge cool to room temperature before cutting into squares. You could also let it cool in the fridge to speed up the process, but it doesn’t have to be refrigerated.
THIS FUDGE RECIPE ONLY TAKES 3 MINUTES!
This chocolate fudge is so easy to make, it takes all of about three minutes! A minute to prepare the pan and ingredients, a minute to melt the chocolate and a minute to spread it out into the pan. Seriously – SO EASY! You will be enjoying the best chocolate fudge before you know it! Dense, rich, chocolatey, delicious! What are you waiting for?!
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 58 reviews
Author:Lindsay
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:1 minute
Total Time:11 minutes
Yield:20-25 pieces
Category:Dessert
Method:No Bake
Cuisine:American
Print
Description
This easy chocolate fudge recipe is made with just 3 ingredients and is full of rich chocolate flavor! A simple Christmas or holiday gift you’ll love.
Ingredients
2 cups (12oz) semi sweet chocolate chips (do not use milk chocolate)
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Line a 9×9 square pan with parchment paper that covers the sides of the pan. 2. Place the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl and microwave for one minute. Stir well to combine and allow the heat to melt the chocolate chips. If needed, microwave for another 30 seconds or so, until the chocolate is completely smooth. 3. Stir in the vanilla extract, then quickly transfer the mixture to the lined pan and spread evenly. 4. Refrigerate the fudge until firm, 2-3 hours. 5. Cut the fudge while it’s still cold (right out of the fridge) and store in an air tight container. Fudge can be stored at either room temperature or the fridge. It will be softer at room temperature.
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).
The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer.
Add a simple wooden or paper stick, some transparent gauze wrapping, a bow and a creative label to any piece of fudge, and you've now got something that looks more like an expensive candy apple than a humble square of fudge.
Choose Pure Vanilla Extract- For a wonderfully rich and robust flavor, pure vanilla extract is recommended over imitation vanilla. Use Evaporated Milk- Make sure to use evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk.
It's the size of sugar crystals that makes the knees of fudge lovers buckle…the smaller the crystals, the less they are perceived on the tongue and the more the fudge tastes smooth and creamy. Cooking, and beating after cooking, is the key to successful fudge.
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.
The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.
Make or find a cardstock gift box for your chocolates.
They keep the chocolates cool to prevent heat from melting them. You can fold one yourself or purchase a small paper gift box from most craft stores. Measure your chocolates beforehand to make sure you choose or fold a box large enough for them.
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.
Evaporated milk has added sugar and carbohydrates which are very high, making sweetened condensed milk not healthy for nutritional intake for babies and children, Ali explained.
Saucepan: Choose a heavy, straight-sided metal saucepan that holds about twice the volume of your fudge recipe. A heavy pan distributes heat evenly so the ingredients are less likely to scorch when they boil at high temperature. Using a large saucepan gives the ingredients room to expand when they boil.
Another key part of a successful fudge texture is when you stir the mixture. Stirring the sugar and milk during the initial stages of cooking allows the sugar to dissolve. However, once the mixture comes to a boil, it's time to put the spoon down.
The key to creamy, luscious fudge is controlling crystal formation. If the sucrose (table sugar) crystals are small, the fudge will feel creamy and smooth on your tongue. But if the crystals are large, the fudge develops a crumbly, dry, or even coarse texture.
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!
Address: 55021 Usha Garden, North Larisa, DE 19209
Phone: +6812240846623
Job: Corporate Healthcare Strategist
Hobby: Singing, Listening to music, Rafting, LARPing, Gardening, Quilting, Rappelling
Introduction: My name is Foster Heidenreich CPA, I am a delightful, quaint, glorious, quaint, faithful, enchanting, fine person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.