Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (2024)

I totally love Christmas fudge and luckily it is incredibly easy to make fudge as homemade treats and simple DIY Christmas gifts.

You don’t need fancy ingredients as you can whip up quick fudge with nothing more than a can of condensed milk and butter.

And you can even make Christmas fudge in your microwave or slow cooker – it seriously is that simple.

So I have for you here a guide to all the best Christmas fudge recipes in all sorts of Christmas flavours :

Gingerbread
Eggnog
Candy cane
White Christmas
Peppermint
Gumdrops
And Christmas pudding!!

PLUS easy fudge recipes for classic :

Old fashioned brown sugar fudge
Peanut butter
Salted caramel
Chocolate marshmallow
Rocky road
Lemon meringue
And red velvet.

There’s also Christmas toffee recipes and the must know secret to making the perfect creamy fudge every time.

Enjoy … !!!

Table of Contents

Easy Microwave Fudge

The very best easy way to make Christmas fudge if you’ve never made it before is in the microwave.

You can whip up a batch in minutes with just the 3 ingredients of :

Condensed milk
Butter
Chocolate chips.

Making microwave fudge couldn’t be easier & it is a good way to make fudge with young kids as you’re not handling a hot pan on the stove.

Your fudge will need at least 4 hours in the fridge to set – ideally overnight – so build the time into your plan.

Easy Slow Cooker Fudge

Christmas fudge is also super easy to make in your slow cooker.

It will obviously take longer but it is easier to make big batches for DIY Christmas gifts or party favours.

This easy slow cooker chocolate fudge recipe uses just condensed milk and chocolate chips and has simple step by step instructions.

White Christmas Fudge

White Christmas fudge makes lovely homemade gifts as you can add extras like dried cranberry that look gorgeously Christmasy against the creamy whiteness of the fudge.

I have two brilliant white Christmas fudge recipes for you here.

The first is an easy microwave fudge recipe with condensed milk whilst the second is made on the stove.

Personally, I adore condensed milk but I know not everyone does.

White Chocolate Caramel Fudge

For even more decadence you have to try this white chocolate caramel fudge. It’s a simple white chocolate fudge with added pecans BUT then has caramel sauce on top!!

White Chocolate Christmas Swirl Fudge

This white chocolate Christmas fudge with seasonal swirls is a super simple fun option for kids …

The recipe gives instruction for making on the stove but again you can make a microwave version.

Martha Stewart Christmas Chocolate Fudge

Martha Stewart’s marshmallow chocolate fudge is a wonderfully creamy Christmas fudge recipe.

She actually has two versions.

The quicker marshmallow fudge uses evaporated milk and can be made via stove or microwave as in the easy microwave fudge above.

Her second chocolate marshmallow fudge recipe uses cream for a luxuriously creamy fudge finish.

You have to take it slowly so the cream doesn’t separate. If by any chance it does use this simple trick :

Take the pan off the heat
Peel a small potato
Stir it whole & raw into the mixture
… like magic your cream is sorted!
Then whip the potato out
And carry on making the fudge.

It sounds crazy I know, but I promise you it really does save the day!

Christmas Pudding Fudge Recipe

If you are a fellow Brit and adore Christmas pudding you have to try making Christmas pudding fudge.

It has all the boozily spicy, scrumptiousness of Christmas pud intensely condensed into a tiny melt in your mouth fragment of fudge.

The recipe is laced with rum and made on the stove but you could add the Christmas pudding flavours to the easy microwave fudge recipe.

For the richest flavour it is worth soaking the dried fruit in rum, sherry or brandy for 24 hours in advance as in this Christmas pudding fudge.

You could even add some actual Christmas pudding to your Christmas pudding fudge – heaven!

Gingerbread Fudge

Gingerbread is my fave Christmas cookie and we always devour big batches of these gingerbreads rich in molasses, cinnamon & cloves.

If your family are huge gingerbread fans like mine, you can recreate that gorgeous gingerbready flavour with this gingerbread fudge recipe …

Again, you can make the fudge in the microwave with the easy microwave fudge method if you prefer.

Eggnog Christmas Fudge

Eggnog is another fabulous flavour to add to your Christmas fudge.

This microwaved eggnog Christmas fudge recipe is super simple made with bought eggnog …

If like me you are in the UK where eggnog is less available try this eggnog fudge recipe from Waitrose.

Peanut Butter Fudge

The wonderful thing about fudge as a DIY gift is you can easily customise it with the favourite Christmas flavours of your family & friends.

So if you have big peanut butter fans in your family you have to make them peanut butter fudge.

This fabulously creamy peanut butter fudge recipe is super simple to make in the microwave …

Old Fashioned Brown Sugar Fudge

My grandpa made good old fashioned brown sugar fudge to perfection when I was small.

Stupidly I don’t have his original recipe but this old fashioned crumbly fudge comes very close.

If you love fudge super creamy rather than crumbly try this old fashioned brown sugar fudge instead …

If you are making traditional stove top fudge it’s also worth checking out this old fashioned brown sugar fudge recipe as it has great fudge making tips on adjusting the temperature to get either a super creamy or a crumblier finish.

Peppermint Christmas Fudge

Peppermint oozes Christmas spirit and you can whip up all sorts of delicious Christmas peppermint recipes easily for heart warming treats including peppermint fudge:

It’s a simple stove top fudge recipe with marshmallows and evaporated milk but to simplify even more just :

Make easy microwave fudge
Add 1/4 tsp peppermint essence
Smash peppermint candy cane
Sprinkle on top of fudge.

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

You can of course also make white chocolate peppermint fudge …

It looks incredibly pretty on the Christmas table if you are channeling a Scandinavian rustic or minimalist vibe with your decorations.

Candy Cane Christmas Fudge

Candy cane is a super pretty way to decorate both Christmas cookies and fudge so they work with your Christmas table decor

You could make this lovely white chocolate candy cane fudge …

Or go full monty with chocolate chip candy cane Christmas fudge …

Gumdrops Christmas Fudge

Gumdrops are another pretty kid-friendly flavour for Christmas fudge.

And this gumdrops Christmas fudge recipe is super simple. It’s basically our easy microwave recipe with white chocolate and chopped gumdrops stirred in …

Salted Caramel Fudge

Salted caramel is a great grown up flavour for your Christmas fudge.

This microwave salted caramel fudge is super simple. It just adds brown sugar to the basic easy microwave fudge recipe and uses white rather than dark chocolate :

Or for something more adventurous try this salted caramel fudge with a layer of dark chocolate on top …

Red Velvet Fudge

This red velvet fudge is another seriously beautiful fudge that will look stunning as part of your Christmas table decorations …

It’s not the simplest Christmas fudge recipe but it does look gorgeous.

Rocky Road Fudge

For a more kid-friendly option try this microwave rocky road fudge recipe. It is made with condensed milk, peanuts and marshmallows …

If you’d rather make your Christmas fudge without condensed milk try this rocky road fudge recipe instead. It’s still simple but is butter based :

Lemon Meringue Fudge

Lemon meringue fudge may not seem so Christmasy but tangy citrus flavours give a delicious cut through contrast to all the rich spicy and chocolate food we’re eating.

So give this wonderfully pretty lemon meringue fudge recipe a try:

And if you do fancy luscious lemon dishes in your Christmas spread check out these fabulous salted lemons and lemon curd recipes.

Really Easy Toffee

If toffee is your thing rather than fudge – or if like me you think both are scrummy – try this easy homemade toffee …

Or give this English toffee with almonds and walnuts a go …

And there you go. A huge collection of the very best and creamiest easy Christmas fudge recipes you can make in your microwave in all sorts of Christmas flavours. I do hope you enjoy them as much as we have.

For more super simple Christmas ideas do check out these other posts :

50 Stunning Christmas Desserts
30 Classic Christmas Cookies.
12 Christmas Cake Pop Ideas
10 Best Christmas Cakes
10 Christmas Candy Recipes
18 Homemade Preserves To Make As Christmas Gifts

Other images : Alexandra E Rust

FAQs

Is evaporated milk or condensed milk better for fudge? ›

Use Evaporated Milk- Make sure to use evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk. If you accidentally use sweetened condensed milk your fudge will be incredibly over the top sweet. Cut up the Butter– Before adding the butter in make sure to cut it into smaller pieces for faster melting.

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What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Tips for Making Fudge

Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
Beat Thoroughly.

Mar 8, 2023

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Why won't my condensed milk fudge set? ›

It sounds like your fudge simply wasn't heated enough. Fudge is basically a superconcentrated syrup, and it sets when sugar dissolved in the water (from the butter and milk) comes out of solution as the mixture cools and forms crystals.

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What happens if you use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk? ›

For the most part, if you find yourself without condensed milk on hand, you can substitute an equal amount of evaporated milk. The consistency will be the same, but since evaporated milk is unsweetened, you'll need to add sweetener to match the recipe's intended flavor profile or to suit your personal preference.

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Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of evaporated milk in fudge? ›

With its very similar consistency, 1 cup of heavy cream can replace 1 cup of evaporated milk in sweet and savory dishes. While the flavor will be blander than evaporated milk's unique caramelized tones, the texture will be noticeably richer.

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How do you make Paula Deen's 5 minute fudge? ›

Combine the sugar, milk, butter and salt. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the chocolate and stir until melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, nuts and marshmallows until melted; mix well.

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Why is my old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›

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).

Why does homemade fudge get hard? ›

Too cooked

This fudge was cooked to a temperature of 118 °C (244 °F). At this temperature, the sugar is too concentrated and there is not enough water left to form syrup around sugar crystals. The result is hard and brittle fudge. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 45 to 60 ml (3 or 4 tbsp.)

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Do you stir fudge while it is boiling? ›

Brush the sides of the pan with a wet brush at the beginning of cooking to dissolve sugar crystals stuck to the sides. Never stir the mixture during cooking or sugar could crystallize again. The mixture may seize and become grainy. Use a candy thermometer or conduct a cold water test to check if the fudge is done.

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.

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Can I fix fudge that didn't set? ›

OPTION 3) Sieve together some powdered sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually work this into your unset fudge until it reaches the consistency of dough, then roll out and cut into squares, or shape into balls and then roll in powdered sugar (roll the balls in icing sugar, not yourself).

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What to do if fudge didn t set? ›

It sounds like your fudge simply wasn't heated enough. ... If it's overcooked (resulting in grainy fudge) or undercooked (resulting in poor setting) all you really need to do is add a bit of cream, reheat the fudge to the target temperature, and let it set again.

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Why won't my 2 ingredient fudge set? ›

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. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

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Can I use condensed milk instead of evaporated for fudge? ›

Evaporated Milk Vs.

Sweetened condensed milk also has 60% of the water removed, but contains 40% sugar. Due to the big flavor difference, they cannot be substituted for each other. Always double-check which can you grabbed off the grocery store shelf to be sure it's the ingredient you're looking for.

Can I use sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated milk in fudge? ›

I suggest sticking with the regular version and skipping the fat-free kind. Make sure that you grab a can of sweetened condensed milk and NOT evaporated milk. Sweetened condensed milk is thick and sweet and will give you the proper consistency for this fudge.

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Should I use condensed milk instead of evaporated milk? ›

While we don't recommend substituting condensed milk for evaporated milk or vice versa, you can make your own condensed milk when you're in a pinch. Simply heat together 1½ cups of sugar and one can of evaporated milk until the sugar has fully dissolved.

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Why is my evaporated milk fudge not setting? ›

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).