I can't imagine a family holiday without this homemade treat available for snacking, can you?
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- This easy fudge recipe with marshmallow fluff is the creamiest fudge ever. No need for condensed milk or any special equipment.
- It's perfect for holiday gift giving, Valentine's Day, and anytime you want something sweet.
- Grainy fudge is caused by sugar crystals not being dissolved properly. Be patient and make sure all the sugar is dissolved.
Mom's easy chocolate fudge recipe has never let me down and it won't let you down either! It's a tried and true, no-fail fudge recipe.
It makes great holiday gifts, hostess gifts, or is just a nice way to end dinner with a cup of coffee.
🧾 Ingredients
What ingredients are in fudge?
Well, this fudge recipe without condensed milk is made with just a few simple things -
📖 Variations
- Add leftover fudge to hot milk and stir until melted. It makes fantastic hot chocolate.
- Substitute vanilla extract with peppermint extract.
- Use walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts instead of pecans.
- Add espresso powder for mocha fudge.
- Stir in mini m&ms.
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- In a large pot, combine sugar, butter and milk.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring, until it comes to a full rolling boil. Boil the mixture, stirring constantly and making sure that it doesn't scorch, for 5 minutes exactly.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and quickly stir in the chocolate marshmallow cream, vanilla extract, pecans, and the salt.
- Stir the mixture until it is combined thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a greased 13 x 9 pan that's been lined with parchment paper and sprayed with no-stick spray.
🥫 Storage
Store homemade fudge in an airtight container, lined with wax paper or parchment paper, separating the layers with more wax paper. You can also cover the 13x9-inch pan with plastic wrap if you don't need to be fancy.
Keep in a cool place. It will be fine for several weeks at room temperature if the kids don't find it.
Freeze
Freeze for up to 3 months in an air-tight container.. It lasts longer if you freeze it in an old spinach box. 😉
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Pre-measure your ingredients because once everything gets going you won't have time to measure!
- Be sure to use a mixture of different kinds of chocolate for the best fudge!
- Evaporated milk is essential to the creaminess of this easy, homemade candy.
- Evaporated milk and condensed milk are NOT the same thing. Be sure to use evaporated milk.
- There's no need to use a candy thermometer with this easy no-fail fudge but a timer is super helpful! It won't ever get a grainy texture.
- Mom's recipe used chopped chocolate but I use chocolate chips - it's just easier. You can use the chunk chocolate if you want - just chop it small.
- Line the pan with parchment or waxed paper. You'll be able to easily get the candy out and cut it into neater squares.
- A rubber spatula works great because it scrapes the bottom of the pan easily and keeps the mixture from scorching.
- Use a heavy saucepan with tall sides for best results.
- This is delicious with a sprinkle of fleur de del salt on top of the fudge.
👩🍳 FAQs
Usually it's because it's because the sugar isn't fully dissolved and the fudge ends up being grainy. Be patient and give the sugar time to dissolve and you'll have creamy fudge.
Sometimes you can slowly bring it back to 212F and then remove from the heat and beat it again.
It's up to you. If you use salted butter then leave out the salt called for in the recipe.
2 to 3 weeks in an airtight container if you keep it in a cool place.
📚 Related recipes
These boozy white chocolate cherries are delicious, too! Make up a box of homemade candy with a few other easy candy recipes like the peanut butter pretzel bites.
📞 The last word
I am sure that this easy, old-fashioned chocolate fudge recipe will become a family favorite in your house if it isn't already.
Remember that it will only be as good as the chocolate you put into it so use the best you can afford.
And, if you are making up an assortment of holiday goodies for gifts you'll definitely want to take a look at this Christmas cookie fudge! It's so easy.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it a 5-star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Fudge
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 4 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter, cut into pieces
- 1 ½ cup evaporated milk
- ½ pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- ½ pound milk chocolate, chopped
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, (one bag)
- 2 cups marshmallow creme
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup pecans, chopped & toasted
Instructions
- In a large heavy stockpot, combine the sugar, butter and evaporated milk.
- Cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until it comes to a full boil.
- Set a timer for exactly 5 minutes.
- Boil the mixture, stirring constantly and making sure that it doesn't scorch, for 5 minutes exactly.
- Remove the pot from the heat and quickly stir in the chocolate, marshmallow cream, vanilla, pecans, and salt.
- Stir the fudge mixture until it is combined thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a greased 13 x 9 inch pan that's been lined with parchment paper and sprayed with no stick spray.
- Chill the fudge for 2 hours, or until it is firm.
- Pull the parchment out of the pan and lay it on the counter.
- Cut the fudge into squares.
- Store in an airtight container lined with wax paper, separating the layers with wax paper, in a cool place - but not the refrigerator.
Notes
- Pre-measure your ingredients because once everything gets going you won't have time to measure!
- There's no need to use a candy thermometer with this easy recipe but a timer is super helpful!
- Mom's recipe used chopped chocolate but I use chocolate chips - it's just easier. You can use the chunk chocolate if you want - just chop it small.
- Line the pan with parchment or waxed paper. You'll be able to easily get the candy out and cut it into neater squares.
- A rubber spatula works great because it scrapes the bottom of the pan easily and keep the mixture from scorching.
- Use a heavy saucepan with tall sides for best results.
- This is delicious with a pinch of salt sprinkled on top of the fudge. Fleur de Sel sea salt works the best.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published December 12, 2011. Last updated September 15, 2023 for editorial updates.
✍🏻 A note from Marye...
I know y'all don't always like the stories bloggers tell so when I have one I try to put it at the very bottom so you can read or skip as you like.
Mom's famous fudge recipe (without condensed milk)
Fudge, like many other homemade treats, was something that was only made at Christmas in my house.
My mom was a practical cook except at Christmas and then she went all out with ambrosial fruitcakes, the most perfect fudge ever invented, buttery cookies that were worth arm wrestling over, and magical things I cannot replicate to this day.
The month of December was a flurry of epicurean activity which stopped abruptly on January 2.
At that point we went back to broiled chicken and wedge salad.
To say that I enjoyed the month of December would be an understatement of such gigantic proportions that it would be equal to saying that I simply dislike Monsanto, or somewhat disagree with various politicians.
I lived for Christmastime.
By the time my elementary school teachers began sending home math worksheets with reindeer and Santa hats on them I was a quivering mass of anticipation fueled by those enticing aromas that wafted out of my mother's kitchen.
Fudge was the star of the show, the item that created a release of saliva that nearly dripped from your chin and pooled at your feet.
My mother's fudge was legendary in the neighborhood. It had the best texture, the creamiest mouthfeel, the butteriest melt-in-your-mouth flavor...
My father and I encouraged her to take naps, go to movies, and visit friends so that we could carefully shave off the sides of that creamy chocolaty confection without being detected.
Being caught was certain death or at least a well-placed whack with the wooden spoon.
Dad and I were terrified of the Kitchen Nazi that my mother channeled in December - but not terrified enough to stay away from the creamy fudge.
It was that good.
And the experience later served me well when we did recon and other war games in boot camp.
The flavor secret was in the mixture of chocolate used.
One type of chocolate will give a one-dimensional flavor but three or four will create waves of chocolaty pleasure that the Aztecs could not even imagine.
You can bet I remind my kids every holiday season that they are lucky that they have the privilege of gorging on their grandma's recipe for old-fashioned fudge without dodging the Kitchen Nazi.
J says
"No condensed milk recipe"... Ingredients: 1.5 cups condensed milk!! Seriously? I totally wasted my time looking at your recipe! So annoying!
Marye says
Ummm... Evaporated milk and condensed milk/ sweetened condensed milk are two entirely different things. You seem to annoy easily and for no good reason. A nap and a cookie perhaps?
Ginny C says
I would also like to see a harder fudge recipe. Thanks!!!
Marye says
Ginny, can you explain? I'm not sure what you mean.
Corey Glenn says
Is the 7 oz jar of marshmallow fluff equivalent to 2 cups?
Marye says
I'm not sure?
Pat Braun says
I make this every Christmas with one change. I use mini marshmallows in place of the marshmallow fluff/creme. I dislike the mess of trying to get the marshmallow creme out of the jar and converted it to mini marshmallows.
It is a family favorite with some liking it plain and some with nuts added.
Rose says
What was the amount of mini marshmallows? I too dislike the mess of fluff. Thanks
Marye says
2 cups.
Denise says
I have been looking for this recipe! Thank you for sharing! Hope you don’t mind I shared it (only the recipe) on Facebook with your blog name of course .
I know for a fact this is the most yummy fudge!
Marye says
I am so glad you found me! Please don't share recipes - just share the link back to my blog. Thanks.
Sherry Terry says
Do we take it you do not like the sweetened condensed milk fudge recipe? I never heard of making it with marshmallow fluff, I look forward to making it this way. The one fudge recipe I cannot find is the one my Moma used to make when we grew up. It was delicious, and it was a hard fudge. I remember trying to make it a few times when I moved out, but could never master it, so I quit.
If anyone happens to have a recipe for the old fashioned hard fudge, please reveal it so I can try it again! 🙂
Sherry Terry 🙂
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says
What great tips about using multiple kinds of chocolate, and the best you can afford, to get the right multi-dimensional flavor. This fudge sounds amazing!
Marye Audet says
Thanks! I love it
Erin says
Love fudge at the holidays! We will be making more tomorrow! Rocky road!
Marye Audet says
Yummy!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Unfortunately I know all about shaving off the edges of fudge. All too well! Looks scrumptious and another sweet treat to add to my must make list!
Marye Audet says
🙂 I hope your Christmas was amazing, Allie
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Rocky road fudge is always my go to flavor and this reminds me of just that! Can't resist the marshmallow creme 🙂
Marye Audet says
Me either! I used to be addicted to FlufferNutter Sandwiches!
Chrisy @ Homemade Hooplah says
I used to make fudge years ago, but never wish marshmallow cream (usually peanut butter). Can't wait to try your version!
Marye Audet says
It's my mom's recipe. 🙂 I grew up on this stuff.
Taylor@Food Faith Fitness says
Yum! I am pretty sure I NEED this in my life 🙂
Marye Audet says
I think you probably do Taylor. 🙂
heather @french press says
my house was very much the same, Christmas baking all month long, but we never made fudge, I bet this would be a hit with my chocoholics
Marye Audet says
I am sure it would!
Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says
I remember having fudge every Christmas at my grandma's house...it was always my favorite! This looks wonderful, and I totally agree about good quality chocolate making all the difference!
Marye Audet says
🙂 such happy memories.
Stephanie Smith says
My mother -in-law made this same recipe or at least pretty close but she would use two pans one to cook the butter sugar and milk until it came to a boil she also boiled for 5 minutes however she would have a second pan with the pecans shocolate and marshmallow cream layered in that order and pour the hot mixture over the top and stir till chocolate melted then she added vanilla and poured in a greased sheet pan. She also used sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated and it was delicious she called it her million dollar fudge. I make it a lot and because it makes so much it is perfect for gifts and appreciated.
Kelly says
If I use less sugar would it still have the right consistency?
marye says
No it won't.