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 :

  1. Condensed milk
  2. Butter
  3. 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.

If that’s you, this classic white Christmas fudge recipe with milk and icing (confectionary) sugar is a lovely alternative …

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (2)

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.

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (3)

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 :

  1. Take the pan off the heat
  2. Peel a small potato
  3. Stir it whole & raw into the mixture
  4. … like magic your cream is sorted!
  5. Then whip the potato out
  6. 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!

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (4)

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.

Or for a really creamy eggnog recipe try this stove top eggnog fudge with marshmallow creme …

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (5)

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:

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (6)

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

  1. Make easy microwave fudge
  2. Add 1/4 tsp peppermint essence
  3. Smash peppermint candy cane
  4. 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

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (7)

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 …

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (8)

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 …

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (9)

Red Velvet Fudge

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

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (10)

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 …

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (11)

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:

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (12)

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

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (13)

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

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (14)

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
Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (15)

Other images : Alexandra E Rust

Easy Christmas Fudge Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is evaporated milk or condensed milk better for fudge? ›

Evaporated milk doesn't have sugar added. The sweetened condended milk is needed as no extra sugar is added to the fudge. If evaporated milk were used then the fudge would not be sweet enough and also would still be too soft unless the fudge is frozen.

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

To fix oily, hard or grainy fudge, scoop the fudge back into a pot with about a cup of water. Cook it over low heat until the fudge dissolves. Then bring the fudge back up to the temperature specified in the recipe and follow the remaining steps. The flavor may be slightly diluted, but the texture will be improved.

Why won't my 3 ingredient condensed milk fudge set? ›

This often happens when the condensed milk and chocolate chip mixture isn't hot enough to start. Everything must be completely melted before it is transferred to the pan to cool. Heat in 30-second bursts in the microwave, stirring well between each to ensure everything is melting evenly.

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.

Why won't my condensed milk fudge set? ›

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.

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 makes high quality fudge? ›

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).

What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›

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!

What went wrong with my fudge? ›

However, homemade fudge doesn't always set up into a semi-firm, melt-in-your-mouth confection. If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.

Why did my fudge turn out like taffy? ›

If the temperature is too low, the fudge will be too soft and sticky, and if it's too high, it will turn into a hard, crumbly mess. The ideal temperature to cook fudge is between 232-234 degrees F (111-112 degrees C).

How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›

How long does it take to make fudge:
  1. about 18 min to reach boiling.
  2. about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
  3. 60 minutes to cool.
  4. 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
  5. 4 hours to set.

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).

How do you make homemade fudge firmer? ›

​Harden the fudge:​ Place your container or tins in the fridge for 2 hours, which is the time it takes for the fudge to set. Once it's hardened, cut the fudge into 12 pieces or remove it from the muffin tins. Store in the fridge or the freezer (if you don't devour it right away).

What happens if you don't beat fudge long enough? ›

However, if you don't beat it at all, the crystals won't form properly, so your fudge won't set. If you forget to beat the fudge, try heating it back up over low heat, then beat it once it's slightly softened. If you beat the fudge too soon, the crystals will be too large, and the fudge will be grainy.

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

These items are essentially the same with one big difference: no sugar is added to evaporated milk. 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.

Why use evaporated milk in fudge? ›

Evaporated milk is milk that has been cooked to reduce its water content. It is more stable than regular milk and it can be cooked at high temperatures without curdling, a real benefit to fudge. Unfortunately, there is no substitute for it in a fudge recipe.

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.

Why is my evaporated milk fudge not setting? ›

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.

References

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