Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Whether it's for Christmas or Valentine's Day, Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge is the perfect sweet treat! You can make this easy fudge recipe with only ten minutes of prep time and no condensed milk.

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I don't know about you, but I am a sucker for the combo of peanut butter and chocolate. It can be chocolate peanut butter brownies or a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. As long as the two are together in one dessert, I'm happy!

We make fudge every year during the holiday season. I've been making peanut butter fudge for years, but adding chocolate into the mix was a must.

Why This Recipe is a Favorite

One of the best things about this recipe is that is doesn't use sweetened condensed milk. That seems to be an ingredients that is so easily forgotten when I go grocery shopping for holiday baking ingredients! Now I don't have to remember it because this easy fudge recipe uses half and half instead.

This six ingredient fudge is now one of our favorite holiday recipes. So take a break from all the Christmas cookies (though I never tire of peppermint crinkle cookies) and dig into some delicious fudge instead!

• It's a great make ahead recipe. If you are hosting Christmas dinner and making most of the food, you'll especially love the fact that this is one of those candy recipes that can be made ahead of time!
• Fudge is a fantastic homemade food gift. It is easily shareable and can be split into many different servings. Wrap a few squares in some cellophane bags, tie them with ribbon and give them to friends and family.
• It's less expensive than a box of chocolates. Valentine's Day chocolates are a great gift, but the price of chocolates is SO expensive! Making homemade candy is more affordable.

Need some other Christmas treat ideas? We love these Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies! Or stick with the peanut butter and chocolate combo and make these chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this wonderful treat. Here is a list of everything you need to make this classic candy:

• butter: Either salted or unsalted butter is fine. Salted butter provides a bit of balance to the sweetness of the chocolate and peanut butter.
• half and half: If you need a substitute for half and half, you can use heavy cream. Whole milk will work too, but your fudge won't be as creamy. Evaporated milk should work, but I haven't tested it with this fudge recipe.
• granulated sugar
• chocolate chips: I use semi-sweet chips, but dark and milk chocolate chips will work, as will chopped chocolate almond bark.
• mini marshmallows
• peanut butter: Be sure to use a no-stir brand of creamy peanut butter, like Jif or Skippy.

Variations

Feel free to add anything to the top of the fudge. Peanut butter chips, extra chocolate chips, crushed cookies, sprinkles, chunks of Reese's peanut butter cups, etc.

Allergic to peanut butter? Make this recipe with cashew butter, sunflower butter, or another peanut-free nut butter!

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Follow these step-by-step instructions to make this creamy and flavorful marshmallow fudge:

1. Prepare your pan. Line an 8x8-inch square pan with parchment paper and then set it to the side to use later.

2. Melt butter, half and half, and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring it occasionally.

3. Remove from the heat, then stir in the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Pour the chocolate mixture into the previously prepared pan.

4. Melt the peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan over medium heat. Once it has thinned out and is smooth, pour the peanut butter mixture over the chocolate layer.

5. Refrigerate the chocolate peanut butter fudge for 2-3 hours until it hardens.

6. Use a sharp knife to cut the fudge into even squares and then serve!

Tips for Success

I want you to make the best fudge, so I've got a few tips for you to read over so you'll have the most success:

• Do not overheat you chocolate chips or it will seize. Add to the half and half mixture and heat until the chocolate chips are melted. Then immediately remove from heat and pour into the baking dish you prepared.
• Create a fun peanut butter swirl by dragging a butter knife or toothpick through the peanut butter layer.
• Make sure the fudge mixture is poured into an even layer so that it sets evenly and you don't have some squares of fudge that are super thick and others that are really thin.

Fudge Recipe FAQs

More Chocolate Recipes

• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
• Chocolate Muffins
• Chocolate Smoothie