Peanut Butter Fudge
This Peanut Butter Fudge is creamy and indulgent yet super easy to make. You'll wonder how you've ever celebrated without a few pieces of this peanut butter fudge before!
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Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
Fudge, like a lot of things, isn't as hard to make as you'd think. I learned this valuable lesson on one visit to my best friend's house during the holidays one year. Her mom served us a delicious spread of all kinds of Christmas cookies, plus something I hadn't ever tried: peanut butter fudge.
I'd made other easy fudge recipes like chocolate fudge, caramel fudge and this cookie dough fudge recipe, but not peanut butter. This peanut butter lover just had to try it and immediately felt my world completely changed by this amazing fudge. Before I left, I asked her mom to write the recipe down for me, and I've been making it ever since.
I've made this delicious fudge recipe for many events year-round, not just during the holidays. It's a perfect treat for parties and showers, Christmas, Valentine's Day, or just because you need an indulgent treat! (And I always feel better about eating a sweet like fudge I make at home rather than a store-bought one.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
This recipe is SO easy and so good. I think it will become a go-to dessert recipe for all of your parties and gatherings!
- Peanut butter fudge is super easy to make. If you want to customize it with chocolate, it's easy to do that, too. I have all the details spelled out for you below.
- It comes together in just 15 minutes! Then, it needs a bit of time to cool, but 15 minutes of hands-on time is all it takes.
- Creamy and indulgent, it's the perfect dessert for the peanut butter lover in your life. Make them a plate of this fudge as an easy and delicious gift.
Ingredients
This creamy peanut butter fudge recipe uses staple fudge ingredients like unsalted butter, evaporated milk, sugar, salt and mini marshmallows.
The peanut butter flavor comes from peanut butter chips and creamy peanut butter to add in that mouth-watering peanut butter flavor. A little vanilla extract adds a little depth of flavor and sweetness.
Good ol' Jif and Peter Pan peanut butters work well for this recipe. You can use the natural peanut butters that settle with a layer of oil on top, but be sure to mix them well before using them in this recipe.
Toppings for Peanut Butter Fudge
Peanut butter fudge is so good on its own, but I have also added toppings before for my chocolate-loving husband. If you like peanut butter chocolate fudge, some chocolate candies are the way to go. Here are a few ideas:
- a drizzle of melted chocolate
- chopped peanuts
- chocolate sprinkles
- mini chocolate chips
- peanut butter chips
- M&M's candies
- Reese's Pieces candies
- chopped chocolate peanut butter cups
- peanut butter cookie crumbles
- flaky sea salt
How to Make Peanut Butter Fudge
Know this before you begin: This easy peanut butter fudge only takes a few minutes; however, this recipe moves VERY quickly! It's really important you read through all the instructions and get your ducks in a row before you begin.
First, measure out all your ingredients and get out all your tools & supplies so that you are ready to go. I mean it when I say this recipe goes fast!
Also, before you begin, line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper or wax paper. This makes it really easy to lift the fudge out of the pan.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter on medium heat.
- Once almost completely melted, pour in evaporated milk, sugar and salt. Whisk to combine.
- Bring to a full rolling boil, over moderate heat, stirring constantly.
- Set timer for 6 minutes and boil mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
- Stir in marshmallows and vanilla. Stir until all marshmallows melt and mixture is well-blended.
- Add peanut butter chips and peanut butter. Stir until completely melted for the perfect consistency.
- Pour the fudge mixture into the prepared pan. Then allow fudge to cool to room temperature.
- Remove fudge from pan using parchment paper to lift it out. Use a sharp knife to cut into 1-inch squares.
Don't rush it!
Once I tried to make this peanut butter fudge quickly before a party, and I didn't have time to let it cool completely before we needed to leave, so I threw it in the refrigerator for a bit before we left. It was dry and powdery.
The following week I made it again for something else and could let it completely cool overnight before cutting into it. It made a world of a difference, and the texture was perfect!
Madison's Pro Sharing Tip:
Here are a few ways to share this family favorite fudge:
- Bring half to your neighbor or a friend who needs a pick-me-up.
- Make two batches to serve at a party alongside other desserts.
- Add them to cookie plates to give to teachers and neighbors.
How to Store Fudge
Storing homemade peanut butter fudge is pretty simple. Add it to an airtight container, and store it for up to 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature or 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze it for up to 3 months for longer storage. Place it in a freezer-safe container.
The Sweetest Season: Holiday Cookie Recipes
This post is brought to you as part of The Sweetest Season, my friend Erin's annual virtual cookie exchange! Every year, she gets food bloggers together to share new holiday cookie recipes for your holiday parties
We're also raising awareness about and fundraising for Cookies for Kids' Cancer, a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer. If you'd like to join us, donate to our C4KC fundraising page.
FAQ
I actually made four or five batches of this fudge over the last few months and feel like I've finally figured out the secret to making it right. It may not surprise you if you've ever made desserts like fudge, but the real trick is all in the timing.
The secret to making fudge is TIMING. Make sure you measure all your ingredients out ahead of time and have a timer handy so that you can move through this recipe quickly. Set a timer and make sure you have your attention focused on the recipe for those precious six minutes! If you can do that, this will easily become one of your absolute favorite desserts!
Another key to this recipe is the timing of boiling the sugar and evaporated milk. If you don't boil it enough, your fudge will be too soft. Those 6 minutes are really important!
You can put the fudge back on the stove and remelt it, letting it boil a little longer, and see if that helps it to harden up properly.
Letting the fudge cool completely on its own out on the counter, without the help of the fridge, allows the fudge to get the most perfect, creamy consistency.
When you try to shortcut the cooling process, it can become dry and powdery instead of creamy - which is quite a tragedy!
Did you make this recipe?
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Peanut Butter Fudge
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 ½ cups sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups peanut butter chips
- ¼ cup of peanut butter
Video
Instructions
- Measure and set out all ingredients before beginning. This recipe moves quickly!
- Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt ¼ cup unsalted butter on medium heat.
- Once almost completely melted, pour in 1 cup evaporated milk, 2 ½ cups sugar and ¼ teaspoon salt. Whisk to combine.
- Bring to a full rolling boil, over moderate heat, stirring constantly.
- Set timer for 6 minutes and boil mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
- Stir in 1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir until all marshmallows melt and mixture is well blended.
- Add 2 cups peanut butter chips and ¼ cup of peanut butter. Stir until melted.
- Pour fudge mixture into pan. Allow fudge to cool, at least to room temperature.
- Remove fudge from pan using parchment paper to lift it out. Then use a sharp knife to cut into even, 1-inch pieces.
Nutrition
More fudge recipes
More holiday desserts
If you are packing this fudge into a cookie plate, pair it with a few of these recipes:
My friends call me Mad and you can too. Here you'll find easy, wholesome recipes, and designed to share with those you love.
This looks so delicious! And I love it when recipe is simple and easy to make!