Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (2024)

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Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (1) Rebekah 0 Comments

Easy no-fail chocolate fudge recipe with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and evaporated milk! It really does only take a few minutes to make the best, smooth, creamy fudge!

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Easy 5 minute fudge recipe is called this because you boil the candy ingredients for 5 minutes! This foolproof fudge recipe is the one my mom learned in Home economics class about 60 years ago! Of course, she would always add nuts. I don’t because of certain nut-free dessert eaters in my house.

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Easy 5 minute fudge recipe is definitely a fudge for beginners to make. There is no messing around with soft ball, hard ball candy stages. This chocolate fudge recipe does not require a candy thermometer! Just set the timer when you begin boiling the sugar, evaporated milk, butter, salt and marshmallows.

Boiling the marshmallows is imperative!

Yes, you boil the marshmallows in this recipe, don’t just stir them in at the end. This is what will create the true fudge consistency!!! The candy mixture will turn a magnificent brown color and you may get scared that you’re burning your fudge. But, don’t worry, this is normal and part of what makes this easy fudge recipe taste like authentic complicated chocolate fudge!

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Using marshmallows and chocolate chips will always ensure a perfect fudge texture! By adding the chocolate chips after removing the candy mixture from the heat, you will prevent the chocolate from seperating and turning waxy!

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Trust me on this recipe! It really is the best easy fudge recipe out there! I have tried many different fudge recipes. Most of them turn out sometimes and flop sometimes. This easy fudge recipe is a no-fail, simple, tested and tried favorite!

Chocolate fudge with marshmallows makes one of the best Christmas gifts ever! Be prepared by making at least a double batch! Although, it’s best to make 2 seperate batches, just to make it easier to handle if you want double the fudge.

Marshmallows in Fudge!?!

When you add marshmallows to your fudge, you are guaranteeing a smooth and creamy fudge! Why? Because the egg whites and gelatin in marshmallows coat the sugar crystals as they form! Just another cool scientific cooking fact.

Why You Will LOVE Easy 5-Minute Fudge Recipe!

  • Easy no-fail recipe!
  • Fudge tastes like traditional old fashioned fudge.
  • Don’t need a candy thermometer!
  • Great for Christmas or other gifts!
  • Favorite treat of all ages!
  • Do not need a chemistry degree to make!
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History of Fudge

The history of Fudge making is another one of those murky food histories. There is no for-sure record of how fudge came to be. One theory is that fudge is a product of a mistake. In the 1800s, a candy maker from Baltimore messed up a batch of French caramels. One of the first written records of fudge was from 1892. A letter was written by Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, when she was a student at Vassar College. In her letter she described how a cousin of a classmate made and sold fudge for $0.40/lb. Fudge shops started to show up around America from the late 1800s and are still going strong today!

Make some Chocolate Fudge for National Fudge Day on June 16!!

Variations

  • You can add your favorite chopped nuts.
  • You could use white chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips.
  • Can add toffee bits right before pouring.
  • Can put coconut down in the pan before pouring the fudge in.
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Ingredients for Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe

  • Evaporated milk, very important that you don’t use condensed. The can will say evaporated!
  • Butter, I use salted butter for the best flavor.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Salt
  • Marshmallows, large or small, these are boiled in the candy mixture. The mini marshmallows do melt quicker but either size is fine. And no, marshmallow creme or fluff will not work in this fudge recipe!
  • Vanilla extract
  • Chocolate chips, I use semi-sweet for the best chocolate fudge taste! Make sure that your chocolate chips have only these ingredients: Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin,natural Flavour.I actually use No Name semi sweet chocolate chips and they work fine. No need to be buying some expensive name that contains the exact same ingredients as the store brand. I really did compare ingredients in the no name and other expensive brands and they are NO DIFFERENT!! For real! There are imitation chocolate chips (healthy version) but they will have all kinds of different ingredients than the “real mccoy”.

How to Make Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe

1.Line a 9″x13″ pan with parchment paper and measure all ingredients out before starting.

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2. In a medium large, heavy bottomed saucepan, melt the evaporated milk, butter, sugar, salt, and marshmallows on high. Stir constantly until boiling.

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3. Turn down to medium heat and boil for 5 minutes.

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4. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously until the fudge is no longer shiny.

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5. Pour into the prepared pan and cool thoroughly.

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6. Once the fudge is completely cooled and firm. Take it out of the pan and cut into 60-80 small squares.

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For recommended Items to help you make this recipe, see my Amazon Shop.

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Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (17)
Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (18)

Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe

Easy 5 minute fudge recipe is called this because you boil the candy ingredients for 5 minutes! There is no messing around with soft ball, hard ball candy stages. This chocolate fudge recipe does not require a candy thermometer! Just set the timer when you begin boiling the sugar, evaporated milk, butter, salt and marshmallows.

Author:RebekahCooking Method:Stove-topCuisine:AmericanCourses:Dessert, SnackRecipe Keys:HomemadeSweets

Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (21)

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Prep Time10 minCook Time10 minRest Time1 hourTotal Time1 hr 20 minsDifficulty:BeginnerServings:60Calories:92Best Season:Winter

Ingredients

Instructions

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How to Make Easy 5 Minute Fudge

  1. Line a 9"x13" pan with parchment paper and measure all ingredients out before starting.

    Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (22)
  2. In a medium large, heavy bottomed saucepan, melt the evaporated milk, butter, sugar, salt, and marshmallows on high. Stir constantly until boiling.

    Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (23)
  3. Turn down to medium heat and boil for 5 minutes.

    Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (24)
  4. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously until the fudge is no longer shiny.

    Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (25)
  5. Pour into the prepared pan and cool thoroughly.

    Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (26)
  6. Once the fudge is completely cooled and firm. Take it out of the pan and cut into 60-80 small squares.

    Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (27)

Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (28)

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 square

Servings 60

Amount Per Serving
Calories 92kcal
Calories from Fat 25kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2.8g5%
Sodium 41mg2%
Potassium 15mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 16g6%
Dietary Fiber 0.6g3%
Sugars 14.69g
Protein 0.8g2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

  • Be sure to use a larger pan than you think you might need.
  • Use a heavy bottomed pan to avoid scorching your fudge.
  • For the easiest cutting, lift the parchment paper out of the pan with the fudge.
  • Completely cool before cutting the fudge. You can put it in the refrigerator to chill faster.
  • Try not to stir once the sugar mixture is boiling.
  • Be very sure to use evaporated milk, not condensed milk!
Easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe - Tested, Tried and Tasty Food (2024)

FAQs

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.

Why is my 3 ingredient fudge not setting? ›

Why won't my 3 ingredient 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.

What not to do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

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 ball method fudge? ›

According to most recipes, the ingredients of fudge are cooked to what is termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.

What makes Mackinac Island fudge? ›

The team has the process down pat: One person weighs the ingredients—raw chocolate from Germany, sugar from Bay City, and cream and butter—into a copper kettle set over a propane gas burner. The maker constantly stirs with an oak paddle until the sugary mixture reaches a roaring boil, about 16 to 17 minutes.

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!

Should I stir fudge while boiling? ›

You should mix the cream, butter, and sugar when making your fudge, but put down the spoon once it has reached its boiling point. Stirring while your sugar mixture is boiling will only form sugar crystals and make your fudge crunchy rather than silky smooth.

What went wrong with my fudge? ›

Fudge usually behaves this way when it's not cooked to a high enough temperature (due to oversight or a faulty candy thermometer). If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature.

Why did my fudge turn out like taffy? ›

If the fudge is very soft and slightly chewy then it is possible that it did not quite cook to soft ball stage and next time the mixture should be cooked to a slightly higher temperature (soft ball is 112-116c/235-240F and a sugar or candy thermometer can help).

Can you fix fudge that didn't set? ›

To fix it, you can reheat the fudge mixture over low heat and continue cooking until it reaches the proper temperature. Be sure to use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature accurately. Alternatively, you can try to salvage chewy fudge by mixing it into ice cream or using it as a topping for desserts.

Why do you add vanilla to fudge? ›

Vanilla is often added to chocolate candies or other chocolate recipes because it complements and accents the flavor of chocolate.

Why is my old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›

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).

What makes high quality fudge? ›

It's the size of sugar crystals that makes the knees of fudge lovers buckle…the smaller the crystals, the less they are perceived on the tongue and the more the fudge tastes smooth and creamy. Cooking, and beating after cooking, is the key to successful fudge.

What makes fudge moist? ›

The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.

What makes fudge softer? ›

Undercooked. This fudge was cooked until the temperature reached only108 °C (226 °F). At this temperature, the sugar is not concentrated enough... there is too much leftover water in the syrup and the resulting fudge is soft.

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