Perfect Never Fail Fudge Recipe - An Old Fashioned Family Recipe (2024)

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This tried and true, old fashioned chocolate fudge recipe will never let you down. Never Fail Fudge turns out perfectly rich, smooth and creamy each and every time you make it. Made with chocolate chips, marshmallow fluff and heavy cream, it is never grainy, and always delicious.

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Isn’t it crazy to think that the holidays are just right around the corner? Once that happens, you will see all sorts of recipes for fudge. But I am here today to save you from all of those other unnecessary fudge recipes. I have you covered with this old fashioned Never Fail Fudge Recipe – and it’s the last you’ll ever need.

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Sure – it sounds like I am boasting, and maybe I am a little bit. But it really is that good. And those people tell you that you can only eat fudge at Christmastime, you don’t need that negativity in your life anyway.

This easy fudge recipe here turns out perfect every. single. time. I can attest to that because I have made it a lot. It truly is the best fudge recipe. I promise.

I received free sugar from Imperial Sugar in exchange for writing this post. All opinions are my own.

SOME OF THE ITEMS BELOW CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS; I AM A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES. I AM ALSO AN AFFILIATE FOR OTHER BRANDS. HOWEVER, I ONLY PROMOTE THINGS THAT I LOVE AND THINK YOU WILL LOVE, TOO.FOR MY ENTIRE DISCLOSURE POLICY PLEASECLICK HERE.

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This post is my final chocolate recipe share this week for our group #Choctoberfest . It’s been a delicious week FULL of chocolate recipes and I decided to save this luscious fudge for last.

WHAT IS CHOCTOBERFEST?

#Choctoberfest is an annual recipe-sharing event. As I mentioned, I’m joining other food bloggers from around the world to create delicious chocolate recipes. This year, over 70 bloggers are joining together for a week full of chocolate cakes, pies, cookies, puddings, tarts, candies, and more. You can follow along by searching for the hashtag #Choctoberfest on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

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For this fudge recipe, I used Imperial Sugar. They are always a generous sponsor of this event. Look at the fun measuring cups and baking mat they sent, in addition to a good supply of sugar.

What is Fudge Made Of?

Homemade fudge is a chocolate candy that has been made for over a century. Back in 1880, it became a popular homemade candy due to the fact that you could make homemade fudge with no special tools, and the basic recipe used butter, sugar and milk. All things that were on hand and economical. too.

Over the years, ingredients have changed, some use marshmallow fluff like I do, some use sweetened condensed milk. My chocolate fudge recipe uses heavy cream. Some recipes call for cocoa powder, where this recipe uses chocolate chips.

Using the chocolate chips gives you the ability to make your fudge recipe semi-sweet, as I do, or milk chocolate over even dark chocolate. You could even toss in part peanut butter chips to give it a whole new flavor level.

Ingredients in Never Fail Fudge:

  • sugar
  • cream, milk
  • butter
  • marshmallow cream
  • chocolate chips
  • nuts if desired

In a saucepan over medium heat cook sugar, butter and cream until it reaches medium soft ball stage – 236 degrees F. Be patient. It takes about 30 minutes. Watch closely and stir frequently. Don’t be surprised when it bubbles up. It’s fun! Kind of like a science experiment!

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In the past, I have always used an old candy thermometer. They are so NOT user friendly. This year, life got easier when I used my Thermapen Mk4 . I had no idea that a thermometer like this, that I typically use for meat, would work so well with candy. It’s amazing because it reads almost instantly.

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There was no trying to rig the little clip on the side of the pan, make sure it wasn’t touching the bottom but was in the candy far enough to read…blah blah blah. Every once in awhile I stuck it into the candy mixture to test the temperature. When it read 236 degrees, I removed it from the heat.

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Have your marshmallow cream and your semi-sweet chocolate chips ready to go in.

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Stir the chips and marshmallow cream into the warm mixture.

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From here you will pour it into a 9×13 pan, lined with buttered parchment paper.

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Spread it evenly in the pan. Chill until set.

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Pull up on the ends of the parchment paper and transfer the fudge to a cutting board to cut into squares. I got about 63 pieces of fudge, but I didn’t cut them super small. You could cut them quite small and it would go a long long way.

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This fudge can be made ahead and frozen. It also travels really well. I box it up and place sheets of waxed paper in between the layers.

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^LOVE IT? PIN IT!^

Like I said before, fudge isn’t just for Christmas. I decided to show you just how easy it is to make it for all sorts of holidays.

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Halloween Fudge!

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Christmas Fudge!

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(my personal favorite) Valentine’s Day Fudge!

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Changing up the sprinkles for holidays makes that all pretty easy. Plus, it gives you an excuse to eat fudge year round! 😉

Speaking of fudge, I have several other fudge recipes right here. Nothing like this. but that gives you all sorts of options, right?

An Affair from the Heart Fudge Recipes:

  • Eggnog Fudge
  • Grinch Fudge (white chocolate fudge)
  • Mint Fudge
  • Snickers Candy Bar Fudge
  • Caramel, Toffee, Pecan Fudge
  • York Peppermint Patty Fudge

See All of My Candy Recipes

Perfect Never Fail Fudge Recipe - An Old Fashioned Family Recipe (18)

Perfect Never Fail Fudge Recipe - An Old Fashioned Family Recipe (19)

Once you make this perfect fudge recipe, you’ll quit looking at all of the others! What do you say we get to the recipe for Grandma’s Never Fail Fudge? Perfect Never Fail Fudge Recipe - An Old Fashioned Family Recipe (20)

Perfect Never Fail Fudge Recipe - An Old Fashioned Family Recipe (21)

4.42 from 123 votes

Print Recipe

Never Fail Fudge

This tried and true, old fashioned recipe for Never Fail Fudge won't ever let you down. It turns out perfectly rich and creamy each and every time you make it.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Additional Time2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Course: Candy

Cuisine: American

Keyword: best, chocolate chips, chocolate fudge, creamy fudge, easy to. make fudge, Fudge, fudge candy, fudge with marshmallow fluff, fudge without condensed milk, Grandma's fudge, homemade, How do I make fudge? old fashioned, how to make the best fudge, never fail, not grainy, old fashioned fudge, perfect fudge, recipe, traditional fudge

Servings: 9 x13 pan

Calories: 83kcal

Author: Michaela Kenkel

Ingredients

  • 3 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup cream
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 1 7 ounce container marshmallow fluff
  • 1 12 ounce package semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup nuts optional

Instructions

  • Line a 9x13 baking dish with buttered parchment paper. Set aside.

  • In a good sized sauce pan, heat butter, sugar, milk and cream. Stir frequently and watch closely. When temperature reaches 236 degrees F (medium soft ball stage) remove it from the heat.

  • Stir in marshmallow fluff and chocolate chips until smooth.

  • Spread into prepared pan.

  • Chill for a couple of hours in the fridge, until set.

  • Remove by lifting the edges of the parchment. Remove paper and cut into squares. Store in a cool place. Can be frozen in an airtight container.

Notes

Freezes and ships well.

Nutrition

Serving: 2pieces | Calories: 83kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 19mg | Sugar: 11g

Perfect Never Fail Fudge Recipe - An Old Fashioned Family Recipe (22)

Perfect Never Fail Fudge Recipe - An Old Fashioned Family Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to perfect fudge? ›

The key to creamy, luscious fudge is controlling crystal formation. If the sucrose (table sugar) crystals are small, the fudge will feel creamy and smooth on your tongue. But if the crystals are large, the fudge develops a crumbly, dry, or even coarse texture.

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? ›

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 old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›

The most common culprit behind unset fudge is inaccurate temperature control. If the sugar mixture hasn't reached the correct temperature, your fudge won't set. Ensure you use a reliable candy thermometer and follow temperature guidelines meticulously to achieve the desired consistency.

Should you stir fudge while it's cooking? ›

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.

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!

Why won't my condensed milk fudge set? ›

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).

Is milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate better for fudge? ›

Chocolate: you may use semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate. If you want milk chocolate fudge, I suggest using a combination of milk and semi-sweet, so that it's not overly sweet. But this is up to you! You could also use semi-sweet chocolate chips, but I suggest sticking to high-quality chocolate if possible.

Why is my condensed milk fudge grainy? ›

– There are a number of reasons why the fudge was grainy. It might be that you haven't dissolved all the sugar before boiling the fudge mixture. It could be that there just wasn't enough fluid or fat to enable the sugar to dissolve or it might even be that the fudge wasn't beaten long enough or hard enough.

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

How to fix failed fudge? ›

Fixing Fudge
  1. Scrape the fudge back into a large saucepan and add 1 1/2 cups of water.
  2. Stir the fudge over low heat until it dissolves. ...
  3. Increase the heat to medium and bring it to a boil, washing down the sides of the pan frequently with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming.
Jan 5, 2020

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).

Can I reboil fudge that didn't set? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

What temperature should you cook fudge at? ›

Cook until the correct temperature

Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F). The cooking is intended to evaporate a part of the liquid and concentrate the sugar.

How can I make my fudge softer? ›

One way to do so is to place the fudge in an airtight container with some source of moisture and leave it to absorb overnight. This could be: A bowl of water. A damp paper towel.

What makes fudge moist? ›

If there is too much evaporation, when the cooking time is too long, there will not be enough water left in the fudge and it will be too hard. Conversely, if the cooking time is too brief and there is not enough evaporation, too much water will remain and the fudge will be too soft.

Can you overbeat fudge? ›

Beating the cooled batter is one of the crucial steps of fudge-making, but overbeating can turn fudge hard as a rock. Pay close attention to the change in appearance and only beat the fudge until it loses its glossy sheen.

What consistency should fudge be before it sets? ›

Points to remember

You know it's ready when a small amount of the mixture dropped into a glass of cold water sets into a soft ball that you can lift out with a teaspoon and pinch between your fingers. Turn off the heat and keep stirring for 5 minutes or until the mix starts to thicken a little.

How do you cut fudge so it doesn't crumble? ›

Put both knives into a large measuring cup, add boiling water onto the knives, and before cutting the chocolate or the dessert into pieces, wipe the knife with a towel. The warm knife will easily cut through without cracking.

References

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