As easy as fudge recipe gets. With just a few ingredients and 5 minutes, you have great homemade fudge. Just follow these simple step by step photo instructions.
Editor’s Note: This post was way overdue for a facelift and has been updated with expanded text and more detailed instructions. Photos have been re-shot.
An excellent and easy fudge for the holiday season. Everybody will ask for the recipe.
While this recipe seems to be all over the internet, we first saw it when Rachael Ray was on Oprah, and Rachael Ray Throw a Holiday Party many years ago. So we frequently call it Rachael Ray’s 5 Minute Fudge
Since then, this easy fudge has been a Christmas tradition at our house. It’s been made for presents and cookie exchanges along with extra for the family.
We usually create Christmas Wreaths as gifts with it. But it is equally great standard fudge.
My Rating
A very easy five.
This recipe is part of Christmas Candy Recipes. Check out other easy candy recipes.
Pro Tips: Notes on 5 Minute Fudge
The Ingredients:
Originally this recipe calls for a bag each of chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. This is my preferred version, but you may use all chocolate if you wish.
Butterscotch chips seem to not melt as well as they did years ago. So if you go with butterscotch chips, at the end you will need to spend a few minutes smashing them to get the last few to combine.
In this recipe, quality matters so use chocolate and sweetened condensed milk that you trust.
Making a Fudge Wreath
You can make a fudge wreath by using a 9 inch round pan. Butter the pan will then place the can from the condensed milk in the center covered with plastic wrap.
Add the fudge. Decorate as you want. Let cool then remove from pan. You may need to set the pan in warm water to loosen the fudge.
Decorate as you wish. Some candied cherries in red and green are nice. I put some walnuts on top along with some red and green sprinkles.
The stove and the pan
The original recipe used low heat. Low on my stove is very low, so I used medium-low.
A non-stick pan is highly recommended.
Of course, you don’t have to make a wreath, a 9X9 pan works fine. I like to line my dish with crossing parchment paper but a good coat of butter will work. You might need to set the dish in hot water for a few minutes to remove the fudge.
Variations of this recipe
Easy Oreo Fudge
Crock Pot Fudge
Start with a medium non-stick saucepan over low or medium-low heat. I have both chocolate and butterscotch chips pictured but two bags of chocolate chips will be what most people will use.
Add two bags of chips and one 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk to a non-stick pan, Stir continuously until all is melted and mixed.
While the mix is melting, prepare a pan for the fudge. You may use a 9X9 square pan with some parchment paper.
When fudge is completely melted (about 5 minutes) remove from heat. If you used butterscotch chips, you may need to smash a few that did not melt completely. Add one teaspoon vanilla and mix. Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts. Other things can be substituted or added here.
Place into your prepared pan.
Allow to cool. Then cut into serving pieces.
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Easy Fudge
Ingredients
- 24 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips - May substitute one bag of butterscotch chips for half the chips
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup walnuts - chopped
Instructions
- Start with a medium non-stick saucepan over low or medium-low heat.
- Add two bags of chips. You may use two 12 oz bags of chocolate chips or substitute one bag of butterscotch chips for one of the chocolate.
- Add one 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk to a non-stick pan. Stir continuously until all is melted and mixed.
- While the mix is melting, prepare a pan for the fudge. You may use a 9X9 square pan with some parchment paper. Or coat with butter.
- Remove from heat. If you used butterscotch chips, you may need to smash some partly melted chips to finish combining.
- Add one teaspoon vanilla and mix. Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts. Other things can be substituted or added here.
- Place into your prepared pan and smooth.
- Allow to cool. Then cut into serving pieces.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- Quality matters, use good ingredients.
- You can use 2 bags of chocolate chips or one bag each of chocolate and butterscotch.
- If using butterscotch chips, they don't melt as well as chocolate and will need to be smashed some at the end.
- A nine-inch square pan lined with parchment paper or a well buttered.
- If using parchment paper, a few dots of butter helps hold it in place.
- If using a buttered dish, the setting it in warm water for a few minutes will loosen the fudge for removal.
- Decorate of desired immediately after placing in pan.
- Cool before removing from pan. You may need to set the pan in hot water to loosen the fudge.
- For fudge wreath instructions, see the text of the post.
Check Out Other Great Recipes
Nutrition is generally for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.
All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
Originally Published December 21, 2011
Karen Newman
This was my first time making fudge. THANK YOU for making it easy and super yummy!!!. Definitely a recipe I can remember without having to dig out the recipe cards. Much appreciated.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
next up is the bacon candy. Can’t wait!
Kristin
The ingredients say 2 12 ounce bags of chocolate chips then in the recipe it says 2 14 ounce bags of chocolate chips. I went with 2 12 ounce bags.
DrDan
Hi Kristin,
Welcome to the blog.
And good proofread, I believe it has been like that for 7 years.
Now fixed. You are correct it is two 12 oz bags of chocolate chips. When using butterscotch chips, a bag is 11 oz.
Thanks for the note and Happy Holidays.
Dan
Lois
I don’t have to let it come to aboil? I did mine, was I wrong in doing so?
DrDan
Hi Lois,
Welcome to the blog.
Boil is too hot. You just want everything to melt so you can mix there together. I it came out ok then fine but that will tend to ruin fudge.
Dan
Susan
This is the best fudge recipe one can make. Use the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips, you won’t be disappointed! Definitely a five star rating!
DrDan
Hi Susan,
Welcome to the blog.
I do like the addition of the butterscotch.
Happy Holidays and thanks for the note.
Dan
Cynthia
This fudge was so much like my daddy’s i could eat it every day. Thanks I did not have his recipe so I’ll use this.
DrDan
Hi Cynthia,
Welcome to the blog.
This is a very nice fudge. I remember using marshmallow etc in the past. Lot’s of work and touchy to make. This is as good or better.
Thanks for the note and have a great holiday.
Dan
Sarah
That fudge wreath is the cutest! Thanks for the idea, can’t wait to make this! :)
Arden Kervin
time is time is time
Nancy
I love fudge but am not a fan of butterscotch…Can I just leave out the 9 ounces of butterscotch and make as per recipe without them? Or should I substitute 9 ounces semisweet chocolate chips instead to balance out the recipe? Thanks for any help on this.
DrDan
Hi Nancy,
I’m sure that would be fine to substitute but I would not just leave it out. I just published a crock pot fudge and many similar recipes just use 2 bags of semisweet with the one can of sweetened condensed milk plus vanilla. So 12 +9 or 12 +12 oz either should work fine.
Dan
MK
This is an easy 5….,if you add a 1/2 cup of currants which is actually in the original recipe. People LOVE this and think there is alcohol in the fudge. It’s the currants that provide that taste. And I use pecans rather than walnuts. So YUMMY!!