Let's make some great fudge with this super-easy recipe using the gentle heat of your crock pot and only 4 ingredients. Have fun making fudge with your child or just by yourself. This chocolate fudge recipe is just what you need for the holidays.
Why you will love this recipe
- It only requires four common pantry ingredients and your crock pot.
- The perfect recipe to make with kids since they can watch it cook with the lid of the crock pot is off. But supervise carefully at all times.
- You can vary the taste by your choice of chips to use. You can add other ingredients and toppings—another fun kid thing.
- Great chocolate fudge to take to parties, cookie exchanges, or to give as a gift.
👨🍳How to make this recipe
- If kids are helping, please be careful supervising at all times and not allow the kids to handle anything hot or sharp.
- Coat a crock pot with PAM cooking spray.
- Add two bags of good quality chocolate chips to the crock pot, a 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. You may substitute a bag of butterscotch chips for one bag of chocolate chips.
- Cook in the crock pot on low for about 2 hours with the lid OFF. Stir halfway through and then check occasionally.
- Prep an 8 by 8 or 9 by 9 dish with crossing sheets of parchment paper.
- When the fudge combines easily, mix in ¾ to 1 cup of nuts if you wish.
- Pour the fudge into the prepared pan and smooth. You can add other toppings at this time.
- Refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours).
- Remove from pan and cut into serving-size pieces.
🍫Ingredients
Chocolate Chips
You can use either semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips. I suggest a good name brand. Generic/store brands tend to be lower-quality chocolate with less cocoa butter.
Butterscotch Chips Option
This recipe gives the option to use two bags of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips or one bag of chocolate chips and one bag of butterscotch chips. The butterscotch will give the fudge more of an old-fashioned taste.
But the butterscotch doesn't melt quite like the chocolate chips. It likes to maintain its shape even when melted. So the answer is reasonably simple, stir well several times and at the end of cooking, aggressively stir and mush any remaining chips against the side to make it combine with the chocolate. Not hard, but be aware of it. Also, I would not even try the generic butterscotch chips.
Optional ingredients
You and the kids can add your choice of nuts. You could top it with candies like sprinkles, M&M's, or Reese's Pieces.
♨️Crock Pot Notes
Crock Pot Size
This recipe fits nicely in a 3-quart crock pot but could use a bigger pot that might cook faster.
Low Vs. High
Why low for the fudge? Can I turn it up since I have the top off? No, please don't do that.
On low, most crock pots get to full temperature over 5-6 hours degrees. On high, some may run up to full temperature in under 2 hours. Neither low nor high should go above 211°, but some older or malfunctioning pots will generate higher temperatures that will burn or ruin the texture of your fudge.
Why is the Lid Off?
The lid is off to vent any humidity. Chocolate and water do not mix well, and moisture can make chocolate "seize," and it will become a thick sludge ruining your candy.
An added plus is if the kids are "helping," they can look at the cooking and see its progress. But please be careful and supervise at all times, and do not allow the kids to handle anything hot or sharp.
❓FAQs
An 8-inch square pan or 6 by 9 pan also works well. A bit bigger pan will make thinner fudge, while a smaller pan will make it thicker. Or make a wreath like my Easy 5-Minute Chocolate Fudge.
Fudge can be stored airtight at room temperature for about a week or more. It can be refrigerated airtight for 2-3 weeks.
Fudge can generally be frozen for up to 3 months but may lose a bit of texture. If you are planning on freezing, use genuine, not imitation, vanilla.
📖Candy Recipes
Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters
Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
This recipe is part of Christmas Candy Recipes. Check out other easy candy recipes.
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Start with a smaller crock pot. A 3-quart cooker is fine, but a larger crock pot will work. The larger pot may cook a little faster. Please give it a heavy coat of PAM cooking spray.
Combine one 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk, two 12 oz bags of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. You can substitute a bag of butterscotch chips for one bag of chocolate if you want.
Cook in the crock pot on low for about 2 hours with the lid OFF. Stir halfway through. And then check occasionally.
Prep an 8 by 8 or 9 by 9 pan with crossing sheets of parchment paper. Also, butter corners well to prevent sticking. I like to just a touch of butter under the parchment paper to hold it in place.
When the fudge combines easily, mix in ¾ to 1 cup of chopped walnuts if you wish.
Pour into the prepared pan and smooth. You may add other toppings at this time.
Refrigerate until firm—about 2 hours. Remove from pan and cut into serving-size pieces.
📝Recipe
Crock Pot Fudge
Ingredients
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 24 oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips - good quality
- 12 oz butterscotch chips (optional) - As a substitute for 12 oz. of chocolate if you wish.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ to 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional) - or other nuts
- Optional toppings: Sprinkles, M&Ms or Reese's
Instructions
- Start with a smaller crock pot. A 3-quart cooker is fine, but a larger crock pot will work. The larger pot may cook a little faster. Give it a heavy coat of PAM cooking spray.
- Combine one 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk, two 12 oz bags of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. You can substitute a bag of butterscotch chip for one bag of chocolate if you want.
- Cook in the crock pot on low for about 2 hours with the lid OFF. Stir halfway through. And then check occasionally.
- Prep an 8 by 8 or 9 by 9 pan with crossing sheets of parchment paper. Also, butter corners well to prevent sticking. I like to just a touch of butter under the parchment paper to hold it in place.
- When the fudge combines easily, mix in ¾ to 1 cup of chopped walnuts if you wish.
- Pour into the prepared pan and smooth. You may add other toppings at this time.
- Refrigerate until firm—about 2 hours. Remove from pan and cut into serving-size pieces.
- Store in an airtight container. It should be good at room temperature for at least a week. Refrigerated for 2-3 weeks or frozen for up to 3 months.
Your Own Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Use two 12 oz. bags of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips. You can substitute a bag of butterscotch chips for one bag of chocolate chips.
- Butterscotch chips are generally harder to melt and mix, but I like the taste. Use a good brand.
- You can use a 3 quart or larger crock pot. If you use a full-size pot, this may melt faster.
- DO NOT COOK ON HIGH.
- KEEP THE LID OFF.
- Stir at about 1 hour into cooking, then check occasionally after that. It is done when it all is melted and comes together.
- Use an 8 or 9-inch square pan. You can line it with parchment paper or just coat it with butter. If unlined, you may need to set the pan in warm water for a few minutes after the fudge is set up to get it out of the pan.
- Add walnuts or other nuts at the end.
- You can add other things if you want or top them with sprinkles, M&M’s, or Reese’s Pieces.
- Fudge can be stored airtight at room temperature for about a week, or it can be refrigerated airtight for 2-3 weeks.
- Fudge can generally be frozen for up to 3 months but may lose a bit of texture. If you are planning on freezing, use real, not imitation, vanilla.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Originally Published November 12, 2017. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Joanna
This was a waste of ingredients. It burned in 30 minutes…
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Joanna,
Sorry you had a problem but I highly recommend checking that crock pot. 30 minutes on low should not be able to burn chocolate.
Dan
Rgof
Super easy and tasty. I did this in a big crockpot and it only took 50 minutes total. So size of the crockpot plays an important role. Don't let that scare you off though. It is so easy and good. I used wax paper in the pan and it still stuck. I had to fill a 9x13 cake pan with hot water and let the square pan sit in it for about 90 seconds and then it popped right out. Great holiday staple for the candy table.
joe
hi, could you use a induction range and what temperature would you use?
thanks for all the good advice.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Joe,
Welcome to the blog.
This is just a crock pot version of https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/5-minute-fudge/. So jump over to that recipe. So low on a stovetop.
Dan
April
I loved this Recipe however, I cooked my fudge in a large crook pot for 1 hour. I think if I would have cooked it for the 2 hours it would have scorched.
Amber
Hi DrDan...
Do you have any good recipes for a peanut butter fudge. Or possibly a white chocolate fudge recipe 😊
Thank you...,
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Amber,
Welcome to the blog.
For white chocolate fudge, check out the oreo fudge recipe that can be done without the oreo making white chocolate fudge. It can be done in a crock pot similar to this recipe.
I don't have a peanut butter fudge recipe yet but it may be a good idea for this year. It should work well in a crock pot fairly well as long as the top is open due to the moisture.
Dan
Jan
Can this recipe be doubled? Using a 9x13 pan?
Thank u
DrDan
Hi Jan,
Welcome to the blog.
Yep, it will double fine and a 9X13 pan works great.
Dan
Alexa
What adjustments do you recommend for a 1.5qt crock pot?
DrDan
I would probably not do it or cut it in half. The crock pot will be almost full which is too full to work well. 60-70% full is usually max. I think you will be at about 80-90% plus.
Or do it stovetop like https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/5-minute-fudge/
Dan
Elaine Gardiner
Thanks for crockpot ideas
Gail
You can make this fudge in the microwave in 2 min.
Leslie
Made this with 4 year old granddaughter, used butterscotch chips, chocolate, and toasted pecans. It’s delicious! Thank you for this great easy holiday recipe. Leslie
DrDan
Hi Leslie,
I thought it would be a good one to do with kids especially with the lid off so they could see things. I didn't have a convenient 4 yr old to run a trial though.
I do like the butterscotch chips in the fudge but it does take a little work at the end.
Have a great holiday
Dan