Let's make some great fudge with this super-easy recipe. Have fun making fudge with your child or just by yourself. This crock pot fudge recipe is just what you need for the holidays.
Introduction
A slow cooker is perfect for making fudge because it decreases the chance of scorching or burning on low. With the top off, the kids can watch the "action" as the ingredients slowly melt into the fudge they are "helping" you make.
You and the kids can add your choice of nuts like I did. You could top with candies like sprinkles, M&M's, or Reese's Pieces.
There are lots of slow cooker fudge recipes out there. There were very few surprises. Some recipes are far from the mainstream, but most use chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk like my 5 Minute Fudge.
My Rating
A nice 5. There is better fudge, but this is very nice.
The Chocolate
You can use either semisweet 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 you an option to use two bags of semisweet or dark chocolate chips or one bag of chocolate and one bag of butterscotch chips. While all the other recipes use just chocolate, I like my fudge with some butterscotch.
But the butterscotch doesn't melt quite like the chocolate chips. It likes to maintain its shapes even when melted. When doing a stovetop fudge like my 5 Minute Fudge, you are standing there stirring the pot but not so much here.
So the answer is fairly simple, stir well several times and at the end, stir aggressively and mush any remaining chips against the side to make it combine with the chocolate. Not hard, but just be aware of it. Also, I would not even try the generic butterscotch chips.
♨️The Crock Pot
Crock Pot Size
This recipe fits nicely in a 3-quart crock pot but could use a bigger pot. It might melt a little faster. You need to have the chocolate melted well, and if using butterscotch chips, they need to be soft enough to combine. So you need to know your pot and pay attention.
Low Vs. High
Why low for the fudge? Can I just 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 ones or malfunctioning pots will—they shouldn't, but some do. That is just too hot for fudge and will ruin the texture.
If you want to hover over the crock pot, stir frequently, and stop when melted, you can use high. But with low, you can dump and come back later. Even if you skip the stirring, it should be fine.
Why is the Lid Off?
The first and most obvious thing about this recipe is cooked in an open crock pot with the top off. Yep, no top.
Why? Water is the enemy of fudge, and with the top off, all moisture is vented. Several recipes (usually British if I remember) were very emphatic about this, and I believe they were right.
An added plus is if the kids are "helping" they can look at the cooking and see its progress.
Just leave the top off. Your slow cooker will be slower, but that is fine. I tried just leaving it ajar, and it was not the same. Moisture still accumulated on the lid and dripped back in.
✔️Tips
Pan Size
I used an 8-inch square pan. A 9-inch would also be fine. Or make a wreath like my Easy Fudge.
Storage
Fudge can be stored airtight at room temperature for about a week or a bit 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 real, 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 pot will work. Give it a heavy spray of PAM. The larger pot may cook a little faster.
Combine one 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk, two 12 oz bags of chips (one chocolate and one butterscotch), and 1 teaspoon vanilla. You can substitute more chocolate chips for the butterscotch chip if you wish.
Cook in the crock pot on low for about 2 hours with the lid OFF. Stir halfway through. And then check occasionally.
Remember TOP OFF and on low.
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.
You can just butter the dish if you wish. If you do this, then after cooled, set in warm water for a few minutes to release the fudge.
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 (at least 2 hours).
Remove from pan and cut into serving-size pieces.
📖Recipe
Crock Pot Fudge
Ingredients
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 12 oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 12 oz butterscotch chips - You may substitute more chocolate if you wish.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ to 1 cup chopped walnuts - optional
Instructions
- Start with a smaller crock pot. But a larger pot will be fine but may cook a bit faster. Give it a heavy spray of PAM.
- Combine one 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk, two 12 oz bags of chips, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cook in the crock pot on low for about 2 hours with the lid OFF. Stir halfway through and then check occasionally. I suggest semisweet or dark chocolate for one bag and butterscotch for the second bag. You may use two bags of chocolate if you wish.
- Prep an 8 by 8 or 9 by 9 dish 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 can add other toppings at this time. Refrigerate until firm (at least 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.
My Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Use two 12 oz bags of chips. One of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips and a bag of butterscotch chips. If you wish, you may use all 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.
- I like to add walnuts at the end. You can add other things if you want or top 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 upto 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.
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