Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe | Easy Peanut Butter Fudge (2024)

A decadent, melt-in-your-mouth Peanut butter fudge recipe topped with chocolate. No headache, no mess, and no candy thermometer. Easy and delicious!

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There are times for poetics, and there are times, such as this, where poetry isn’t needed. Easy Peanut Butter Fudge. The recipe title pretty much speaks for itself.

In the midst of all the last-minute holiday planning (I’m sure many of us are doing), I figured that this would be a good time to share a recipe for some pretty kick-butt peanut butter fudge that is quick, easy, and must I add- doesn’t require a candy thermometer? Yeah. It’s that good.

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Now, I know what you’re thinking- that I want you to make peanut butter fudge (and fudge sauce– why not?) in the midst of all this holiday craziness- I do, but trust me, making this recipe is child’s play. Well, sorta. I wouldn’t recommend a child work with boiling sugar, but the recipe is quite simple enough for anyone to make (did I mention you don’t even need a thermometer?), and dare I say quite delicious? Plus, it’s great to share with your friends and family.

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How to Make Peanut Butter Fudge

It doesn’t take long to make this peanut butter fudge. It all starts off by melting a stick of butter in a saucepan with a pinch of nutmeg. Once melted, milk and an earthy mound of dark brown sugar or light muscovado sugar (quite a lot, I must admit, but one piece is really all that you’ll need to satisfy your sweet tooth for the evening) are mixed in.

The entire mixture is brought to a boil for 2-3 minutes, without stirring (crucial!). After the mixture has boiled for a couple minutes, vanilla, and peanut butter are beaten in until smooth.

After that, the peanut butter mixture is beaten in a mixing bowl with snowy powdered sugar, until smooth and lump-free (Well, free of sugar lumps).

It’s then poured into an 8-inch square baking pan, cooled slightly at room temperature, and then chilled in the fridge for a couple hours.

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Because I lack any patience to wait (we all know this), I let the peanut butter fudge cool slightly at room temperature, then it makes its way into the freezer for an hour or thereabouts, until firm and completely cool.

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Once cooled, I cut the peanut butter fudge into 36 pieces, melt some chocolate, spread a thin layer on top of each piece of fudge, and let the chocolate set for a few minutes. After that, here’s where it gets a little fancy. Maldon Sea Salt. A nice pinch on each piece of chocolate-covered fudge. Yes.

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The chocolate is a nice touch, but it’s optional. The sea salt, however, is something you must do. Well, the peanut butter fudge is exceptional without it, but biting into a piece of fudge topped with a bit of Maldon Sea Salt is something you mustn’t miss. (Note: Fleur de Sel or even a few grains of fine grain sea salt might work, as well)

Now, go make some fudge for your loved one’s! Happy Holidays, my friends!

Yield: Makes 36 Pieces

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

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This recipe is pretty straight-forward. Melt the butter along with some ground nutmeg (it enhances the flavor of the peanut butter, so be sure not to leave this out), add the sugar, and milk, stir in the vanilla and peanut butter, mix with powdered sugar, and place in a pan to cool. I’ve tested the recipe with dark brown sugar and light muscovado sugar. You can use either.

The melted chocolate for the tops of each piece of fudge is optional, but it is a nice touch. There’s no need to go out and buy Maldon Sea Salt or Fleur de Sel for this recipe. Salty and sweet are the perfect thing in this rich fudge, but if you don’t have it, don’t worry about it. The fudge is just as good. If you have fine grain sea salt, a very small amount of that on top of each piece of fudge would work.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time10 minutes

Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (1 stick) / 113g unsalted Butter
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 pound / 454 g light muscovado Sugar or soft dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup / 118 ml milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup / 235g extra crunchy peanut butter
  • 2 ⅓ cups / 308g powdered sugar
  • ⅓ cup / 75g / 2.65 ounces Dark Chocolate / semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
  • Maldon Sea Salt / Fleur de Sel, for sprinkling (optional, but recommended)

Instructions

  1. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a large saucepan along with the ground nutmeg.
    With a wooden spoon, stir in the brown sugar and milk, removing any lumps, and bring to a boil for 2-3 Minutes without stirring.
  2. Remove from the heat, and stir in the vanilla, then the peanut butter.
  3. Put the powdered sugar in a large heatproof mixing bowl. Then, pour the hot peanut butter and sugar mixture on top of the powdered sugar, and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth.
  4. Pour into an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan, cover the top with parchment, and press down to smooth out the top (I use another 8-inch pan to do this) set aside to cool slightly (10 minutes should do), then place in the fridge to cool completely.
  5. Turn the fudge out of the tin onto the parchment, cut into 36 squares (or smaller, if you prefer).
  6. Melt the chocolate, and add a thin layer to top of each piece of fudge. Allow the chocolate to set, and sprinkle each piece of fudge with a few grains of flaky sea salt.
  7. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Cutting the Peanut Butter Fudge

I recommend cutting the fudge into 36 pieces, feel free to make them even smaller. This fudge is sweet, and it’s rich- a little goes a long way.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

36

Serving Size:

1 Piece

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 155Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 37mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 22gProtein: 2g

Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe | Easy Peanut Butter Fudge (2024)

FAQs

Why did my peanut butter fudge not get hard? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

How do you know when fudge is beaten enough? ›

After letting the fudge cool, it's time to beat it. It is important to stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to thicken and its surface starts to look dull or matte. Now is the time to stop beating and pour the fudge into a mould.

What is peanut butter fudge made of? ›

No candy thermometers or intensive stirring required. All you need is butter, peanut butter, a pinch of salt, vanilla, powdered sugar and about 10 minutes. It is so easy, super forgiving, and makes the BEST fudge!

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.

Can you fix peanut butter fudge that didn't set? ›

OPTION 3) Sieve together some powdered sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually work this into your unset fudge until it reaches the consistency of dough, then roll out and cut into squares, or shape into balls and then roll in powdered sugar (roll the balls in icing sugar, not yourself).

Why is my peanut butter fudge still soft? ›

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).

How do you fix peanut butter fudge that is too soft? ›

How to fix soft fudge - Quora. 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.

Can you recook fudge that didn't set? ›

Cook it over low heat until the fudge dissolves. Then bring the fudge back up to the temperature specified in the recipe and follow the remaining steps. The flavor may be slightly diluted, but the texture will be improved.

What happens if you over stir fudge? ›

Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a boil, do not stir it. If you do, the sugar can crystallize, giving your fudge a gritty texture. As you beat the fudge, pay attention to color and texture. Once the fudge loses its sheen and thickens, put down your spoon.

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.

How to fix grainy peanut butter fudge? ›

Pour the fudge back into your pan, and add about a cup of water to it, along with a tablespoon or two of evaporated milk, whipping cream, or whatever cream you're using. Some people skip the water and just add cream to the mixture to reheat.

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!

Does peanut butter fudge contain milk? ›

How to Make Peanut Butter Fudge. Before you begin: Prepare your work station – Measure out all ingredients and grease or line your pan with parchment. Bring to a boil – Stir together the milk and sugar over medium heat until the mixture boils.

What makes high quality fudge? ›

You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

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.

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.

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