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There is just something about a simple fudge recipe that makes me think of my childhood. One of my uncles used to make fudge every year and he would always save some of it back for me. He would make peanut butter, vanilla, maple and of course, chocolate fudge! Of all the candies that get made at Christmas time, fudge has to be my favorite with my beloved peanut butter Buckeyes coming in a very close second.
The best thing about this chocolate fudge recipe is how incredibly simple it is. It only takes a few minutes to mix and cook up, but it tastes like you spent hours and hours. It has become a Christmas candy staple in our home since I’ve made it for the last 10 years or so running. I love that it’s quick enough to make in just a few minutes because some fudge recipes can take a while and my family loves that I don’t mind making a double or even triple batch.
Simple Chocolate Fudge Recipe
The great thing about this recipe is that you can customize it the way you want. You can use milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips, regular vanilla extract or for a “kick” use Mexican vanilla and the pecans can be substituted with peanuts, walnuts, or almonds or left out entirely if you prefer to instead. If you aren’t confident in your abilities to judge the different stages of fudge by eyeballing it, you can use a candy thermometer instead.
You will need:
- 3 cups chocolate chips
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans
To make, melt the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk together using double boiler method on very low heat. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a smaller pot sitting down inside of a larger pot with water in it to safely melt too.
Stir continuously until the chocolate melts and mixture becomes smooth and glossy and has reached soft ball stage. If you’re using a candy thermometer, this is 238 degrees F.
Add the vanilla and pecans if desired then stir constantly until you’re back at soft ball stage.
Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper then pour the fudge mixture into baking dish and smooth out using a rubber spatula
Cool completely and cut into squares.
Looking for more Christmas candy recipes? You’ll love these!
- Cherry Cordial Holiday Fudge Recipe
- Homemade Almond Turtles Recipe
- Best Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
- Dulce de Leche & Coconut Marshmallow Cluster Recipe
Simple Chocolate Fudge Recipe
No Christmas dessert plate is complete without a Simple Chocolate Fudge recipe! You’ll love how easy this is to make! It tastes like you spent hours!
- 3 cups chocolate chips
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans
- To make, melt the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk together using double boiler method on very low heat. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a smaller pot sitting down inside of a larger pot with water in it to safely melt too.
- Stir continuously until the chocolate melts and mixture becomes smooth and glossy and has reached soft ball stage. If you’re using a candy thermometer, this is 238 degrees F.
- Add the vanilla and pecans if desired then stir constantly until you’re back at soft ball stage.
- Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper then pour the fudge mixture into baking dish and smooth out using a rubber spatula
- Cool completely and cut into squares.
The great thing about this recipe is that you can customize it the way you want. You can use milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips, regular vanilla extract or for a “kick” use Mexican vanilla and the pecans can be substituted with peanuts, walnuts, or almonds or left out entirely if you prefer to instead.