The Best Christmas Fudge Recipes (2024)

Prepare yourself for the best Christmas fudge recipes all in one place! I have been making fudge for years and I cannot wait to share my favorites with you, along with how to store, gift, freeze, and even use up dried out fudge.

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RELATED READING: The Best Christmas Cupcake Recipes

Holiday Fudge Recipes

Below you’ll find tips on gifting, storing, and using fudge but friends, I bet you’re here for the amazing Christmas fudge recipes. So let’s do those first!

The Best Christmas Fudge Recipes

Make the season even more festive with these "best of the best" Christmas fudge recipes. You'll find different flavors and recipe ingredients to accommodate tastes and themes, as well.

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Make White Chocolate Christmas Fudge for the Holidays!

This white chocolate Christmas fudge recipe is a great basic fudge to start with. The kids can even help with this one!

This eggnog fudge recipe is one of my all-time favorite recipes during the holidays because I LOVE eggnog (obviously) and this is so creamy and decadent.

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Peppermint Fudge is the Best Christmas Fudge Ever!

Another basic Christmas fudge recipe is this peppermint fudge. And friends, it looks AMAZING when gifted (you can even add crushed peppermint to the top and press it in a bit for a more dramatic effect).

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How to Make Red Velvet Fudge in Minutes!

One of the most decadent recipes is the red velvet fudge recipe and wow - it is jaw-dropping when cut, as well.

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This Easy Salted Caramel Fudge Recipe is a Dream

STOP the presses! This salted caramel fudge recipe was the hands-down favorite of everyone last year. It's that salty, sweet combo that must have made it the winner.

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Make This Easy Grinch Fudge for a Fun Christmas Fudge Twist!

If you have kids, this Grinch Fudge will likely be the winner in your house. My daughter loved helping make this for a few of her friends (and snacking on it, as well).

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Dark Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Wins Holiday Treat of the Year!

For more refined tastes, this dark chocolate peppermint fudge recipe was the winner last holiday season. I'll definitely make it again this year, cutting larger individual pieces and stacking them to "up" the presentation factor.

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How to Gift Fudge

As you’ll read in the next section, fudge should be stored in an airtight container on the counter. Packaging fudge doesn’t mean you have to give it to your gift recipient in one, but you should make note of it on a gift tag because fudge can dry out in just a couple of days if not properly stored.

Below are a few tips on how to give fudge as a gift and some fun ideas to package fudge for friends and family.

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How to Store Fudge and How Long Does Fudge Last?

During the holiday season, I am frequently asked how to store fudge after it has been made. For the most part:

  • Ensure the fudge is completely cooled. It’s best to give it two hours to fully cool and set.
  • Fudge should be stored in an airtight container, either in individual portions or as a block.
  • Store fudge at room temperature.
  • A freshly made fudge should keep at room temperature between 2 and 3 weeks when sealed in an airtight container.

Other tips on storing fudge include using wax paper in between layers (or cutting individual pieces for serving sizes) and ensuring the fudge stays out of direct sunlight.

You can also place fudge in the refrigerator. Use the same tips as above, however, use as small of a container around the fudge as possible to remove as much air.

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Can I Freeze Fudge?

Another question which comes up quite frequently is whether or not it is “safe” to freeze fudge. Sometimes, people ask, “Is it safe to freeze fudge made with condensed milk?”

You will be happy to know that yes, you can freeze fudge (which is pretty awesome because I always save just a little of each Christmas fudge recipe I make). ;)

Frozen fudge should be used within 6 months. To freeze fudge, follow these steps:

  1. Ensure the fudge is completely cooled.
  2. Cut fudge into small, individual servings. This is not 100% necessary, but it does make it easier when defrosting and/or just getting a small amount as a treat.
  3. Wrap each portion in wax paper.
  4. Cover each wax paper-wrapped portion in Saran™, Glad® Cling Wrap, or foil (best for condensed fudge recipes).
  5. Place individually wrapped fudge into a freezer-safe container. I use glass storage or plastic freezer bags – both work well.

To defrost fudge, remove it from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator to thaw slowly. There is no need to remove the individual wrappings before thawing.

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What Do I Do With Dried Out Fudge?

Friends, if you fudge wasn’t sealed correctly or you had a late-night sweet-filled binge session and forgot to properly store it, no worries.

Here are two ways to still use dried fudge:

  • Add moisture.
    • Add the dried fudge to an airtight container and place a piece of fresh sandwich bread inside. The fudge will absorb some of the moisture from the bread and could possibly be fully revitalized!
    • Place the fudge in foil and and a few tablespoons of water into a low-temperature oven (225-250 F) for about 10 minutes.
  • Dried out fudge can be used so many ways, so don’t throw it out!
    • add dried fudge to ice cream (oh, so good)
    • cut up fudge into small chunks and bake into muffins or cupcakes (my favorite way to use old fudge)
    • make brownies and add fudge chunks before baking (maybe add a few mini marshmallows and nuts for a Rocky Road Brownie treat)

Other Fudge Recipes You Might Like

I make a TON of fudge (it’s so easy, so why not?) and here are some other fan favorites.

  • Rocky Road Fudge Recipe – this is the over-the-top fudge everyone loves
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge – try it, it’s amazing
  • Circus Animal Cookie Fudge – my daughter’s favorite fudge to make

Which Fudge Recipe is Your Favorite?

Let me know in the comments or here in the Facebook group which fudge flavor combination is your favorite. If you have questions about these recipes or tips, let me know.

As always, your shares are how this site grows and I am sincerely grateful when you share this on your Facebook timeline, into a Facebook group, or save it to Pinterest.

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The Best Christmas Fudge Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Tips for Making Fudge
  • Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
  • Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
  • Beat Thoroughly.
Mar 8, 2023

What is the key to successful non grainy fudge? ›

The key to successful, nongrainy fudge is in the cooling, not the cooking. The recipe calls for heating the ingredients to the soft-ball stage, or 234° F, then allowing it to cool undisturbed to approximately 110° F.

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 happens if you don't beat fudge long enough? ›

However, if you don't beat it at all, the crystals won't form properly, so your fudge won't set. If you forget to beat the fudge, try heating it back up over low heat, then beat it once it's slightly softened. If you beat the fudge too soon, the crystals will be too large, and the fudge will be grainy.

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

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).

Should I stir fudge while boiling? ›

Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.

What went wrong with my fudge? ›

If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature.

What happens if you boil fudge too long? ›

Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard. High-quality fudge has many small crystals. If the process of crystallization begins too early, fewer crystals form and they become much larger.

What is the best pan to make fudge in? ›

Secondly, the pot's material should allow for good heat distribution hence your top choice should be copper cookware or a pot with a copper core. Copper's exceptional heat conductivity offers unparalleled temperature control, an asset when working with finicky ingredients like sugar.

Can you over beat fudge? ›

Beating the cooled batter is one of the crucial steps of fudge-making, but overbeating can turn fudge hard as a rock. Pay close attention to the change in appearance and only beat the fudge until it loses its glossy sheen.

Can I fix 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).

What should fudge look like after beating? ›

The fudge is then beaten as this makes the fudge slightly crumbly rather than chewy. Beating the mixture encourages the formation of small sugar crystals, which leads to the crumbly texture. The crystals may not be noticeable in themselves but the fudge mixture will thicken and turn from shiny to matte in appearance.

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!

How long should fudge cool before beating? ›

Let the pot sit undisturbed between 30-60 minutes, until temperature drops to 100°F or 37.77°C. Some people say you don't need to go this low, but I've started aiming for this temperature after reading how cooler sugar crystals stay smaller (to avoid grainy fudge).

Why is my fudge crumbling when I cut it? ›

The ingredients for fudge are combined and cooked to 234 degrees, cooled to 110 degrees without stirring, then beaten until creamy. Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard.

What does soft ball mean when making fudge? ›

making of fudge

termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.

Should fudge be soft or crumbly? ›

The best fudge is smooth and firm. If it's crumbly, it's been over cooked.

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