Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (2025)

by Edie Wadsworth 116 Comments

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Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (1)

This is a recipe that I have memorized and have made countless times. It’s a family heirloom. The family jewels.

It was recently entered in a county fair by my Aunt Rosemary and won 1st place. Which makes it award-winning fudge as well.

I give it to you as a token of my love and deep gratitude for all the countless ways you’ve encouraged me these past few years.

The taste of this fudge could well be my favorite taste in the whole wide world.

This fudge recipe is my love language.

And I don’t like any other fudge at all. It has to be this one.

Well, I mean I’d eat other fudge. But no other fudge does what this fudge does to me.

If I were transformed into a confection, it would most definitely be fudge.

And just so happens, it’s pretty easy to make. You must give it a try.

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 sticks of butter

6 cups of sugar

1 can of evaporated milk

1 can of marshmallow cream

18 oz (1 1/2 packages) of chocolate chips

2 t. good vanilla

Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (2)

In a large dutch oven on medium heat, melt butter, sugar and evaporated milk. Heat to boiling and once it has come to a rolling boil, set a 6 minute timer. After 6 minutes, remove from heat and add the marshmallow cream and chocolate chips.
And if I happen to be making this fudge with my mother around (who we affectionately call Grannie), this is where she gets bossy. Even though I’m a grown woman who cooks all the time and who’s cooked this particular fudge a million times, when Granny’s around I’m 12 and can’t turn on the stove. Do you do this too? Start asking your mother how to do something you clearly know how to do? It’s kind of endearing,really. Back to the fudge. You have to stir it just right and we all know that only Grannie can do it just right. Just try your best. After it’s well combined, add the vanilla and continue to stir until the fudge no longer runs quickly off the spoon. It kinda collapses off the spoon. That’s when you know it’s ready. Otherwise, ask Grannie. She knows exactly when it’s ready.

Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (3)
You are now ready to pour the fudgy goodness onto the jelly roll pan and spread the mixture evenly around.
Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (4)

And this is my favorite part. Licking the bowl. Or the dutch oven. It’s the best ever.
Warm fudge from a spoon. Hide it from the children if you can. Hoard it all for yourself.
Wear your stretch pants.
Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (5)
Now pull yourself together long enough to slice it up. But wait about 30 minutes or so and it’ll be just right for slicin’.
And then once you eat this, it’s like we’re blood brothers.
But more like fudge sisters.
We’re for real friends now.
This chocolate bond can never be broken.
Your welcome.
xo,
edie
Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (6)

Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (7)

Award Winning Fudge aka Grannie’s Fudge aka There’s No Other Fudge For Me

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks of butter
  • 6 cups white sugar
  • 1 12 oz can evaporated milk
  • 1 7 oz container marshmallow cream
  • 2 t. good vanilla extract
  • 18 oz of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Grease a 10x15 jelly roll pan.

  • Combine butter, sugar and evaporated milk into a dutch oven or other heavy duty (deep) pot.

  • Bring to a rolling boil and boil for 6 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and add marshmallow cream and chocolate chips.

  • Stir until it begins to thicken and then add the vanilla.

  • Stir until it no longer pours from the spoon and spead into greased pan.

Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (8)

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Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (9)

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Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (10)

Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe (2025)

FAQs

What is the secret to good 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 traditional fudge made of? ›

Fudge is a dense, rich confection typically made with sugar, milk or cream, butter and chocolate or other flavorings. The base for fudge is boiled until it reaches the soft-ball stage (135 to 140 degrees F), then stirred or beaten as it cools to minimize the formation of sugar crystals.

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.

Can you use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk in fudge? ›

Don't Substitute One for the Other

Likewise, if you were to use evaporated milk when condensed milk is required, the final product would be too bland, says Cayaban. For best results, "follow the recipe's recommendation for the type of milk to ensure the desired taste and consistency," says Leal.

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

Why is my 3 ingredient fudge not setting? ›

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.

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!

What ingredient makes fudge hard? ›

As water gradually evaporates, sugar is concentrated and the temperature of the mixture rises above 100°C (212°F). If there is too much evaporation, when the cooking time is too long, there will not be enough water left in the fudge and it will be too hard.

What is Dairy Queen fudge made of? ›

Artificially Flavoured Vanilla Ice Milk (Modified milk ingredients, Sugars {sugar, glucose}, Mono- and di-glycerides, Guar gum, Polysorbate 80, Carrageenan, Artificial flavour), Hot Fudge Topping (Sugars (glucose syrup, sugar), Skim milk, Hydrogenated oil (Palm kernel or coconut), Cocoa (processed with alkali), Cocoa, ...

Why is my old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›

Fudge usually behaves this way when it's not cooked to a high enough temperature (due to oversight or a faulty candy thermometer).

How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›

How long does it take to make fudge:
  1. about 18 min to reach boiling.
  2. about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
  3. 60 minutes to cool.
  4. 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
  5. 4 hours to set.

What makes fudge softer? ›

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.

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of evaporated milk in fudge? ›

With its very similar consistency, 1 cup of heavy cream can replace 1 cup of evaporated milk in sweet and savory dishes. While the flavor will be blander than evaporated milk's unique caramelized tones, the texture will be noticeably richer.

Does weather affect making fudge? ›

Just as altitude can create complications when baking, high humidity in the kitchen can lead to significant setbacks when making fudge. Humidity can cause fudge to boil over in the pan or stay soft when set, so try to avoid working on humid days if at all possible.

What does evaporated milk do? ›

But when left in its thickened, low-moisture canned state, it can also stand in for milk or heavy cream as an enriching agent. Evaporated milk gives body to smoothies, thickens up and sweetens coffee, and adds nuance and richness to creamy soups and chowders, not to mention savory sauces and even oatmeal.

Why did my fudge not get hard? ›

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.

What is the soft ball test for 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.

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