Easy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (2024)

This easy chocolate fudge recipe is a quick dessert or sweet treat to make, but it’s also delicious. Make it for your family, but don’t forget your friends!

Homemade Milk Fudge with Sweetened Condensed Milk

Sweetened condensed milk is what makes this so easy. Plus it also adds to the creamy, rich texture that makes you want to come back for more.

One of the things I like most is you can’t mess up this microwave chocolate fudge. You also have options for how gooey or firm you want it.

Making Memories While Making Fudge

As I was growing up, my grandmother used to make all kinds of candy. I loved the smells that wafted through the kitchen, up the hallway, and made their way throughout the house.

My grandmother basically set aside a couple of days that involved nothing but candy making. In fact, if anyone stepped into the kitchen, even for a drink of water, she’d put us to work.

Overall, some of my favorites were her fudge, divinity, and pralines. I’ve made them since then, but I try not to do it too often because it’s too tempting. However, if I’m going to someone’s house, I like to bring homemade candy as a host or hostess gift. It’s also excellent for the holidays.

Other things I sometimes bring are this delicious peanut butter fudge that is a personal favorite, this creamy orange fudge, and my yummy white chocolate fudge.

When you want a creamy smooth chocolate fudge, try this amazing Velveeta fudge. If you don’t tell people, no one will know what the secret ingredient is!

Some other popular treats are these flourless peanut butter cookies and these amazingly melt-in-your-mouth coconut macaroons.

Ingredients

You only need three ingredients for this easy chocolate fudge—a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips, a can of sweetened condensed milk, and a splash of vanilla. Can you believe it?

For exact measurements of each ingredient, go to the recipe card at the bottom of the page. You can even print out the card by pressing the “print” button.

If you like nuts, you can add those too. I used chopped walnuts.

However, most of the time, I have pecans that I buy in humongous bags from Costco. They’re also perfect to add to fudge … or any other candy, for that matter.

Quick and Easy Recipe for Chocolate Fudge

Of all the chocolate fudge recipes I’ve tried, I think my favorite one is this quick and easy one.

After all, I don’t see any sense in making it more difficult than it has to be since I like it all.

You’ll need about 10 minutes of actual hands-on time to make this. Then you can go about your business while the fudge sets.

It only takes about a half hour in the fridge. But if you’re super patient (I’m not), you can leave it on the counter in a cool spot. However, if the room is warm, it’ll take forever to set.

For exact measurements of each ingredient and full directions, go to the recipe card at the bottom of the page. You can even print out the card by using the “print” button.

How to Make Easy Chocolate Fudge

You’ll need an 8” by 8” pan, a medium-size mixing bowl that’s microwave safe, and a spoon. I also used aluminum foil because I wanted to be able to lift the fudge out easily.

If you prefer wax paper, that works too. In fact, I use either one, depending on what I have the most of at the time.

First, pour a can of sweetened condensed milk into the bowl. Since it’s so thick, it takes a while to pour out of the can.

Next, pour the entire bag of chocolate chips into the bowl of sweetened condensed milk. Give it a good stir.

We enjoy gooey fudge. But if you like a firmer fudge, you can add another 3 ounces of chocolate chips.

Stick the bowl into the microwave and run it on high for one minute. Remove the bowl and give it a good stir.

Put the bowl back into the microwave for another minute. As soon as you pull it out, add the vanilla and stir.

If you want nuts, add them now and mix well. Pour the mixture into the pan and add more nuts on top if you like a lot. I definitely do.

Gently press the nuts down into the fudge.

Put the pan in the refrigerator so it can set.

Now is a good time to wash the bowl and wipe off the countertops in your kitchen. I do this because I hate having a huge mess to clean up later.

After the fudge is set, remove it from the fridge and cut it into 1-1/2-inch pieces. You’ll be amazed by how delicious it is since it was so easy.

Fudge in a Popcorn Popper

I went to the University of Southern Mississippi and lived in one of the old-fashioned types of dorm rooms. Two girls shared each room, and the bathrooms were down the hall.

There was a kitchen on each floor, but it wasn’t always convenient to use. For that reason, we had to get creative if we wanted a treat.

One night, one of the girls down the hall pulled out her popcorn popper and said, “Let’s make fudge.” We didn’t have the Internet back then, but we all had some cooking experience.

It took us a while, but we finally wound up with some decent fudge made in her popcorn popper. I still can’t remember if or how we ever got all the chocolate out of it. But it didn’t matter. It was fun, and the fudge was delicious.

I’ve made a variety of other types of fudge since then, and I’ve liked every single one of them. In fact, I’ve never met any kind of fudge I didn’t like.

Origin of Fudge

The earliest account of fudge making seems to have been in a dorm room back in the 1800s. Apparently, the girls were trying to make some caramel candy, although it was forbidden to use hotplates in the dorm.

So they had someone looking out while the others cooked. When the lookout girl said someone was coming, they put out the fire and hid it.

Unfortunately, the caramel didn’t turn out, but what they wound up with was even more delicious. Since they “fudged” the recipe, that’s what they named it. Fudge.

After that, fudge became a popular candy sold all over the country. Many tourist towns have confectioners that have added their own twist to this yummy treat.

More to Enjoy

If you like this easy chocolate fudge recipe, you’ll enjoy my peanut butter Cocoa Krispie treats.

They’re sort of like the standard Rice Krispie treats … only better. Also try these cinnamon crisps made from leftover pie crust. So yum!

See this recipe shared at Full Plate Thursday.