Christmas Fudge

24 Servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Chill 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

Christmas Fudge is the perfect holiday treat and edible gift with creamy chocolate, butterscotch chips, almonds, walnuts, and candied fruit.

Homemade Candy Recipes are always a tasty treat during the holiday season. They are fun to make, fun to eat, and fun to give. What’s not to love? Easy recipes like Gumdrop FudgeGingerbread Fudge, and Christmas fudge are filled with holiday cheer and make the ideal last-minute edible gift.

If you haven’t tried homemade fudge before, you might be surprised by just how easy this is to make! Assembling the recipe takes almost no time and it’s all done in the microwave. The fun and festive flavor set this chocolate fudge apart and make it the perfect holiday candy recipe.

Sabrina’s Christmas Fudge Recipe

This rich homemade fudge is the perfect blend of textures and flavors. The creamy fudge has a nice soft consistency, but the added almonds and walnuts give a crunchy contrast. Candied fruit makes a beautiful, colorful addition and add some sweetness. Meanwhile, butterscotch chips add even more creaminess and a buttery flavor than a classic Chocolate Fudge Recipe. On top of all that, you can give the fudge mixture a boozy kick with cognac.

Instead of heating the fudge on the stove and worrying about a candy thermometer, like you have to in more traditional fudge recipes, just heat the chocolate and cream mixture in the microwave. Then melt in the butterscotch chips and vanilla. After they come together, you just stir the mix-ins into the bowl and pour it into a lined baking pan to set. It honestly couldn’t be easier!

Christmas Fudge ingredients in prep bowls

Ingredients

  • Chocolate: This amazing chocolate fudge starts with 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips. Semi-sweet chips have the perfect texture and a good amount of chocolate flavor for fudge.
  • Milk: To make the fudge mixture smooth and creamy, as well as add sweetness, you use 14 ounces, or 1 can, of sweetened condensed milk.
  • Flavoring: To give this holiday fudge a warm Christmas fruit cake flavor, you use vanilla extract and butterscotch chips. You can also add some cognac just like you would for an adult fruit cake.
  • Nuts: Fruit Cake is usually studded with delicious nuts and this Christmas Fudge is loaded with them too. We use a mixture of walnuts and almonds, mixing them into the actual chocolate and adding more walnuts on top.
  • Candied Fruit: This fudge is topped with 1 cup of candied fruit mix, that usually includes candied cherries, ginger, and pineapple. You can also just use your favorite dried and candied fruits.

Kitchen Tools & Equipment

  • Baking Pan: Use a 8×8-inch square baking pan to make thick, delicious fudge squares. You can cut them brownie-size for a jumbo piece of fudge or make smaller indulgent bites.
  • Microwave Safe Bowl: You’ll need a large, microwave-safe bowl to melt the chocolate in the microwave. It needs to be heat safe to protect your hands from burns but also protects hot spots from burning the chocolate mixture.

How to Make Christmas Fudge

Time needed: 2 hours and 10 minutes.

  1. Prepare your Pan

    Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil, using one large piece to cover the bottom and sides. Leave about an inch of foil over the sides to lift out the fudge later. You could also use parchment paper.

  2. Melt the Chocolate

    In a large heat safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and condensed milk. Microwave for 1 minute and stir well to help it continue melting.Christmas Fudge condensed milk and chocolate in bowl

  3. Flavor the Fudge

    Stir the cognac (if using), vanilla, and butterscotch chips into the chocolate mixture until creamy. If it’s not smooth, microwave for another 30 seconds and stir. Finally, stir in the almonds and ¾ of the walnuts.Christmas Fudge stirring the almonds and walnuts into the fudge mixture.

  4. Pour and Set

    Quickly pour the fudge mixture into your prepared baking dish and smooth out the top. Cover with the remaining walnuts and the candied fruit. Christmas Fudge in parchment lined baking dish

  5. Chill and Cut

    Chill the fudge in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to fully set. Once it’s firm, use the foil or paper overhang to lift the fudge block straight out of the pan and then slice into squares.Christmas Fudge squares with nuts and candy on parchment

Nutritional Facts

Nutrition Facts
Christmas Fudge
Amount Per Serving
Calories 262 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 7mg2%
Sodium 70mg3%
Potassium 189mg5%
Carbohydrates 35g12%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 28g31%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 71IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 82mg8%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Cooking Tips & Tricks

  • Line the Pan with Foil
    • Line your baking pan with aluminum foil to make removing the fudge super easy. Plus when you remove the block of fudge from the pan, you can cut cleaner, straight edges for the perfect fudge squares. 
  • Make Silky Smooth Fudge
    • The key to making the perfect batch of silky smooth fudge is to use a mixture of chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. The condensed milk already has the sugar dissolved so don’t have to worry about a grainy texture and the milk chocolate chips melt beautifully for super smooth, rich chocolate fudge every time.

Sides for Your Christmas Fudge

Fruit Cake Desserts: This delicious fudge already has all the yummy parts of Fruit Cake, so why not make a gift basket or dessert table filled with other bite size fruitcake flavored treats? Make mini Fruit Cake Muffins, chop up Fruit Cake Bark, and bake Fruit Cake Cookies for a fruity, spiced sweet spread.

Toppings: Clean out leftover holiday baking supplies and use them as toppings for this delicious holiday fudge. Add some festive sprinkles for extra holiday cheer, drizzle the top with Caramel Sauce, or use Candied Walnuts (or Candied Pecans) instead of plain walnuts.

How to Store Christmas Fudge

Store: After you’ve given it time to set, you can keep Christmas Fudge at room temperature for up to a week. Cover the dish in foil, or transfer the candies to an airtight container to keep them fresh. You could also seal and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Freeze: For long-term storage, you can freeze the fudge for up to 3 months. To make sure they don’t stick together, wrap each piece in parchment paper and then plastic wrap before sealing them all in a freezer bag

How to Gift Christmas Fudge

These rich candies make the perfect homemade gift to give to friends, family, neighbors, or give as a hostess gift. It’s sure to be a hit with anyone who receives it! The important part is packaging them so that the candies won’t lose their shape or get stuck together. Here are some tips for packaging the gift:

  • Wait for the Christmas Fudge to set, and then cut it into squares.
  • Place the squares in a tin or gift box with parchment paper or festive tissue paper lining it.
  • To add more than one layer of fudge, put the paper between each layer so that they don’t stick.
  • If you’re giving the gift in person, add a festive bow, and you’re done.
  • However, if you’re shipping the fudge, find a shipping box of a similar size to put the gift box in so that the fudge doesn’t shake around too much in transit.
  • Lay gel cooling packs next to the fudge container to keep them from melting.
  • It’s also best to use express shipping, and let the person you’re shipping it to know that there is food coming in the mail.

Frequent Questions

Is sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk better for fudge?

You want to use sweetened condensed milk for fudge, not evaporated milk. The condensed milk adds sweetness to the fudge mixture without adding granulated sugar which could make the fudge grainy. Plus condensed milk adds a delicious richness you can’t get with evaporated milk.

Can I make this fudge on the stovetop?

Yes, you can definitely swap the microwave for a saucepan on the stove but keep the heat low so you don’t burn your chocolate and milk and stir constantly. You could also add an inch of water to a pan, set a heat safe bowl on top then melt the chocolate with the milk in the bowl while water simmers underneath.

Recipe Card

Christmas Fudge

Christmas Fudge is the perfect holiday treat and edible gift with creamy chocolate, butterscotch chips, almonds, walnuts, and candied fruit.
Yield 24 Servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Course Candy
Cuisine American
Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon cognac , optional
  • 1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips
  • 1 cup walnut halves , divided
  • 1/2 cup almonds , chopped
  • 1 cup candied fruit

Instructions

  • Line an 8×8 baking pan with foil.
  • Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and condensed milk to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute.
  • Stir well.
  • Add in cognac (optional), vanilla extract, and butterscotch chips, and stir well until creamy.
  • Microwave for 30 seconds more until smooth (if needed.)
  • Stir in chopped almonds and ¾ cups of the walnuts.
  • Pour mixture quickly (while hot) into the baking dish.
  • Top with the remaining walnut halves and candied fruits.
  • Chill 2 hours until firm before slicing.

Nutrition

Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 71IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg
Keyword: Christmas Fudge

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Christmas Fudge Variations

White Chocolate Fudge: If you prefer a white fudge mixture, you can just use white chocolate chips in place of the semisweet chips. Or, for an eye-catching Christmas Swirl Fudge, divide the recipe in half, using white chocolate chips for one half and semisweet chocolate for the other. Pour the white chocolate fudge layer over the semisweet, and use a butter knife to marble or swirl the layers together.

Peppermint Fudge: Easily turn this into a nutty chocolate peppermint flavored fudge instead of fruitcake. Mix in 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract, either with or without the cognac. Finally, trade the candied fruit pieces for candy cane pieces.

More Delicious and Easy Holiday Fudge Recipes

Christmas Fudge Collage

The following images were used in previous versions of this post:

Christmas Fudge squares with nuts and candy on parchment
Christmas Fudge collage of prep steps
Christmas Fudge in parchment lined baking dish
Christmas Fudge squares with nuts and candy on parchment
Christmas Fudge squares with nuts and candy on parchment in baking dish
Christmas Fudge squares with nuts and candy on parchment

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

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