Easy Fudge Recipe without Condensed Milk (2024)

Kevin Is Cooking | Course | Desserts | Easy Fudge Recipe without Condensed Milk

By Kevin

published Dec 03, 2021

5 from 8 votes

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My easy fudge recipe without condensed milk is amazing! Deliciously creamy no cook no fail fudge, made with powdered sugar. Make it for Christmas- it only takes 15 minutes!

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OK, who doesn’t love chocolate desserts? I can’t resist them, especially during the holidays. My mom made this Christmas fudge every year and it’s a family favorite recipe. The consistency reminds me a lot of the popular See’s fudge. Beyond the creaminess, there are many other things to love about this dessert, though.

Why make this easy fudge recipe?

There are thousands of other fudge recipes out there, so why make this one? Well, because my recipe really is the easiest one that doesn’t use condensed milk. It’s also the creamiest, and best tasting chocolate fudge that I’ve eaten.

  • Rich and creamy

If you’ve eaten rich desserts before, just wait until you try this one. This chocolate fudge is sinfully decadent! Keep reading to learn what the secrets are to creating that super-rich chocolatey flavor and creamy consistency.

By the way, if you’re crazy for decadent desserts like I am, be sure to check out my recipes for chewy chocolate peanut butter cookies and chocolate creme brulee. All I have to say is, be sure to have a tall glass of milk on standby.

  • No condensed milk

I should note that this fudge recipe without condensed milk is NOT dairy free. There is butter involved, as well as chocolate, but you can easily substitute plant-based ingredients for the dairy products.

Plant based butter is a great option, and there are a few brands of dairy free chocolate available. If you want or need a completely dairy free vegan fudge, check out this recipe for mocha almond fudge. It’s gluten free too.

  • No cook, no fail fudge

Learning how to make fudge the traditional way takes a lot of practice. You have to cook the sugar and chocolate with precise measurements, and the timing is crucial.

Also, you need the sugar to crystallize just enough to make a creamy fudge, but overcooking sugar is easy to do, and it has tragic results.

I’m telling you, this is a no fail fudge, because there’s no cooking involved. It’s so quick, you can have a batch ready in 15 minutes; perfect for Christmas!

Ready to make fudge the easy way? Let’s do this!

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Ingredient notes and substitutions

  • Chocolate – There aren’t very many ingredients in this fudge recipe, so be sure to use the best quality chocolate you can afford. I use semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you could also grate down a bar or block. If you prefer dark chocolate, go for it; any type or variety works fine.
  • Powdered sugar – This is also known as confectioner’s sugar. The non-granulated consistency of the sugar is one of the reasons why this is such a creamy chocolate fudge.
  • Eggs – This is where all of you seasoned Christmas fudge makers will start shaking your head in disbelief. EGGS in fudge? Say what?

    I can’t explain the science behind how or why using eggs instead of condensed milk works. All I can say is that making a fudge recipe without condensed milk and with eggs will get you plenty of attention… and requests for the recipe.

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  • Easy Fudge Recipe without Condensed Milk (5)
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  • Nuts – These are completely optional because sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. Walnuts, pecans, cashews, or any other nut of your choice works.

    Just be sure to chop the nuts into very small pieces so they don’t overpower the flavor of your chocolate fudge.

    You could even customize this easy fudge recipe with other add-ins like mini marshmallows, dried fruit, or candies like mini M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces. It’s Christmas fudge… go crazy and use whatever will strike Santa’s fancy.

Another flavorful Christmas fudge recipe

If you’re into experimenting with traditional flavors of fudge, be sure to check out my recipe for pumpkin rocky road microwave fudge. Instead of using traditional rocky road ingredients, I use holiday inspired ingredients like pumpkin, dried cranberries and nuts. It’s SO good, and it’s made in the microwave!

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Easy fudge recipe notes

  • Stir gently – Remember that the fudge has powdered sugar in it, so stir slowly to avoid a sweet sugar dust storm.
  • Chill for at least 3 hours – Yes, this easy fudge recipe without condensed milk does take a while to set up. If you’re the impatient type, you can pop it in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes to start setting it up, but don’t freeze it completely.
  • Keep it refrigerated – Keeping it chilled is key to its creaminess. It dries out quickly if it’s left out at room temperature.
  • It’s VERY rich! To give you an idea of how rich this chocolate dessert is, the pan size is 8 x 8 inches, and I cut the fudge into 64 squares. They’re tiny but sinfully delicious!
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Enjoy, and happy holidays!

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This post, originally published on Kevin is Cooking Feb. 17, 2013, was last updated with new content on Dec. 3, 2021.

Easy Fudge Recipe without Condensed Milk (9)

Easy Fudge Recipe without Condensed Milk

5 from 8 votes

Make this easy fudge recipe without condensed milk for a creamy, rich chocolate dessert. Even better, it's no cook fudge, made in 15 mins!

Servings: 64 servings

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Melt the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over medium-low or low heat.

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the sifted powdered sugar and eggs, mixing well but carefully, as it dusts up quite a bit!

  • Add the melted chocolate mixture and vanilla extract to the bowl with powdered sugar and eggs. Mix thoroughly to incorporate

  • Add the nuts if desired and mix to thoroughly incorporate.

  • With a spatula, pour chocolate fudge mixture into a well-greased 8×8" pan. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or until firm. Slice into (64) bite sized pieces and serve. Refrigerate when it's not being served.

Notes

  1. The risk of getting salmonella from a raw egg is about 1 in 20,000. Pasteurized egg products are an excellent alternative to raw eggs. The eggs are pasteurized right in the shell using patented all-natural processes to kill the bacteria effectively so that salmonella is no longer an issue. So, pasteurized eggs are completely safe to use uncooked. There is a great way to do it yourself if you can’t find them at your market. Read about it here from my friend Liz, over at her blog, Sugar Geek Show.
  2. Nutrition shown is per piece of fudge without nuts.

Nutrition

Calories: 85kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Author: Kevin Is Cooking

Have You Made This Recipe? Let Me Know on InstagramTag @keviniscooking or tag me #keviniscooking!

Easy Fudge Recipe without Condensed Milk (10)

Kevin

Whether in the kitchen or on the grill, you’ll find me cooking American favorites with a love for BBQ, Mexican and Tex Mex. I’m passionate about making tasty food because life’s too short to be bland!

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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 a substitute for evaporated milk in fudge? ›

Thus, heavy cream can easily be substituted for recipes that call for evaporated milk. How to Substitute: For 12 ounces of evaporated milk, combine 3 ounces of whole milk and 9 ounces of heavy cream.

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.

How to condensed milk at home? ›

firstly, in a bowl take 2 cup full cream powder, 1 tsp corn flour, 1 cup sugar, ¼ tsp baking soda and 1 cup milk. whisk and mix well until everything is well combined. now pour the milk mixture into a large kadai and keep stirring. keep the flame on medium and keep stirring.

Is evaporated milk or condensed milk better for fudge? ›

Evaporated milk doesn't have sugar added. The sweetened condended milk is needed as no extra sugar is added to the fudge. If evaporated milk were used then the fudge would not be sweet enough and also would still be too soft unless the fudge is frozen.

Do you stir fudge while it is boiling? ›

In both cases, sugar and cream must be brought to a boil by gently stirring, then—and this is very important—refrain from stirring again throughout the rest of the cooking process.

What can I use instead of condensed milk? ›

Condensed Milk Substitutes

If you don't have sweetened condensed milk, you can make your own using evaporated milk and sugar, or you can bring 3/4 cup of white sugar, 1/2 cup of water, and 1 1/8 cups of dry powdered milk to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 20 minutes.

What to use if you don't have evaporated milk? ›

Substitute Heavy Cream for Evaporated Milk

Use the same amount of cream as you would evaporated milk. Or, If you have both cream and regular milk on hand, thin the cream to make your own half-and-half. Whisk together equal parts of cream and milk and use the same amount called for in your recipe.

Can I use 2% instead of evaporated milk? ›

Regular Milk

So for example, if a recipe calls for one cup of evaporated milk, you'd need to use about 1⅔ cups of regular whole, 2 percent, or skim milk.

Why is my old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›

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.

How to fix failed fudge? ›

Fixing Fudge
  1. Scrape the fudge back into a large saucepan and add 1 1/2 cups of water.
  2. Stir the fudge over low heat until it dissolves. ...
  3. Increase the heat to medium and bring it to a boil, washing down the sides of the pan frequently with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming.
Jan 5, 2020

Why did my fudge turn out like taffy? ›

If the fudge is very soft and slightly chewy then it is possible that it did not quite cook to soft ball stage and next time the mixture should be cooked to a slightly higher temperature (soft ball is 112-116c/235-240F and a sugar or candy thermometer can help).

Can I use normal milk instead of condensed? ›

While you could use ordinary milk wherever evaporated is called for, in sauces or in coffee, it would taste thinner. CONDENSED milk is both evaporated and preserved with a great deal of sugar. It is almost a liquid candy straight out of the can. To substitute you would need to add more sugar to your recipe.

Why is condensed milk not advisable? ›

Because condensed milk is more concentrated than the same volume of regular milk, it contains more lactose. Sweetened condensed milk includes a lot of calories, but it also has a lot of saturated fat, which is dangerous for people with diabetes and heart issues.

How do you convert condensed milk? ›

If you add water to it (1:1 ratio) it can then be used as a replacement for whole milk. Keep in mind that it has close to half a cup of sugar added per cup of SCM so if you are mixing it with water for a recipe you should reduce the sugar you add by 1/4 cup per cup of milk needed.

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).

What gives fudge its firm texture? ›

The key to creamy, luscious fudge is controlling crystal formation. If the sucrose (table sugar) crystals are small, the fudge will feel creamy and smooth on your tongue. But if the crystals are large, the fudge develops a crumbly, dry, or even coarse texture.

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 can I firm up my fudge? ›

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.

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