Oh, friend, there’s just something magical about Christmas, isn’t there? The twinkling lights, the cozy sweaters, and of course, the incredible smell of holiday baking wafting through the house. But let’s be real, sometimes the holidays get a little too busy for elaborate baking projects. That’s exactly why I’m so thrilled to share this absolute gem with you: our super easy, incredibly delicious, and oh-so-festive Christmas Fudge!
This recipe is a holiday lifesaver, truly. It’s a no-bake wonder that comes together with just three main ingredients (plus those glorious colors!) and practically no fuss. Imagine the joy of gifting a beautiful box of homemade fudge without spending hours slaving over a hot stove. It’s rich, creamy, and melts in your mouth, bringing all those nostalgic, happy Christmas vibes right to your kitchen. Seriously, get ready to spread some serious cheer!
Why You’ll Love Christmas Fudge
- Fast: From start to chilling, this fudge is incredibly quick to prepare, perfect for when you need a speedy treat.
- Easy: No candy thermometer needed, no tricky steps – just simple melting and stirring.
- Giftable: Package it up in a festive box or bag, and you’ve got a thoughtful homemade gift everyone will adore.
- Crowd-pleasing: Who doesn’t love fudge? This colorful treat is a guaranteed hit at any holiday gathering.
And speaking of easy, if you adore simple treats that come together without turning on the oven, you’ll also love making a delightful no-bake marshmallow slice. It’s another fantastic option for when time is of the essence!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to whip up this festive delight. Remember, good quality ingredients make all the difference, but no need to break the bank!
- 22 oz (2 11-oz. bags) White Chocolate Chips: These are the star of our show, providing that sweet, creamy base. Any brand you love will work perfectly.
- 14 ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is the magic ingredient that gives our fudge its irresistible smooth and rich texture. Make sure it’s sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk!
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, cold and cut into small cubes: Cold butter helps the melting process stay controlled and adds a lovely richness to the fudge.
- ¼-½ teaspoon Red Gel Food Coloring: Start with a quarter teaspoon; a little gel goes a long way to achieve that vibrant Christmas red! Add more if you want a deeper hue.
- ¼-½ teaspoon Green Gel Food Coloring: Just like the red, gel coloring gives us that brilliant festive green without watering down our fudge. Adjust to your desired shade.
How to Make Christmas Fudge
Let’s get cooking, or rather, melting and swirling! You’re going to be amazed at how simple this is.
- Prep Your Pan: First things first, grab an 8×8-inch baking pan. Line it snugly with parchment paper, making sure to leave some excess overhang on all sides. This little trick is your secret weapon for easy lifting and cutting later!
- Melt It Down: In a medium-sized saucepan, combine your white chocolate chips, the entire can of sweetened condensed milk, and those cold, cubed unsalted butter pieces. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat. Now, here’s the key: stir constantly for about 4-6 minutes. You’ll watch it transform from separate ingredients into a gorgeous, smooth, velvety mixture. As soon as those chips are fully melted and everything is combined, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Color the Red: Transfer about one-third of that beautiful melted white chocolate mixture into a small, separate bowl. Add your red gel food coloring (start with ¼ teaspoon, you can always add more!). Stir, stir, stir until the color is fully combined and perfectly uniform. Isn’t that red just so wonderfully festive?
- Color the Green: Repeat step 3 with another one-third of the melted mixture, but this time add your green gel food coloring. Stir it until it’s a lovely, vibrant green.
- Layer the Fun: Now for the artistic part! Take dollops (or spoonfuls, if you prefer!) of your plain white, vibrant red, and cheerful green fudge mixtures and randomly drop them into your prepared baking pan. Don’t worry about being precise; the more random, the better the swirl will look!
- Swirl Your Masterpiece: Grab a wooden skewer, a butter knife, or even a toothpick. Gently swirl the white, red, and green dollops together. You’re not trying to mix the colors completely, but rather to create beautiful, marbled patterns. A few gentle passes are all it takes!
- Smooth It Out: While your fudge is still soft and warm, take a small, clean piece of parchment paper and gently press it down on the top surface. This helps to create a lovely smooth finish without disturbing your gorgeous swirl pattern.
- Chill Out: Pop your pan into the refrigerator. Let it chill for 2-3 hours, or until the fudge has completely set and is firm to the touch. This is the hardest part – waiting!
- Slice & Serve: Once your fudge is perfectly set, use the overhanging parchment paper to easily lift the entire block out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Now, grab a sharp knife and slice it into beautiful 1×1-inch pieces. You’ll end up with about 64 little squares of holiday happiness! Arrange them on a platter and enjoy the delighted faces of everyone who tries them.
Substitutions & Additions
This Christmas fudge is a fantastic canvas for your creativity! Don’t be afraid to make it your own.
- Chocolate Choices: While white chocolate makes for the brightest colors, you can totally use semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips for a richer, darker fudge. Just remember your colors will blend differently!
- Flavor Extracts: A dash of peppermint extract (about 1 teaspoon) creates a wonderful mint chocolate fudge. Vanilla extract is always a good idea for an extra cozy flavor, or try almond extract for a delicate nuttiness.
- Holiday Mix-ins: Before you chill your fudge, fold in some festive goodies! Crushed candy canes, chopped pecans or walnuts, mini marshmallows, or even dried cranberries would be absolutely delightful.
- Beyond Christmas Colors: Think beyond red and green! You can use any gel food coloring to match other holidays or themes. Pink for Valentine’s Day, pastels for Easter, or even school colors for a special event. If you’re into trying other fudge variations and experimenting with flavors, you might also enjoy whipping up an easy Meyer lemon fudge for a bright, zesty treat!
Tips for Success
A few little pointers to make sure your Christmas Fudge turns out perfectly every single time!
- Gentle Heat is Golden: When melting the chocolate mixture, always keep your heat on medium-low. This prevents the chocolate from scorching, which can lead to a grainy texture. Constant stirring also helps ensure even melting.
- Go for Gel: I can’t stress this enough – gel food coloring is your best friend here. It delivers vibrant, intense color without adding excess liquid, which could throw off the fudge’s consistency. Liquid food coloring just won’t give you the same brilliant results.
- Don’t Over-Swirl: It’s tempting to keep swirling to create the perfect marble, but too much swirling will blend the colors completely, and you’ll lose that beautiful, distinct pattern. A few gentle passes are all you need.
- Clean Cuts: For those picture-perfect, neat squares, use a sharp knife. For even cleaner slices, I like to run my knife under hot water, wipe it dry, and then make each cut. Repeat this process for the cleanest edges. For more detailed advice on getting uniform cuts and perfect presentation, you might find some useful guidance in an ultimate guide to perfect bar cookies.
How to Store Christmas Fudge
Once you’ve made your delicious Christmas Fudge, you’ll want to make sure it stays fresh and delightful! Store it in an airtight container at room temperature, and it will keep beautifully for up to 1 week. If you need it to last a bit longer, pop it into the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks. For extended enjoyment, you can even freeze it! Simply place the fudge in an airtight, freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper, and it will keep for 2-3 months. Just be sure to let it come back to room temperature before serving for the very best texture and flavor!
FAQs
Q: Can I use chocolate chips instead of white chocolate chips?
A: Absolutely! You can swap white chocolate chips for semi-sweet, milk, or even dark chocolate chips if that’s what you prefer. Keep in mind that the red and green colors won’t pop as much against a dark chocolate base, but it will still be a wonderfully rich and delicious fudge!
Q: Do I really need to use gel food coloring?
A: I highly recommend using gel food coloring over liquid. Gel gives you much more vibrant and intense colors with a smaller amount of product, and it won’t add extra liquid to your fudge, which can affect the final texture and consistency.
Q: My fudge isn’t setting. What went wrong?
A: The most common culprits for fudge not setting are incorrect measurements (especially confusing sweetened condensed milk with evaporated milk) or not chilling it long enough. Double-check that you used a 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk and ensure it gets the full 2-3 hours (or even a little longer if your refrigerator isn’t super cold) to firm up properly.
Q: Can I double this recipe for a larger batch?
A: Yes, you certainly can! If you’re doubling the recipe, I recommend using a larger pan, such as a 9×13-inch baking pan, to accommodate the increased volume. You might also need to allow a little extra time for the melting process and, of course, for chilling.
For more delicious recipes and holiday inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest!
Easy 3-Ingredient Christmas Fudge
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Step 1: Prep Your Pan: First things first, grab an 8×8-inch baking pan. Line it snugly with parchment paper, making sure to leave some excess overhang on all sides. This little trick is your secret weapon for easy lifting and cutting later!
- Step 2: Melt It Down: In a medium-sized saucepan, combine your white chocolate chips, the entire can of sweetened condensed milk, and those cold, cubed unsalted butter pieces. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat. Now, here’s the key: stir constantly for about 4-6 minutes. You’ll watch it transform from separate ingredients into a gorgeous, smooth, velvety mixture. As soon as those chips are fully melted and everything is combined, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Step 3: Color the Red: Transfer about one-third of that beautiful melted white chocolate mixture into a small, separate bowl. Add your red gel food coloring (start with ¼ teaspoon, you can always add more!). Stir, stir, stir until the color is fully combined and perfectly uniform. Isn’t that red just so wonderfully festive?
- Step 4: Color the Green: Repeat step 3 with another one-third of the melted mixture, but this time add your green gel food coloring. Stir it until it’s a lovely, vibrant green.
- Step 5: Layer the Fun: Now for the artistic part! Take dollops (or spoonfuls, if you prefer!) of your plain white, vibrant red, and cheerful green fudge mixtures and randomly drop them into your prepared baking pan. Don’t worry about being precise; the more random, the better the swirl will look!
- Step 6: Swirl Your Masterpiece: Grab a wooden skewer, a butter knife, or even a toothpick. Gently swirl the white, red, and green dollops together. You’re not trying to mix the colors completely, but rather to create beautiful, marbled patterns. A few gentle passes are all it takes!
- Step 7: Smooth It Out: While your fudge is still soft and warm, take a small, clean piece of parchment paper and gently press it down on the top surface. This helps to create a lovely smooth finish without disturbing your gorgeous swirl pattern.
- Step 8: Chill Out: Pop your pan into the refrigerator. Let it chill for 2-3 hours, or until the fudge has completely set and is firm to the touch. This is the hardest part – waiting!
- Step 9: Slice & Serve: Once your fudge is perfectly set, use the overhanging parchment paper to easily lift the entire block out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Now, grab a sharp knife and slice it into beautiful 1×1-inch pieces. You’ll end up with about 64 little squares of holiday happiness! Arrange them on a platter and enjoy the delighted faces of everyone who tries them.