This is the easiest vanilla fudge recipe ever! You don’t have to stress about getting the perfect “soft ball stage” and no candy thermometer is needed. You will get perfect fudge every time just by using a few simple ingredients and a microwave. Make vanilla fudge in minutes that is perfect for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, or just as a fun, quick treat!
Ingredients in Vanilla Fudge
Chocolate Baking Chips – We used Ghirardelli white chocolate baking chips for this recipe and they were perfect. Since the bag sizes seem to always be changing, it is best to measure out the chocolate chips rather than pouring the whole bag in directly.Sweetened Condensed Milk – Not to be confused with evaporated milk. We used the 14-ounce “Eagle Brand” sweetened condensed milk for this recipe.Vanilla – Use a really good, high-quality vanilla extract for the best taste. Not the cheap, imitation vanilla flavoring. I used a clear Mexican vanilla to keep a brighter, white color for the fudge but any kind of natural vanilla will work great.
How to Melt Chocolate for Fudge
This fudge can be made in the microwave (as indicated in the recipe below) or on the stovetop. If melting the chocolate on the stovetop, bring a few cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Place a large heat-safe glass or metal mixing bowl over the top of the saucepan (the bowl obviously must be larger than the saucepan or it will fall in). Stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the mixture of white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk is melted. Continue with step 5 in the recipe below.
Tips for Making Fudge
The hardness of the fudge depends on how many baking chips you use. Add 1/4-⅓ cup more baking chips for firm fudge and take away the same amount if you are looking for a softer fudge. Line your entire baking dish with parchment paper, covering as much as you can. This will make it so much easier to remove the fudge from the pan.If you want all the pieces to be perfectly squared off, use a square baking dish with straight walls and edges. That way you won’t get any curved edge pieces. For a smooth top, gently shake the pan after pouring the fudge in and quickly smooth with a spatula before it cools at all. The fudge will cool quickly so do this as fast as you can to avoid weird lines.
Additions and Variations
For a variety of textures and flavors you can add walnuts, almonds, pecans, crushed cookies, crushed candy bars, or sprinkles to your fudge after melting. Stir in the toppings or sprinkle them over the top after pouring the fudge in the baking pan. You are also not required to have this fudge be a white fudge. You can use milk or dark chocolate chips for the base or you can do one white vanilla fudge recipe and one recipe using dark chocolate chips and make a swirled fudge!
How to Store Vanilla Fudge
After your fudge sets, you can store it in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 weeks. Wrap the block of fudge in wax paper for maximum freshness and only cut off squares of fudge as needed. If you cut the fudge into pieces before storing they will dry out faster. When you go to candy stores, the fudge is almost always stored as a large block and cut into fresh pieces only when the customer orders. The same should go for when you are at home. Fudge doesn’t necessarily last longer in the fridge. In fact, many confectionary experts advise against storing fudge in the refrigerator because you risk the fudge drying out and crumbling.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vanilla Fudge
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