How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (2024)

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ByLauren

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Looking for an easy vanilla fudge recipe? Wondering how to make vanilla fudge?

Trust me, I was too. I spent hours online and looked and looked. I tried and tried again. More often than not, I ended up with something that resembled Scottish tablet over fudge and that’s why I had to write this recipe for soft fudge down!

I like my recipes simple and this is a one-pan wonder which I have tried to make as fuss-free as I can while still providing those delicious results that you are looking for.

If a really basic fudge recipe if what you’re after, then make sure to look below!

How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (1)

Overview

Makes: 40+ pieces
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 25 mins
Total time: 2 hours 30 mins (plus 2 hour rest time)

Ingredients

  • 400g Caster sugar
  • 150ml Whole milk
  • 1 tin Condensed milk (397g)
  • 25g Unsalted butter
  • 2tsp Vanilla extract

Utensils

Optional

  • Parchment paper
  • Baking/Sugar thermometer

Instructions

  1. Add your 400g caster sugar, 150ml whole milk, full tin of condensed milk, 25g unsalted butter and 2tsp vanilla to your saucepan and place on a low heat.
  2. Stir gently until all the ingredients have melted and you can no longer feel the sugar grains under your wooden spoon/spatula.
  3. Once your mix is smooth, you want to turn up the heat to a rolling boil.

    Allow this to bubble away with gentle stirring for approximately 15 minutes.

    The mix should begin to thicken under your spoon.

  4. Use a baking thermometer to check the readiness of your fudge, you are looking for this to reach approximately 115°C.

    For those of you (myself included) that do not have a baking thermometer to measure the temperature, we are instead going to check for the soft ball stage.

    So, grab a glass or bowl of cold water and after around 10-15 minutes of boiling, let some of the mixture drop into your water.

    If when you remove it from the water, you can form a soft ball with your fingers, you are done!

  5. Remove your pan from the heat and allow the mix to cool for around 5 minutes.

    It should begin to form a skin in that time.

  6. Then, you want to put in some real arm work and mix, mix, mix with your spatula or wooden spoon until the mix really thickens and loses its sheen.

    It will begin to look matte and resemble what you would consider fudge at this stage.

  7. At this stage, you want to add your mix to your square baking tin and smooth it out to cover all the edges.

    I like to use the back of the spoon as best I can to achieve a smooth surface on top.

  8. Now, you can either pop your fudge into the refrigerator to chill or leave it to set at room temperature.

    It should take around 2 hours but I tend to leave this overnight.

  9. Cut into round 1″ squares.

    Enjoy!

Storage

Store in an airtight container.

This fudge should keep for 1-2 weeks at room temperature.

If refrigerated, fudge can last 2-3 weeks.

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Yield: 40+ pieces

Vanilla Fudge Recipe

How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (5)

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time25 minutes

Additional Time2 hours

Total Time2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 400g Caster sugar
  • 150ml Whole milk
  • 1 tin Condensed milk (397g)
  • 25g Unsalted butter
  • 2tsp Vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Add your 400g caster sugar, 150ml whole milk, full tin of condensed milk, 25g unsalted butter and 2tsp vanilla to your saucepan and place on a low heat.
  2. Stir gently until all the ingredients have melted and you can no longer feel the sugar grains under your wooden spoon/spatula.
  3. Once your mix is smooth, you want to turn up the heat to a rolling boil.Allow this to bubble away with gentle stirring for approximately 15 minutes.The mix should begin to thicken under your spoon.
  4. Use a baking thermometer to check the readiness of your fudge, you are looking for this to reach approximately 115°C.For those of you (myself included) that do not have a baking thermometer to measure the temperature, we are instead going to check for the soft ball stage.So, grab a glass or bowl of cold water and after around 10-15 minutes of boiling, let some of the mixture drop into your water.If when you remove it from the water, you can form a soft ball with your fingers, you are done!
  5. Remove your pan from the heat and allow the mix to cool for around 5 minutes.It should begin to form a skin in that time.
  6. Then, you want to put in some real arm work and mix, mix, mix with your spatula or wooden spoon until the mix really thickens and loses its sheen.It will begin to look matte and resemble what you would consider fudge at this stage.
  7. At this stage, you want to add your mix to your square baking tin and smooth it out to cover all the edges.I like to use the back of the spoon as best I can to achieve a smooth surface on top.
  8. Now, you can either pop your fudge into the refrigerator to chill or leave it to set at room temperature.It should take around 2 hours but I tend to leave this overnight.
  9. Cut into round 1″ squares

Notes

Store in an airtight container.

This fudge should keep for 1-2 weeks at room temperature.

If refrigerated, fudge can last 2-3 weeks.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

40

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 49Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 11gProtein: 0g

How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (6)

Lauren

Peter may be the go to guy for travel tips and information but I like to think I bring the heart (maybe even a little humour) back into our writing.

I’m Scottish and proud, a millennial 30 something and your stereotypical girls girl but as opposed to what the press may say, I don’t see those as negatives and neither should you!

How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vanilla fudge made of? ›

Mix confectioners sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and salt in a 3-quart saucepan over low heat until mixture is hot and creamy. Pour into the prepared pan; refrigerate until fudge has set, about 2 hours. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Why do you add vanilla to fudge? ›

Vanilla is often added to chocolate candies or other chocolate recipes because it complements and accents the flavor of chocolate.

What is traditional fudge made of? ›

At its simplest, fudge is a dense, soft candy, often made with sugar and dairy products like butter and milk. Nowadays, fudge is usually flavored with chocolate, but you can utilize pretty much any flavor, such as peanut butter, pumpkin, even birthday cake.

What not to do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

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).

How do you keep fudge creamy? ›

So, the key to smooth yet firm fudge, pralines, and fondant is to first bring the mixture to a high enough concentration and then let it cool off somewhat before starting to stir. And once you do start to stir, stir fanatically and without stopping for the finest, creamiest texture.

How do you make fudge creamy and not grainy? ›

Grainy Fudge

To avoid this issue, swirl the pan instead of stirring it with a spoon. You can use a wet pastry brush to wipe down any sugar that sticks to the sides of the pot.

What makes fudge hard or soft? ›

Fudge usually behaves this way when it's not cooked to a high enough temperature (due to oversight or a faulty candy thermometer). If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature.

Why is fudge so hard to make? ›

Conversely, if the cooking time is too brief and there is not enough evaporation, too much water will remain and the fudge will be too soft. A temperature of 112°C to 114°C (234°F to 237°F) must be maintained. This will ensure the fudge has the ideal concentration of water and sugar. Fudge is difficult to make.

What happened to vanilla fudge? ›

Following the release of their final album, Rock & Roll, Vanilla Fudge played a few U.S. farewell dates and disbanded in early 1970, although they have reunited and toured together since.

What makes fudge taste like fudge? ›

Fudge is a type of confectionery made with sugar, butter, and milk that often includes cocoa powder or melted chocolate. It has a creamy texture and can be flavored with various ingredients such as nuts, fruits, or spices. Fudge may also contain marshmallow creme or condensed milk to give it an even richer flavor.

Is evaporated milk or condensed milk better for fudge? ›

Use Evaporated Milk- Make sure to use evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk. If you accidentally use sweetened condensed milk your fudge will be incredibly over the top sweet.

Why is fudge unhealthy? ›

But clocking in at around 130 calories and 5 grams of fat per ounce, this rich treat is far from a healthy choice. ... Fudge also boasts very little in terms of health. Absolutely! Fudge almost always has a pretty high sugar content as well as having some cream in it—both fattening.

Do you stir fudge while boiling? ›

Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.

What is vanilla fudge? ›

Traditional vanilla fudge is a mix of sugar, sweetened condensed milk, butter and vanilla (for obvious reasons, our traditional family recipe is a closely guarded secret).

Where is vanilla fudge from? ›

Vanilla Fudge, which hailed from Long Island, New York, was best known for its Supremes cover “You Keep Me Hangin' On,” a Top 10 hit. Its other singles, perhaps ironically, included “Take Me for a Little While” and “Where Is My Mind.”

Does vanilla fudge contain chocolate? ›

Something to keep in mind, vanilla fudge doesn't actually need to have white chocolate in it. Fudge requiring chocolate is a misnomer. While many fudges do have chocolate or dark chocolate, this isn't required.

What ever happened to vanilla fudge? ›

The band has toured as recently as 2022 with three of the four original members: Stein, Martell, and Appice, with Pete Bremy on bass. Bogert retired in 2009 and died in 2021.

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