Fantasy Fudge Recipe | Easy Marshmallow Cream Fudge (2024)

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Have I got a treat for you! This fantasty fudge recipe makes the best fudge you have ever tried…and it takes about 15 minutes of hands-on time.

Sink your teeth into the velvety texture and indulge your senses with that rich chocolatey smell and taste. Yum! It doesn’t get easier (or more delicious) than this fudge!

This is the PERFECT recipe for those who are new to making fudge. If you know the very basics of baking, you can absolutely make this!

You know those recipes you reach for year after year during the holiday season? This fantasy fudge recipe is definitely one of them. Fudge is a must-have on my Christmas baking list (although, to be fair, it’s perfect for any time of the year!).

I’ve tried different varieties in the past, but this fantasy fudge recipe is the one I come back to time and time again.

this idea now...

15-minute easy fudge recipe

If you have never made fudge from scratch before, you may be feeling slightly trepidatious. However, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how easy it is to make this recipe.

You don’t need to be an expert candy maker to make this recipe; it doesn’t even require a candy thermometer.

Even better? It takes about five minutes of hands-on prep time and about ten minutes of cook time. That means you can have this fantasy fudge made in 15 minutes or less. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

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Marshmallow cream fluff

If you haven’t heard of fantasy fudge before, you may be slightly confused by the ingredient list. Yes, this is a fudge recipe with marshmallow fluff – but that’s what makes it so good!

If you haven’t had it before, marshmallow fluff is a light, airy, whipped good. Its taste is very similar to marshmallows, but as the name suggests, it’s fluffier! This is because the fluff doesn’t contain gelatin or cornstarch, like the common marshmallow does. The two are not interchangeable, particularly in recipes like this.

See that lovely, airy texture?That’s why you want to make this fudge recipe with marshmallow fluff,not marshmallows. You won’t get the same result. Trust me on this one!

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Ingredients

This fantasy fudge recipe is out of this world. It’s my favorite fudge, hands down – I just can’t get enough of that springy, chewy texture! Thankfully, the ingredient list is short and sweet for this one. Here’s what you’ll need to whip up a batch:

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How to make easy fantasy fudge

Now, let’s get down to the good part and make a batch of super indulgent fudge. You will be shocked at how easy this is!

First things first…before we get started, take out a 9″ pan and line it with foil. Don’t put this off until later, as you’ll need to pour your fudge in quickly before it sets at the end.Set this aside.

Make the fudge

Next, melt the butter in a large 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Don’t use margarine; sometimes you just need that good, real butter taste, and this is definitely one of those times.

Once that’s melted, add the sugar and evaporated milk. Double-check and make sure you didn’t accidentally grab sweetened condensed milk. You would think we’d want the sweet stuff, but nope. This fantasy fudge needs basic evaporated milk.

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Next, heat over medium heat.Bring this mixture to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
This will take a few minutes, but don’t be tempted to turn the heat up – keep it on medium. You don’t want it to burn.

Here’s what your rolling boil should look like:

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Once it reaches this full rolling boil, set your timer for 4 minutes and keep it at the boil, stirring constantly, for the entire 4 minutes. If you have a candy thermometer, you can pull it out now and boil the mixture until it reaches 234°.

Truth be told, I never use a candy thermometer for this recipe. I just follow the timer.

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Once it reaches the 4-minute mark, remove the pan from the heat.

Pour in your bag of chocolate chips and stir until melted.

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Next, add in the marshmallow cream.

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It’s easier to melt the chocolate first andthen add marshmallow fluff.

There have been some times when I forget my own tip and add both at once. If you do this, it won’t mess up your fudge, but you might need to use your whisk to remove any lumps from not-quite-melted chocolate chips.

It’s just easier to do chocolate first, then marshmallow cream!

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Once the chocolate and marshmallow fluff is fully mixed in, add vanilla extract.

If you want to add nuts, now is when you’ll stir them in. I’m not a big nutty fudge person, so I didn’t add any.

Pour fudge into the pan

Next, pour the fudge (it will still be pourable but getting thicker quickly) into your foil-lined pan.

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Smooth it out, then set your pan aside to cool. This is the hardest part – you’ll need to give it about four hours to cool completely. Resist the temptation to dig in – the end result of this fantasy fudge is well worth it!

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Then there’s the fudge pan – that’s my favorite part, “licking” the pan! Of course, I don’t really lick it, but a spoonful of this is so yummy! {Come on, you know you want to!}

Cut and enjoy!

Now, you’ll want to cut your fudge into squares. The best way to do this is to use a heavy knife and press down firmly rather than saw back and forth.

You also want to make absolutely sure that the fudge is cool – hence why we did that hard work of waiting four hours!

You can make your marshmallow cream fudge pieces whatever size you’d like, but I tend to make mine about 1-2″. The perfect snacking size!

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How to store this fantasy fudge recipe

The best way to keep this fresh is to store it in a sealed container on the countertop. It will last for about a week this way.

It may seem counterintuitive, but you do not want to refrigerate your fudge – it will become hard and crumbly if you do.

If, by some miracle, it’s been several days and you haven’t devoured the batch yet, you can freeze the fudge. It will keep nicely there for 2-3 months. When you are ready to enjoy, pull a square or two out and let it come to room temperature.

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See how easy this fantasy fudge recipe is?! And thank goodness, because this fudge disappears quickly!

More holiday baking ideas:

  • Eggnog Log Cookies
  • The Best Buckeye Recipe
  • White Chocolate Popcorn
  • Magic Cookie Seven-Layer Bars

Pin the image below to save the recipe for later!

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Print

Easy Fantasy Fudge

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Print Recipe
★★★★★5 from 1 review

You may want to keep ingredients on hand throughout the holiday season because this crowd-pleasing, melt-in-your mouth easy fudge recipe won’t last long!

  • Author: Erika Bragdon
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 24 1x
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 5 oz evaporated milk (2/3 cup)
  • 1 12 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 7 oz marshmallow creme
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat sugar, butter, & evaporated milk in a 3 quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil on medium heat for 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips until melted. Add marshmallow creme and stir until melted. Stir in vanilla & walnuts (if desired.)
  2. Spread immediately into a foil-lined 9″ square pan.
  3. Cool at room temperature for at least 4 hours.

Notes

Prepare your foil-lined pan ahead of time!

Keywords: chocolate fudge, marshmallow creme fudge, dessert

*Recipe credit goes to Kraft

Fantasy Fudge Recipe | Easy Marshmallow Cream Fudge (2024)

FAQs

Why is my fantasy fudge not creamy? ›

Sugar Crystals Formed

It's important to beat the fudge ingredients to develop the right texture, but you won't get smooth, creamy fudge if you beat it when it's too hot. Beating fudge when it's still over heat creates sugar crystals, aka the grittiness you feel in the fudge.

What are the ingredients for fantasy fudge? ›

Fantasy fudge is a decadent blend of the following ingredients: sugar, margarine, evaporated milk, chocolate chips, marshmallow creme, walnuts, and vanilla extract.

Why won t my marshmallow fudge harden? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

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.

Why is my 3 ingredient fudge not setting? ›

Why won't my 3 ingredient fudge set? This often happens when the condensed milk and chocolate chip mixture isn't hot enough to start. Everything must be completely melted before it is transferred to the pan to cool.

Can you use marshmallows instead of marshmallow cream? ›

What is a substitute for marshmallow cream? You can make marshmallow cream by melting down marshmallows with corn syrup. I would suggest 2 cups of mini marshmallows with ¼ cup of corn syrup.

Is evaporated milk the same as condensed milk? ›

Both are concentrated, shelf-stable milk products that have been heated until at least 60 percent of their water content has evaporated. The main difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk is that evaporated milk is unsweetened while condensed milk is sweetened.

Do you refrigerate fudge to set? ›

Let the fudge rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before placing in the refrigerator, uncovered. Refrigerate until the fudge is firm, about 2-3 hours (or overnight), before slicing and serving.

Do you stir fudge when it's boiling? ›

Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer

Another key part of a successful fudge texture is when you stir the mixture. Stirring the sugar and milk during the initial stages of cooking allows the sugar to dissolve. However, once the mixture comes to a boil, it's time to put the spoon down.

Can you reboil fudge that hasn't set? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

What makes marshmallow fudge grainy? ›

That smooth, creamy melt-in-your-mouth fudge texture is achieved with small sugar crystals. If the mixture is stirred too soon — when it is warmer than 110 degrees — the crystals will be large and make the fudge grainy.

Why did my fudge turn out chewy? ›

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).

How to make fudge thicker? ›

If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream. Stir the fudge as it heats, but only until the sugar in the chocolate is completely melted again.

How do you make fudge stiffer? ›

If you prefer harder fudge, freeze it for about 1 or 2 hours after pouring it in a container, Brissette says.

Why is some fudge hard and some soft? ›

If you don't heat your fudge to a high enough temperature, you'll end up with a soft product. And if you heat the mixture too much, your fudge may be harder than you'd like.

How do you keep fudge soft? ›

Wrap your fudge in an air-tight container. Several layers of saran wrap, vacuum seal, Tupperware should all keep the moisture locked in pretty good.

Why is my fudge sticky and chewy? ›

Apart from the incorrect temperature, chewy fudge could result from inadequate beating. When it has cooled to 110 to 113 degrees F (43-45 degrees C), beat until it is creamy and smooth. The process could take between 20 and 30 minutes. The mixture should begin to lose it's gloss and become more matte.

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