Easiest-Ever Fudge

By srumbel

This easy homemade fudge is creamy, rich, and SO delicious, and it comes together in less than 15 minutes with tons of add-in options!
from melskitchencafe.com

Ingredients

• 3 cups (18 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups (4 ounces) mini marshmallows
• 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (can sub another flavored extract, like peppermint)
• Optional add-ins: peanut butter chips OR peanut butter, chopped nuts, toffee bits, M&M’s (see note for when to add)

Details

Preparation time 10mins
Cooking time 15mins

Preparation

Step 1

Line a 8X8- or 9X9-inch pan with foil and lightly butter or grease with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips, marshmallows, sweetened condensed milk, butter and salt. Microwave for 45-second intervals, stirring in between, until the mixture is smooth and creamy; stir in the vanilla (or other flavored extract).
Add any add-in ingredients, if desired (chopped nuts, M&M’s, peanut butter chips, toffee bits, dried fruit, coconut, etc)
Spread the fudge evenly in the prepared pan. Top with any additional garnishes, like chopped nuts or any of the suggestions listed above, pressing the ingredients lightly into the soft fudge. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours until set (I mean, you CAN dig in right away, but it will be super soft and sticky…and super delicious! :). Cut into squares.
The fudge will keep for several days, well-covered, in the refrigerator.

Notes:

If adding peanut butter (creamy or chunky) to the recipe, add it with the marshmallows and chocolate before melting. For any other chunky add-in (like additional chocolate chips, toffee bits, chopped nuts, coconut, peanut butter chips, dried fruit, crushed peppermints, etc), add them after the mixture has been melted and is smooth and creamy. Meltable ingredients like peanut butter chips or additional chocolate will soften and melt a bit when added to the warm fudge, but they needed to be added fairly quickly before the fudge sets up, and I kind of like the little ribbons of melty flavor it adds to the fudge.

UPDATE: I should have included these details, but after a lot of questions, chocolate chips really matter. Meaning, brand matters (because of taste and texture). I’ve had the best luck using Ghirardelli’s semisweet chocolate chips…and a great batch with half Ghirardelli semisweet chips + half Trader Joe’s semisweet chunks.


Yield: 8X8- or 9X9-inch pan