Fudge with cocoa powder and sweetened condensed milk microwave

 You can make the most amazingly rich and creamy chocolate fudge in less than 5 minutes. This easy chocolate fudge can be prepared three different ways, in the microwave, on the stovetop, or even in a food processor.

Easy Chocolate Fudge Recipe

If you have ever made a batch of old-fashioned chocolate fudge you know how challenging it can be. You have to boil the ingredients, which typically include sugar, cocoa powder, and milk on the stove until the candy reaches 238° F then allow the candy to cool to about 110° before adding the butter and vanilla. Then you stir like crazy until the fudge loses its shine and becomes very thick in order to get a smooth creamy fudge.

This traditional method of making homemade fudge can produce amazing chocolate fudge, but you may encounter problems like the fudge not setting up properly, becoming grainy, or being greasy. Plus it isn’t easy or quick.

So, let’s make the process of making chocolate fudge easy.

I’m going to show you, in the video below, how you can make a simple chocolate fudge in your microwave, on your stove-top, or even in a food processor using chocolate and sweetened condensed milk. If you want to enhance the flavor a bit you can add vanilla and a pinch of salt to your fudge.

This basic 2-ingredient chocolate fudge recipe uses chocolate and sweetened condensed milk with the option of adding vanilla and a pinch of salt. Just like with plain vanilla fudge, mix-ins can be added to make fun flavors like Rocky Road Fudge.

Ingredients to make Easy Chocolate Fudge:

• 12 ounces (340 grams or 2 cups chips) chocolate
• 1 – 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• optional, vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
• optional, a pinch of salt

The vanilla and salt are not absolutely necessary, but they do add a nice flavor to the fudge. I choose to use vanilla bean paste because it adds a more intense vanilla flavor without adding any liquid to the fudge but a traditional extract works fine.

You can even swap out the vanilla for other extracts like orange or mint to change the flavor profile of this easy fudge.

What size pan to use for fudge?

• glass, non-stick, ceramic, aluminum, tin foil, or silicone pans
• a 6-inch square pan if you prefer thick fudge squares
• an 8-inch square pan if you prefer thinner fudge squares or rectangles
• a 9-inch square pan if you want really thin fudge
• an 8 inch by 4-inch loaf pan if you prefer slices of fudge
• do not use a 9×13 inch pan for this recipe as the fudge will be too thin

You can find a huge selection of pans from amazon (commission earned for sales for all affiliate links listed below)

Prepping your pan:

• butter the bottom and sides of your pan
• spray the pan with cooking spray
• line the pan with tin foil (non-stick tin foil is preferable)
• line the pan with parchment paper strips

I prefer to line my pan with non-stick tin foil or parchment paper. The fudge is easy to remove from the pan and it allows for easy cleanup.

What chocolate should I use to make this easy chocolate fudge recipe?

When making an easy chocolate fudge you want to use chocolate that you love to eat. If you don’t like the flavor of the candy bar or chocolate chips right out of the package, you won’t like it in this fudge either because this dark chocolate fudge is all about the chocolate. Pick your favorite!

You can use:

• pure dark chocolate bars, callets, or wafers (made with cocoa butter)
  • semi-sweet dark chocolate (45%-60% cocoa content) – makes a really nice mellow chocolate fudge
  • bittersweet chocolate (70%-90% cocoa content) – makes a more robust, slightly bitter flavored chocolate fudge
  • unsweetened chocolate (100% cocoa content) – makes an intensely flavored, bitter-tasting, chocolate fudge
• dark chocolate chips

NOTE: Finely chop, grate, or shave chocolate bars in order for the chocolate to melt more quickly.

• The quickest way to chop your chocolate is by using a food processor. Cut the chocolate into about 1-inch pieces then pulse in the food processor until you get really fine pieces.
• You can even use the grating attachment to really finely grate large chunks of chocolate in the food processor.

Can I use milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chips to make fudge?

• Yes, you can, but you will need to increase the ratio of chocolate to sweetened condensed milk in order to have a fudge that is firm enough to hold its shape.
• See the recipe to make milk chocolate fudge, here. 
• See how to use white chocolate to make vanilla fudge, here.

These are some of the brands of dark chocolate that I like to use. Peter’s Burgundy is my absolute favorite brand of dark chocolate. I use it for all my candy making and have for over 30 years. It has a lovely mild dark chocolate flavor.

Can I use “fake chocolate,” also known as, confectionery coating, Candy Melts, Almond Bark, or Ghirardelli Melting Wafers to make fudge?

• Yes, you can, but know that the flavor and texture will not be as decadent as if you use pure chocolate made with cocoa butter.
• These chocolate-type products swap out vegetable oil (usually palm kernel oil) in place of cocoa butter.
  • Cocoa butter is what gives chocolate that luxurious mouthfeel.

What kind of milk can you use to make easy homemade chocolate fudge?

• This recipe calls for 1 can of sweetened condensed milk.

  • What is sweetened condensed milk?

    • Sweetened Condensed milk is milk that has been pasteurized and condensed (heated and cooked to remove most of the water) and sweetened with sugar.
      • The sugar not only adds sweetness to the condensed milk but it also helps to thicken it and to prolong the shelf life, keeping microorganisms from growing in it.
    • You can even make your own homemade sweetened condensed milk.
• DO NOT use cans of Evaporated Milk for this fudge recipe.
  • Evaporated milk is not sweetened and is not thickened with sugar.
  • Some fudge recipes do use evaporated milk, but not this one!

microwave method:

• Combine your favorite chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a microwave-safe mixing bowl. (Optional: add a pinch of salt in this step)
• Heat on 70% power for 90 seconds.
• Let the bowl sit in the microwave for 3 minutes.
• Remove and stir until smooth and creamy.
• If all the chocolate is not melted, let the bowl sit for another minute or so then stir again.
• If necessary, heat for 15 seconds at 70% power, let rest, then stir.
• Repeat if needed.
• Optional step: stir in vanilla
• Pour the fudge into a prepared pan, cover, and refrigerate for 2-3 hours until firm.
• Remove and cut.

stovetop method:

• Combine your favorite chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a medium saucepan. (Optional: add a pinch of salt)
• Set on the stovetop over low heat.
• Heat, stirring occasionally, until about 75% of the chocolate has melted.
• Remove from the heat and stir until smooth and creamy.
• If all the chocolate will not melt, allow the pan to sit for a few minutes, allowing the residual heat from the melted chocolate to melt the remaining solid chocolate, then stir again.
• If needed, return to low heat and continue to melt.
• Stir in the vanilla, if using.
• Pour the fudge into a prepared pan, cover, and refrigerate for 2-3 hours until firm.
• Remove and cut.

How to make chocolate fudge in the food processor:

• Melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler.
  • In the microwave, heat on high power for 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted.
  • In a double boiler (a pan filled with 1 inch of water, with a bowl that does not touch the water set over top.)
    • Heat over low heat, stirring often, until melted.
• Pour the chocolate and sweetened condensed milk (and vanilla and salt, if using) into the bowl of a food processor.
• Pulse until blended.

This method is quick and easy and produces a really nice, creamy fudge.

What can be added to plain chocolate fudge?

• walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios, cashews
• dried fruit –  cherries, cranberries, apricots, blueberries, mango, pineapple, papaya
• crushed candy canes or mints (Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe)
• maraschino cherries (Chocolate Cherry Fudge Recipe)
• marshmallows (Marshmallow Fudge Recipe)
• nuts & marshmallows (Rocky Road Fudge)
• coconut (Coconut Fudge Recipe)
• pretzels (Pretzel Fudge Recipe)
• fresh strawberries (Chocolate Covered Strawberry Fudge Recipe)
• candy bars (Reese’s Fudge Recipe)
• toffee bits

Got more questions about making easy fudge?

• Be sure to check out our How To Make Easy Fudge FAQ page.

Easy Chocolate Fudge Recipe Video

Condensed Milk Fudge Recipe

Get a copy of our How To Make Easy Fudge cookbook. It’s filled with 60 of our best fudge recipes and includes colored pictures of every recipe. 

This silky smooth chocolate fudge is made using a simple recipe with as few as 2 ingredients. You can make it in the microwave or on the stove. 

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chocolate fudge, dark chocolate fudge, easy chocolate fudge

Servings: 16

Calories: 192 kcal

• 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped pieces or chips
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Optional ingredients

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• 1 pinch salt

1. Line an 8-inch pan with non-stick tin foil or parchment paper. See the blog post for information on using other size pans for this recipe. 

2. Combine the semi-sweet chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a microwave-safe bowl. 

3. Heat at 70% power for 90 seconds. 

4. Allow the bowl to rest in the warm microwave for 3 minutes. 

5. Remove the bowl and stir the chocolate until melted. 

6. If the chocolate does melt completely, let the bowl rest for one minute and stir again. 

7. If needed, heat 15-second increments at 70%  power, stirring after each, until melted. 

8. Alternatively you can combine the chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a medium saucepan and melt over low heat until 75% of the chocolate is melted then remove from the heat and continue to stir until melted.

9. If using, stir in the vanilla and salt. 

10. Pour the fudge into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. 

11. Allow the fudge to cool at room temperature for about 8 hours or chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 3 hours. 

12. Cut into 16 squares. 

Store the fudge in an airtight container, preferably a metal cookie tin, for up to 2 weeks. 

If you are a huge fan of chocolate and want to make some other decadent desserts be sure to check out these recipes too…

• Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake from Domestic Superhero
• Chocolate Lasagna from Amanda’s Cookin’
• One Bowl Chocolate Cake from Scratch from Rose Bakes
• Chocolate Cheesecake For Two from Glorious Treats
• Rolo Chocolate Ice Cream from Living Locurto

 Want more chocolate fudge recipe ideas?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

Rocky Road Fudge Recipe