Spread some holiday cheer with this easy recipe for Christmas Fudge. Made with layers of creamy semi-sweet chocolate, sweet white chocolate, and Christmas nonpareils, this no-bake Christmas recipe puts a festive spin on homemade microwave fudge.
Whether given as a gift at the holidays or added to a Christmas cookie tray alongside Snowball Cookies and Cut-Out Sugar Cookies, everyone will love the flavor and appearance of this easy Homemade Christmas Fudge. And you will love how easy this holiday treat is to make!
What You Need to Make Holiday Fudge
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Be sure to use full-fat sweetened condensed milk, not condensed milk, which is NOT sweetened.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips work better than milk chocolate or dark chocolate for this recipe, as they are not bitter, nor are they overly sweet.
- White Chocolate: For the best flavor, look for white chocolate that contains actual cocoa butter, not just palm oil or coconut oil. I recommend using Guittard White Baking Chips or Ghiradelli White Chocolate Baking Bar, chopped into small pieces.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract helps to enhance the overall chocolate flavor in both layers of the fudge.
- Butter: Adding a touch of unsalted butter to the fudge helps to produce the glossiest, smoothest fudge and helps to balance out the sweetness a tad bit.
- Nonpareils/Sprinkles: The addition of Christmas sprinkles makes this Christmas Fudge. Feel free to use any holiday sprinkles of your choice.
- Parchment Paper: Lining your baking dish with parchment paper will make it easy to remove your fudge from the pan once it sets up.
Recipe Modifications
- For Peppermint-Flavored Fudge, swap out the holiday sprinkles for crushed candy canes. They add just the right amount of peppermint flavor, while still letting the chocolate shine through.
- Keep it Super Simple with One Layer. Instead of layering white chocolate over semi-sweet chocolate chips, use all semi-sweet chocolate or all white chocolate. Keep in mind that the layer of white chocolate allows the festive nonpareils to pop.
- Make Fudge for ANY Holiday: Swap out the red and green Christmas nonpareils for pastel colors for Easter Fudge or black and orange colors for Halloween Fudge.
How to Make Layered Fudge
This recipe for Christmas fudge is not complicated, BUT because it is layered fudge, there are a few extra steps in this recipe as compared to my recipe for Easy Microwave Fudge. The following steps and photos are provided to help you succeed but keep in mind you will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step One: Prepare the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Layer. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of butter, and half the can of sweetened condensed milk. Once melted, stir in the vanilla extract and then pour this layer of fudge into a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Allow that mixture to chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes, or until the chocolate has set up.
Step Two: Prepare the White Chocolate Layer. Melt the white chocolate chips with the remaining butter, and sweetened condensed milk. Once melted, stir in the vanilla extract and then pour this layer of white chocolate fudge over the layer of semi-sweet fudge. Immediately sprinkle with nonpareils.
Step Three: Chill. It is best to let homemade fudge of any variety, set up for at least 2 hours, overnight is best, as it will become easier to slice after fulling chilling.
Storage Instructions
Store the holiday fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Do not freeze, as the fudge will crystalize and lose its desired texture and flavor.
More Easy Christmas Treats
- Homemade Buckeye Candy
- Saltine Cracker Toffee
- Homemade Peppermint Bark
- Christmas Tea
- Easy Christmas Bark Recipe
If you enjoyed this recipe for Christmas Fudge, please be sure to leave a review and comment below.
Christmas Fudge
Ingredients
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk divided
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract divided
- 2 tablespoons Christmas nonpareils or sprinkles
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Place the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a heat-safe medium bowl and add 1 tablespoon of butter and ¾ cup of the sweetened condensed milk (half a can). Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between each interval, until the chocolate is fully melted. Once the chocolate is melted, stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Allow that mixture to chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes, or until the chocolate has set up.
- Once the semi-sweet chocolate layer of fudge has been set up, prepare the white chocolate layer. Place the white chocolate chips in a heat-safe medium bowl and add 1 tablespoon of butter and ¾ cup of the sweetened condensed milk (the remaining amount in the can). Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between each interval, until the chocolate is fully melted. Once the chocolate is melted, stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Pour the white chocolate layer over the chocolate layer of fudge, using an offset spatula to spread if needed. Immediately sprinkle the nonpareils over the white chocolate layer.
- Cover the pan with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate until the fudge is set, 2-3 hours. I find overnight is best, in terms of flavor and firmness of the fudge.
- Once set, remove the fudge, using the parchment paper from the pan cut it into 1-inch pieces.
Sha
This is so festive and beautiful! We enjoyed this Christmas fudge. It's sweet and delightful!
Kristen Chidsey
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
Andie
This is the perfect holiday treat! I used peppermint pieces on top to add to the festive-ness and it was DELISH AND SO CUTE!
Kristen Chidsey
Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that, Andie