My sweetened condensed milk fudge recipe made in the microwave is easy! This 5-minutes version of the classic treat is a quick and simple way to make a delicious dessert for Christmas–or any time. Although the base recipe only has 2 ingredients, you can add other flavorings like vanilla extra and other mix-ins like nuts, marshmallows, or crushed candy canes to make this old-fashioned fudge super special. If you want to learn how to make this sweetened condensed milk fudge recipe for the holidays–or any day–, keep reading!
Why Sweetened Condensed Milk Fudge Is The Best
Fudge recipes come in many forms: some call for marshmallow fluff, some call for melted sugar–there are so many versions, it can be hard to choose the right one. Although flavor preferences vary, there’s no denying that in terms of ease, sweetened condensed milk fudge is the best because:
Few Ingredients – The base recipe has just 2 ingredients: a can of sweetened condensed milk and a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Easy, Fast Recipe – Using a microwave turns this into a 5-minute recipe from start to finish. Cleanup is minimal, too.
Microwave or Stovetop – Although I think most people will want to make the fudge in the microwave, the recipe is so versatile that it can be made in a pot on the stovetop, too.
Can Add Mix-Ins – I made my fudge plain, but you can add mix-ins like nuts if you want.
As you can see, the speed, ease, and simplicity of this sweetened condensed milk fudge recipe is what makes it amazing. If you need a quick chocolate treat, this is the best.
Sweetened Condensed Milk Fudge Recipe Ingredients
As previously stated, this recipe has very few ingredients. All you really need are:
Sweetened Condensed Milk – One 14 oz can. Be sure to NOT buy evaporated milk on accident.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – One 12 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips. (If the chocolate chip bags in your area are now 10 oz due to inflation, I’ll address that later in the article).
But if you want, you can also add in:
Salt – About 1/4 teaspoon would help bring out the flavor.
Vanilla extract – Although recipes vary, I would recommend 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
Although the salt and vanilla extract would be nice additions, they aren’t necessary: you can make amazing homemade fudge with literally just 2 ingredients.
Possible Mix-Ins
This simple fudge recipe is great as is, but if you want to extra more extra and flavor, try adding:
Nuts – Pecans or walnuts would be my first choice, but peanuts would be delicious, too. Try roasting the nuts first to really bring out the flavor.
Marshmallows – These would add a nice, soft texture. To keep them from melting completely, I would layer them in with the melted chocolate when pouring the fudge into the casserole dish to harden.
Crushed Candy Canes / Peppermint Candies – These fudge mix-ins will really get you into the Christmas spirit.
M&M’s – Colorful candy-coated chocolate pieces would make this fudge very eye-catching. You could even use red, green, and white M&M’s around the holidays and yellow, pink, and purple for Easter or Mother’s Day.
Shredded Coconut – Chocolate and coconut go together a lot better than most people realize.
Honestly, the mix-in possibilities are endless!
Why It’s Important To Use a High-Quality Chocolate
My Recipe Mishap on YouTube
If you watch my YouTube video (link at bottom of page), you will see that the first time I made the recipe, the chocolate chips didn’t melt completely after 2 minutes in the microwave. In all honesty, I panicked a bit, and I added heavy whipping cream in the hopes that maybe that would “thin it out.”
That didn’t work, so I used my spatula to push the unmelted chocolate pieces against the side of the bowl to try to break them up–and this actually worked! I poured the fudge into the mold and let it harden, and when I tried it, even though it was good, it wasn’t what I was expecting–I think the cream took away from the chocolate flavor.
Be Careful – Some Chocolate Is Not Made For Melting
The comments section of that YouTube video show that my subscribers had different ideas as to what could have gone wrong. I’m not quite sure, but it may have been that I used an inferior quality chocolate…or at least, a chocolate that was not intended for melting.
Some chocolate chips do not melt very easily (especially lower-priced ones with less cocoa butter, or even chemicals that deter melting). Instead, they’re intended to be used in recipes where they will stay whole, as in chocolate chip cookies or chocolate chip banana bread. If you want your fudge recipe to go smoothly, I recommend using a high-quality chocolate.
How To Make Fudge With Sweetened Condensed Milk In The Microwave
Learning how to make fudge with sweetened condensed milk in the microwave is easy! Let’s go over the steps:
Prep Ingredients and Supplies
Besides the ingredients for the sweetened condensed milk fudge, the supplies you will need are:
Microwave-safe bowl – I usually use Pirex.
Spatula – For stirring the chocolate and sweetened condensed milk as they melt together.
Spoon – For scraping the bowl.
Casserole dish or bread pan – I used a 8×8 casserole dish as a mold for the fudge, but you can use a loaf pan, too.
Plastic Wrap – Lining the mold with plastic wrap makes removal easy.
A small plate – You will need a place to put your dirty spatula as the fudge cooks in the microwave.
Keep Your Supplies Dry!
Whether you are melting chocolate in the microwave or on the stovetop, it’s important that all your utensils are as dry as possible. As explained by Yumna of FeelGoodFoodie.com in her article on how to melt chocolate, small drops of water can make melting chocolate seize, turning it grainy and lumpy.
Prep The Mold Before You Begin The Recipe
This sweetened condensed milk fudge recipe is fast and easy. This recipes moves quickly, so just like when making rice krispie treats, I highly recommend getting the mold ready by putting the plastic wrap into the casserole dish or bread pan before you start.
By making sure the mold is ready to go, you can pour the hot fudge into the dish while it’s still liquid. Once this fudge has a few minutes to cool down, it starts to harden up and gets a lot harder to work with.
Add Ingredients To A Microwave-Safe Bowl
Once you have your supplies and prepared the mold, pour the sweetened condensed milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips into the microwave-safe bowl and mix to combine. It adding salt, you can add that now, too.
However, I would not add the vanilla extract until you are done cooking the fudge in the microwave so that you don’t accidentally burn off the alcohol. I would also wait to add any mix-ins like nuts or marshmallows, too.
Microwave In 30-Second Increments
When the chocolate chips and condensed milk are thoroughly combined, place the bowl in the microwave–uncovered–and cook on HIGH for 30-increments for a total of 2 minutes, stirring after each 30-second increment.
Although it may be tempting, I recommend NOT cleaning the spatula while the chocolate is melting in the microwave–as stated earlier, you don’t want a bit of water to cause the chocolate to seize. Just place the spatula on a clean plate or on wax paper in between the microwave increments.
After a total of 2 minutes in the microwave, the semi-sweet chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk should be melted together. Stir it one last time to make sure all the chocolate is fully melted. See, that was quick and easy!
Add Vanilla Extract
If you want to add vanilla–or any other extract–go ahead and add it now that the fudge is out of the microwave.
Add Mix-Ins
Now that everything is melted together, you can add your mix-ins. If you’re adding marshmallows and you’re concerned about them melting into the fudge, you could layer them into the fudge in the mold.
First, sprinkle a few marshmallows into the prepared mold, then pour in some of the fudge to make a thin layer over the marshmallows. Sprinkle in a few more marshmallows, then pour in more fudge, and repeat. By keeping the marshmallows out of the hot bowl, you decrease the chance that they’ll melt completely.
Pour The Fudge Into A Mold
With the 8×8 casserole dish already lined with plastic wrap, I simply poured it into the mold. I used a spoon to scrape out any chocolate left in the bowl and the spatula to help level out the fudge in the dish. After a quick shake to really even everything out, it was ready to go.
Let The Sweetened Condensed Milk Fudge Harden
First, I let the fudge cool down on the counter for about 30 minutes so as not to shock my refrigerator. Then, I placed the dish in the refrigerator–uncovered–and let it harden.
Serve
Serving this fudge is easy. Simply grab the plastic wrap and lift it out of the mold so you can cut it easily. If you make this sweetened condensed milk fudge for the holidays, be sure to serve with Christmas cookies!
How Long Does It Take Sweetened Condensed Milk Fudge To Set?
If I remember correctly, from the time I poured the fudge into the mold to the time I served it, I think it took about 4 hours to set completely. If you’re making this for Christmas Eve, I would recommend making it in the morning.
How Many Pieces of Fudge Does This Recipe Make?
Although it depends on how big you cut the pieces, I would count on this recipe making 32 good servings. With each portion being about 3 bites, most people will be satisfied.
Chocolate Chip Bags Are Now 10 oz – Can I Still Make This Fudge?
Yes, you can! A lot of my older recipes call for 12 oz bags of chocolate chips, but now I think 10 oz bags are becoming more common. If you don’t realize you have a smaller bag until you’re about to make the recipe, you have two options:
Accept 2 fewer ounces – Honestly, I don’t think the recipe will be ruined if you use 2 fewer ounces of chocolate chips.
Add 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder – When adding all the ingredients to the microwave-safe bowl before melting the chocolate, add 1 Tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. This extra chocolate will help account for having fewer chocolate chips.
Can I Make Sweetened Condensed Milk Fudge With Milk Chocolate Chips?
Yes, you can! If you really like milk chocolate, or if that’s what you have on hand / is on sale, I definitely think you could make this fudge with milk chocolate chips. However, it may be too sweet for some people, so (personally) I would still recommend using semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips.
Can You Make Sweetened Condensed Milk On The Stovetop?
Yes! What’s great about this recipe is that you don’t need to do anything special to make sweetened condensed milk fudge on the stovetop (no double boiler). Simply pour the chocolate chips and condensed milk into a pot and cook on medium heat until the chocolate is melted, stirring constantly.
After you turn off the heat, add in your vanilla and other mix-ins (if using). As you can see, the stovetop and microwave versions of this recipe are extremely similar.
Does Sweetened Condensed Milk Fudge Need To Be Refrigerated?
No! Although putting your fudge in the refrigerator helps the hardening process, it should not be stored in the refrigerator for any longer than overnight.
According to a TrioFudge.com article, storing fudge in the refrigerator can dry it out faster and make it pick up other scents and flavors from other foods in the refrigerator. That is why it’s best to store your fudge at room temperature.
Wrap it in wax paper, parchment paper, or even aluminum foil, and store in a cool, dry place. It’s also best to avoid direct sunlight. Even though sweetened condensed milk fudge contains dairy, the sugar in the condensed milk and chocolate chip acts as a preservative, so the fudge is perfectly fine stored at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.
Can You Freeze Fudge?
Yes! Simply cut the fudge into single servings, wrap the portions in plastic wrap or wax paper, and freeze. The fudge should maintain its quality for 2-3 months, if not longer.
How Long Does Condensed Milk Fudge Last?
This sweetened condensed milk fudge is so good, it probably won’t last very long, haha. However, if there is some left over, it should last:
At Room Temperature – 1-2 weeks
In The Refrigerator – 3-4 weeks (but once again, storing fudge in the refrigerator is not ideal)
In The Freezer – 2-3 months, if not longer
My Chocolate Chips Aren’t Melting – Help!
If you find that your chocolate chips aren’t melting, possible reasons why include:
Your microwave isn’t hot enough – Maybe your microwave as a different wattage, or you are using the MEDIUM setting instead of HIGH. If your chips still aren’t melted after 2 minutes, continue heating the condensed milk and chocolate chips in 30-second increments until they are melted together.
Your chocolate isn’t made for melting – As previously stated, some chocolate (especially lower-priced versions) have ingredients to make it heat-resistant so that it holds it shape when exposed to high heat. If your chocolate is being stubborn, do what I did in the video: brush the chips up against the side.
Why Is My Condensed Milk Fudge Grainy?
If your fudge is lumpy or grainy, the reason why could be that:
Water droplets entered the bowl – Be sure that all your supplies are clean before making the fudge.
Too much stirring while cooling – Stirring while fudge is in the cooling phase increases the likelihood that seed crystals will form early in the hardening process. That’s why letting fudge cool without stirring is important. So, once your chocolate chips and condensed milk are combined, don’t stir too much.
A Chef’s Review
My sweetened condensed milk fudge recipe made in the microwave was a huge success! It was fast, easy, and tasted delicious. Although I did have a slight mishap the first time I made the recipe, I learned the important of using a high-quality chocolate. But if I hadn’t panicked and added cream–and just brushed the unmelted chips against the side of the bowl–the first patch would probably have been OK.
If you’re looking for an easy fudge recipe for Christmas–or any time–this is it. Honestly, it doesn’t get any easier unless someone does it for you. However, even though it was very good, I still prefer marshmallow fluff fudge–but that’s just my opinion.
That being said, this recipe is definitely a winner–so I hope you give it a try!
Possible Changes To The Recipe
Although this recipe turned out great, some possible changes I’d like to make are:
Vanilla extract – I’m curious how this would change things
Add mix-ins – Nuts or marshmallows would be great.
Other Fudge Recipes
If you like this recipe, here are some other easy fudge recipe to check out:
Peanut Butter Fudge with Sweetened Condensed Milk – You only need 3 ingredients to make this.
Other Christmas Recipes
Be sure to check out my other holiday recipes such as:
Eggnog Cake with Box Mix – Cream cheese frosting, cinnamon, nutmeg make this cake amazing.
Sweetened Condensed Milk Fudge Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (340g)*
- *I have noticed that some chocolate chip bags are now 10 oz. I think that you can still make this recipe with 10 oz of chocolate chips, but if you want to add a bit more chocolate to the recipe, add 1 Tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to the bowl before microwaving.
- Optional:
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Any mix-ins (nuts, marshmallows, etc.)
Instructions
- Clean and dry the bowl, spatula, and other supplies. It is very important that everything is completely dry.
- Prep the mold by placing plastic wrap in a 8×8 casserole dish.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips (and salt if using) to the microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave on HIGH for 30-second increments for a total of 2 minutes. Stir the mixture after each increment.
- Once the chocolate chips and condensed milk are melted together, stir in the vanilla and other mix-ins (if using), then pour the mixture into the prepared mold.
- Let the fudge cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then place it in the refrigerator, uncovered, for 4 hours to set firmly.
- Once the fudge has hardened, cut and serve.
- To store for best results, wrap in wax paper, parchment paper, or aluminum foil and place in a steal container at room temperature out of direct sunlight. The fudge should be good for 1-2 weeks.
YouTube Video:
Be sure to watch my YouTube video tutorial:
FYI:
Typo in Step 3.
“is using” instead of “if using.”
Thanks for catching that–I just fixed it!