You’ve found it! The best chocolate fudge recipe — a classic, old-fashioned, chocolate fudge made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry (no condensed milk here). I include plenty of well-tested tips for flawless fudge!
Old-Fashioned Chocolate Fudge
Chocolate fudge might just be one of my all-time favorite candy recipes.
Last year around this time I shared a week of candy, including a deliriously creamy peanut butter fudge, peanut brittle, toffee, and honeycomb (among others), but it’s been a while since I shared this decades-long, family-favorite chocolate fudge recipe. I originally shared it almost 4 years ago but thought it could use a photo facelift, some new tips, and a video.
Old-fashioned fudge is a labor of love and a treasure. It’s made with pantry-standard ingredients, this is a fudge recipe without condensed milk (not that I have a problem with easy condensed milk fudge), a fudge without marshmallow fluff.
Real old-fashioned chocolate fudge isn’t as creamy on the surface as the varieties and recipes that are more commonly available today. It gives a little bit of resistance to your tooth on that first bite and then just melts away, smooth and creamy on your tongue.
It’s not “easy” to make (is any candy?) but I swear you can taste the love and effort that goes into it. My mom makes this chocolate fudge every year for my siblings and me on Valentine’s Day and most of the tips that you see have mostly come from years of her trials and errors.
Ingredients for Chocolate Fudge
Our ingredient list is very basic:
- Whole milk.
- Granulated sugar. You’ll need 3 cups for this recipe. One of the comments I get most often when I share candy recipes is that they use “too much sugar!”. Well, that’s candy for you. It basically is flavored sugar that’s been cooked into another form.
- Light corn syrup. Not to be confused with high fructose corn syrup, which is not the same thing. I do not recommend trying to make this fudge recipe without the corn syrup.
- Unsweetened chocolate bar. It should be 100% cacao. I’ve used Baker’s chocolate and Ghirardelli and tend to prefer Ghirardelli as sometimes Baker’s chocolate leaves little specks throughout my fudge (you can see this in one of my original fudge photos that I left below. This seems to be purely an aesthetic thing, though, and the fudge tastes the same regardless of which brand I use). You’ll also only need a small bit, just 2 oz of chocolate flavors this chocolate fudge.
- Butter. I use salted here.
- Pure vanilla extract.
Key Tips for Perfect Chocolate Fudge Every Time
Fudge, like most candy recipes, is tricky and can be temperamental. Before you try to make it for the first time I highly recommend watching the video (below the recipe) and reading my tips and tricks. I know, there are a lot of tips here, but these have been collected from my mom over years and years of trial and error as well as my own tribulations with this recipe.
- Read through the recipe before beginning and have all of your ingredients measured and ready to go before beginning. Yes, my first tip is to read all of the tips!
- Don’t crank your heat up too high when bringing your mixture to a boil. Fudge takes patience. If you crank up the heat the sugar won’t have the time to melt properly and your fudge will be grainy or worse.
- When stirring, don’t scrape the sides of the bowl above the mixture line (you’ll notice sugar crystals settling there). Before the mixture comes to a boil you may use a damp pastry brush to gently wash off of the sides of the pot because the granules from the sugar can make your fudge too grainy if they fall back into the mixture.
- I recommend using room temperature butter when you add it to the fudge mixture. Perhaps it would be fine to use cold, but you don’t want to do anything to “shock” the fudge and make it drop its temperature too rapidly.
- Once you add your butter and vanilla DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES stir your mixture. Let it sit! The butter will melt as it cools, and things will look a little funky but please leave it alone until the temperature dips just below 110F, not a degree before then.
- It will take time for your temperature to drop to 110F. Like, possibly an hour. This isn’t a quick and easy fudge recipe, you need some patience.
- Once you finally dip below 110F, stir, stir, stir… but don’t stir too much. I know, this is vague, and it may take you more than one try to get a knack for this. For perfect fudge, stir until the mixture begins to lose its glossy sheen and becomes thickened, this can take several minutes. Stirring fudge can be a workout, keep going without stopping, and it’s not a bad idea to have someone else nearby ready to help you with the stirring if you’ve been skipping arm-day at the gym. Zach is usually my stirrer-on-standby.
- When stirring your fudge for the final time and pouring it into your prepared pan, don’t scrape the sides of the bowl above the mixture line — again, you want to keep any sugar crystals out of the fudge.
- High humidity is an enemy to candy making! Even the weather can affect the outcome of your chocolate fudge, and it’s best to make on a dry day.
Don’t beat yourself up if this fudge doesn’t come out right the first time. It takes practice, and it’s well-worth the effort.
Enjoy!
More Candy Recipes to Try:
- Chocolate Truffles
- Sea Foam (like Divinity, but not quite!)
- Potato Candy
- Easy Peppermint Bark
Best Chocolate Fudge
Ingredients
- 3 cups (600 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (235 ml) whole milk
- 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 2 oz (57 g) unsweetened chocolate broken into pieces (100% cocoa)
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Lightly dampen a pastry brush and set it nearby the stove.
- In a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, milk, corn syrup and chocolate over medium heat.3 cups (600 g) granulated sugar, 1 cup (235 ml) whole milk, 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup, 2 oz (57 g) unsweetened chocolate
- Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture constantly, occasionally brushing the side of the pot with the pastry brush to remove crystals that might fall into your fudge.
- Once mixture begins to boil, attach your candy thermometer to the pot (make sure the bottom of the thermometer isn't touching the bottom of the pan).
- Stir mixture occasionally until your thermometer reads 238F (soft ball stage).
- Immediately remove pan from heat and add your butter and vanilla extract. Do not stir the butter and vanilla! Allow it to set and melt3 Tablespoons salted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Leave mixture undisturbed until your candy thermometer reads 110F. This will take a long time, possibly an hour or more.
- Now, using a (clean) wooden spoon, begin to stir the mixture vigorously (be careful not to scrape the sides or you may knock sugar crystals into the fudge, causing grainy fudge) until it begins to lose its shiny sheen and thicken (It will take a good bit of stirring before the fudge is just right, your arms will get tired and it's not a bad idea to have a back-up stirrer... seriously!)
- Immediately, once the fudge begins to thicken, pour into prepared pan.
- Allow to cool completely before cutting and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
I originally published this recipe 02/04/2016. Post has been updated to include even more tips and more photos. Some of the original pictures can be seen below.
Tracy
How long will this fudge keep after it is made? Should it be stored in the fridge? Is it possible to freeze?
Sam
Hi Tracy! It doesn’t have to be refrigerated, but I personally enjoy it in the refrigerator. It should be good for about a week in an air tight container. I haven’t personally frozen it, but it should do just fine in the freezer. 🙂
briana
I’ve been looking for a fudge recipe I made with my grandma when I was younge and this one had the mist similar ingredients. so I’m super excited to try it out since I’ve been craving the nostalgia. I was wondering if I could substitute the chocolate bar with cocoa powder ( thats what I remember using) do you have a guess on how much I would use? I appreciate any help
Sam
Hi Briana! Unfortunately I have not tried it with cocoa powder so I wouldn’t be able to say how to do it. There would likely be adjustments needed to the recipe. 🙁
Amber Cox
I make this old fashioned fudge recipe every year and I love it! I do have my grandmother’s fudge recipe and it is simply sugar, cocoa, and milk/cream… that may be similar to what you remember making 🙂
Amber
I tested out this fudge to use for Christmas. The taste is great. It’s not gritty due to sugar crystals, but it has a very crumbly, firm consistency. Is it supposed to be like that?
Sam
Hi Amber! It is a more firm fudge, but if it is crumbling that usually indicates it got a tad bit too hot. I’m sure it’s still delicious, though!
Brittany
I tried making this fudge before and want to try again, but I think I might have done something wrong the first time. It tasted delicious but it crumbled a bit when we cut into it. Is this normal? If not, do you have any idea what I did wrong? Thank you for any advice you can offer and for all your amazing recipes.
Sam
Hi Brittany! When you cut it, the edges may crumble slightly, it’s a very firm fudge (not softer/stickier like my easy fudge) but should melt in your mouth once bitten into. I hope that helps!
Becky Stapley
Can you substitute half and half cream instead of whole milk? My mom (who has passed away) made delicious (old fashioned) chocolate fudge. I know she used cream. Unfortunately I don’t have her recipe.
Sam
Hi Becky! I haven’t personally tried it, but I suspect it would work. 🙂
Allegra
Hi I made the fudge this morning but after I left it until it hit to 110 degrees it got grainy how do I fix that?
Sam
I actually have a lot of tips in the post for keeping your fudge from becoming grainy. Unfortunately there’s not really a fix once you have finished it. 🙁
Andy
So I have tried to remake my grandmothers traditional fudge with a recipe that shall we say is by feel and exact measurements dont seem to be necessary but they are. your recipe is the closest to hers that I could find and look similar at the end. The only difference she adds a tablespoon of peanut butte and 3 tablespoons of fluff at the end with the butter and vanilla.. Do you think that will screw up. your recipe and would you add it and not stir as suggested for the vanilla and butter. Thanks for postin this recipe.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Andy! Without trying this ourselves, we can’t say for sure how this would turn out. It’s definitely worth a shot through! Please let us know how it works for you 😊
Debbie
I made this today and purchased the CND candy thermometer. The temp says soft ball stage 234 degrees. I cooked it to that temp and it worked out fine. Firm ball stage is 238-244 degrees. I used Lindt 100% unsweetened bar which was 50g and part of another one so 2 oz is more than you think. A whole bar plus 1/4 of another one. It did taste delicious snd it worked the first time. Thanks
Ruth
I haven’t made this yet but need to ask a question. The last recipe I made for fudge, which made the same amount called for a whole bar…all those smaller cakes, for one batch of the fudge. Does only 2 oz really make it chocolatey enough?
Sam
Hi Ruth! This will definitely be chocolatey enough as written. 🙂
Marcy
I tried the recipe out for the first fine over the weekend. I used the 9×13 pan since I didn’t have the recommended size and doubled everything. I had some technical issues making it (did end up being a bit grainy in texture—not the recipe’s fault, just issues with ingredients and equipment); however, the chocolate fudge taste was out of this world!!! And my colleagues LOVED it (some texted me later saying it was delicious and that their families thought it was bought from a bakery!). Thank you for the recipe and for answering all my questions. I am looking forward to making this again and trying out other recipes on here 🙂
Sam
You are so welcome, Marcy! I am so glad everyone enjoyed it so much! 🙂
Marcy
Hello Sam, thank you for this recipe! Definitely want to give it a try. Is it possible to make it in a 9×13 pan? If so, how do I accommodate?
Sam
Hi Marcy! Yes, my mom does this often with this recipe, actually, you’ll simply double it. Candy is tricky and it can be harder when doubled, so I don’t recommend it if it’s your first time, but it can be done, just follow the steps very carefully (and give yourself some grace if it doesn’t turn out perfectly the first time, candy and perfect fudge takes practice!).
Sarah
Can goats milk be subbed for whole milk?
Sam
Hi Sarah! I have honestly never tried it so I’m not sure how it would go. If you do try it I would love to know how it goes. 🙂
Tj
Sam, your recipes are amazing and you are so talented. I have followed you for several years and I have successfully attempted about 65% of the recipes on your site.
You are the best in the biz and I refer people to your site probably at least once a month (when they like something I make and want the recipe). 🙂
However, I’ve tried this fudge recipe on three separate occasions, following your instructions exactly, and it never works for me.
It becomes a big granulated mess that’s grittier than a Quentin Tarantino movie.
Oddly enough, the five minute fudge turns out perfectly, texture wise. But I was hoping to try and master this one, for toffee with more depth.
Also, to add; I have thorough experience with tempering and with confectionary. Your toffee and other candy recipes always go so well for me. I dunno why this one is so odd.
Sam
I’m so bummed to hear this, Tj! Especially since this is one of my family’s favorite recipes, we’ve been making it for Valentine’s Day for decades. Fudge can be fussy (my mom has served us gritty fudge more than once because it can be so finicky, didn’t stop us from eating it though 😂). I am guessing you checked out the key tips section in the recipe and the video and your candy thermometer is accurate? From your comment I would guess you probably already did and it is, but just figured I’d check since I’m not sure what else the issue could be and I’d really like to help troubleshoot this! I appreciate your feedback and your kind words and truly am bummed this one hasn’t been a winner for you!
Joan Hanson
Could cocoa be used instead of chocolate (100% cocoa).
Sam
Hi Joan! Do you mean 100% cocoa powder? If so I’m afraid the powder won’t work.
David Alexander
Hi, Joan:
Cocoa can be used to make chocolate fudge if the recipe is specifically written with cocoa instead of chocolate. I make it often and I think I prefer it.
Tina
If making with cocoa powder how much/ measurements do you use please?
Meme
I made this for christmas and when i realized how good it was i ran to find my recipe but couldn’t find it and i panicked because this was going to my traditional peanutbutter fudge for christmas from now on…i have 1 piece left and i know why…luckily when i typed in peanutbutter fudge recipe my phone saved it for me…thank you phone! This is a very good recipe and i feel the need to look no further for another one.