Peppermint bark fudge — An easy no-bake fudge that can be made with condensed milk and without a candy thermometer. An easy, few-ingredient recipe that makes a great edible Christmas gift.
Is it just me or is this month going by way, way too fast? Like, 1 million mph fast?
I have been absolutely buried beneath all of the holiday recipes that I’ve been testing and photographing and can’t believe that I have less than two weeks to share them with you. I also just realized that this means less than two weeks to finish Christmas shopping… ugh suddenly I feel dizzy.
Unfortunately, nobody really seems to care about Gingerbread Men, Christmas tree sugar cookies, or even Peppermint Bark Fudge once the clock strikes midnight after Christmas, so I’m in a mad-dash to get everything out now! With all of the holiday baking + making videos for my Facebook page (you can see that video just before the recipe in this post!) and my brand new YouTube channel, there has not been a lot of sleep happening around here, so please pardon any typos today!
Alright, enough about my lack of sleep and lack of Christmas shopping, let’s get into the fudge.
This peppermint bark fudge is possibly the simplest fudge you could make this season. With just 4 key ingredients (OK, 6 if you count the extracts) — white chocolate, dark chocolate, condensed milk and candy canes, there’s no candy thermometer needed and it takes just 15 minutes to prepare.
I chose to make this fudge on the stove top, but it could also be made in the microwave (just microwave condensed milk & chocolate at 30 second intervals, stirring well in-between until chocolate is fully melted, then stir in your crushed peppermint/extracts as indicated).
During this time of year when oven space is such a hot commodity, it’s nice to have a dessert that doesn’t require any preheating.
Easy, fun, and festive. ✔
The best news is that if you’re behind on your Christmas shopping, this peppermint bark fudge makes a great edible and easy-to-make Christmas gift!
Enjoy!
Peppermint Bark Fudge
Ingredients
- 1 14 oz can (396 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (175 g) dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup (175 g) premium white chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract optional
- ⅓ cup (75 g) crushed candy canes divided. About 5 regular-sized candy canes, crushed
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 square pan with aluminum foil and lightly butter the sides and bottom of the foil. Set aside.
- Divide condensed milk equally into two separate small/medium saucepans (just over ½ cup in each pan).1 14 oz can (396 g) sweetened condensed milk
- Add dark chocolate chips to one pan and white chocolate chips to the other.1 cup (175 g) dark chocolate chips, 1 cup (175 g) premium white chocolate chips
- Melt chocolate chips over medium heat, stirring constantly until completely melted.
- Once chocolate has melted, remove dark chocolate mixture from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Immediately spread evenly into prepared pan.½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Once white chocolate has melted, remove from heat and stir in mint extract, if using. Stir in ¼ cup (50g) crushed peppermint pieces and immediately spread evenly over chocolate layer.¼ teaspoon peppermint extract, ⅓ cup (75 g) crushed candy canes
- Immediately sprinkle with remaining crushed peppermint pieces.
- Allow fudge to harden completely before slicing and serving (about 4-6 hours at room temperature, or about 1-2 hours in refrigerator).
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.
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I originally published this recipe for Peppermint Bark Fudge on 11/21/2016. Text updated 12/13/2017
Melissa
I just made this recipe today and everyone loved it, even the child who doesn’t like chocolate. He said the peppermint flavor covered up the chocolate flavor. I didn’t have any dark chocolate or candy canes so I substituted them for milk chocolate chips and those Star Brite Peppermint candies. I hammered them with a mallet in a ziplock bag. I do not recommend using those little mints as I’ve discovered they are as hard as concrete. Candy canes are much easier to break. I left out the peppermint extract (also because I didn’t have any), but the fudge turned out great regardless. Thanks for the recipe!
Diana Lewis
Hi, Should the dark chocolate layer be cooled before pouring on the vanilla layer? In the pictures your two layers are definitely separated, and I don’t want my layers to mix together.
Sam
Hi Diana! It’s actually better if the bottom layer does not cool too much. They could end up separating.
Melissa
Instead of melting the two chocolates simultaneously in different pots, I did one after another, and it turned out fine. When the chocolate is melted with the sweetened condensed milk it has a very thick consistency which won’t allow for the two layers to blend with each other unless you intentionally stir it or slide a knife through it, which would actually give it a fancy swirly look. Just make sure you pour the peppermint bits onto the white chocolate layer before it cools, otherwise the candy won’t stick to it.
E Brady
Best fudge EVER!! Creamy & not sickening sweet!
Michelle
I made the fudge and it looked great. I packaged them into little boxes to give as gifts but the next day the fudge looked wet and the candy canes had melted. What would have caused this?
Sam
I’m so sorry to hear this, Michelle! If the candy canes are put on when it’s too warm they’ll melt, or if they are put in the refrigerator it can also cause issues.
Lisa
you answered Sam if put in refrigerator it can cause issues,but in your recipe it say put in refrigerator for two hours?
Sam
Hi Lisa! It can be refrigerated, but the refrigerator can cause weeping of the candy canes. Just something to be aware of. 🙂
Jennifer
Do you use melting chips or a cookie chip?
Sam
Hi Jennifer! I just use dark chocolate chips here although you could use melting wafers if you choose. 🙂
Wendy
This looks so good I n want to make it and try it..
Wendy
can you use Milk chocolate chips.?.
Sam
Yup!
PUl
Could you use white bark instead of white chocolate chips?
Sam
I haven’t tried it, but I think it could work. 🙂
Edwina
Sounds very delicious, especially since my favorite candy during the Christmas Season is Peppermint bark. I can’t wait to try it. Only problem is, I really don’t like the taste of dark chocolate. Could I use semi-sweet instead or do you have a suggestion of another chocolate??
Sam
Hi Edwina! You could absolutely use semisweet or even milk chocolate here instead if you prefer the flavor. Enjoy! 🙂