This is one of my favorite fudge recipes - chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and nougat - homemade Snickers fudge!
My favorite Snickers fudge recipe! A delicious Christmas treat!
This is my kind of fudge! Many traditional, plain fudge recipes are too chocolaty and rich for me. I know, I know, for many of you that is a good thing. But fudge with a caramel layer? Yes, please! These delightful, layered treats are like a rich, homemade Snickers candy bar.
The amount of peanut butter flavor can be adjusted according to taste. I prefer to either omit or add just 1 tablespoon of the peanut butter in the nougat layer. It is definitely delicious either way though!
I recommend using high quality and delicious chocolate chips for this recipe. My favorite milk chocolate chips are Guittard. They usually go on sale sometime during the holiday baking season at one of my local grocery stores.
This recipe is all about layering on the deliciousness. Each simple layer sets up in the freezer while you prepare the next layer. You will want to keep the fudge cold or it will start to “melt.” When I give these treats to neighbors and friends, I make a little note letting them know to keep it refrigerated.
While it may look complicated with the 4 layers, it is actually still pretty simple. The chocolate layers only take about 2 minutes to prepare and the caramel layer is only as long as it takes the caramel to melt. The nougat layer is where most of the ingredients come into play, but it takes less than 10 minutes still.
Gather up your ingredients and supplies, including a spatula for spreading the layers, and make space in your freezer!
Speaking of the freezer, one of the perks of this Snickers fudge is that you can make it in advance and just keep it in the freezer for up to a week, maybe longer. Then just remove from the freezer about 10 or 15 minutes before serving.
You might also like this easy Reese’s fudge recipe.
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Snickers Fudge Recipe
This is one of my favorite fudge recipes - chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and nougat - homemade Snickers fudge!
Print Rate
Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
Serves: 80
Adjust Servings: 80
Ingredients
2nd Layer - Nougat:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup evaporated milk
- 1 ½ cups marshmallow creme about 7 ounces
- 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter depending on preference (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup salted peanuts chopped
Instructions
Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, combine chocolate chips and peanut butter. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Microwave again for 30 seconds and stir until creamy and smooth. You may need to repeat microwaving one more time. Pour the chocolate mixture in an even layer into the bottom of the prepared pan. Place pan in freezer.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the sugar and evaporated milk and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately stir in marshmallow crème, peanut butter (if adding), and vanilla. Add peanuts and stir until incorporated. Pour mixture over the chocolate layer from the freezer and spread evenly. Place back in freezer.
Add the caramels and evaporated milk to a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until caramel is melted and smooth. Remove pan from freezer and pour caramel over the second layer. Place back in freezer.
In a small bowl, combine chocolate chips and peanut butter. Repeat microwaving intervals used for the first layer. Stir until creamy and pour in an even layer onto the top.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or freeze for 30 minutes, before serving. Lift the parchment paper and fudge out of the pan and cut the fudge into small squares when ready to serve. Keep refrigerated or frozen.
Nutrition
Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g
Recipe Adapted From: Pip and Ebby
FAQs
Why won't my 3 ingredient fudge set? This often happens when the condensed milk and chocolate chip mixture isn't hot enough to start.
What is the secret to perfect fudge? ›
Valuable tips for successful fudge
- Don't stir during cooking. Fudge can be cooked on the stove or in the microwave. ...
- Avoid crystallization. During cooking, sugar crystals can stick to the sides of the pan. ...
- Let cool before beating. After being cooked, the sugar must crystallize again to create fudge. ...
- Beat the mixture.
The most common culprit behind unset fudge is inaccurate temperature control. If the sugar mixture hasn't reached the correct temperature, your fudge won't set. Ensure you use a reliable candy thermometer and follow temperature guidelines meticulously to achieve the desired consistency.
What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›
Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.
How do I get my fudge to harden? ›
Fudge Didn't Set
If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).
Can you reboil fudge that hasn't set? ›
If it doesn't set, or if it sets very hard, you can add more milk and boil it again. However, even if it doesn't set, it'll usually be a nice frosting-like consistency, so I sometimes just make a cake to put under it.
Should you stir fudge while it's cooking? ›
Don't stir!
Once the fudge reaches soft-ball stage on the candy thermometer, remove from the heat and let the temperature drop to 110°F. Keep that spoon or spatula out of the pot until this happens. If you stir too early in the process, you'll make the sugar crystals too big and end up with grainy fudge.
What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›
Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!
What to do with failed fudge? ›
My advice to you is to just pour it in a jar, call it something else delicious, and pretend you meant for it to be that way. The nice thing about my “failed” fudge is that it tastes absolutely delicious! A spoonful of the delectable treat will make you want for more.
Can you fix unset fudge? ›
OPTION 3) Sieve together some powdered sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually work this into your unset fudge until it reaches the consistency of dough, then roll out and cut into squares, or shape into balls and then roll in powdered sugar (roll the balls in icing sugar, not yourself).
The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.
Why is fudge so hard to make? ›
Making fudge can be a challenging endeavor, requiring precision and attention to detail to achieve the perfect texture and consistency. The process of making fudge involves a delicate balance of cooking, cooling, and beating, and the smallest mistake can result in fudge that is too soft or too hard.
How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›
How long does it take to make fudge:
- about 18 min to reach boiling.
- about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
- 60 minutes to cool.
- 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
- 4 hours to set.
Using a clean spoon, carefully take a little of the syrup and drop it into the bowl of cold water. Leave to cool for a moment then pick up the ball of syrup. If it's pliable, sticky and can be moulded in your fingers easily, it has reached the soft ball stage and the syrup can be used to make fudge and marzipan.
What happens if you cook fudge too long? ›
Too cooked
The result is hard and brittle fudge. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 45 to 60 ml (3 or 4 tbsp.) of 35% cream and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely melted. Then let it boil without stirring until the thermometer reaches 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).
Why is my fudge falling apart? ›
Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard. High-quality fudge has many small crystals. If the process of crystallization begins too early, fewer crystals form and they become much larger.
Can you put fudge in the fridge to set? ›
Let the fudge rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before placing in the refrigerator, uncovered. Refrigerate until the fudge is firm, about 2-3 hours (or overnight), before slicing and serving.
Why is some fudge hard and some soft? ›
If you don't heat your fudge to a high enough temperature, you'll end up with a soft product. And if you heat the mixture too much, your fudge may be harder than you'd like.
How long does it take for fudge to fully set? ›
Proper fudge will set after sitting at room temperature for about 4 hours. Understand that cooking the fudge properly is the skirmish before the war. The real test of your mettle will occur when you beat the fudge, and learn to master the fine art of turning and pouring. And if it doesn't work out it's okay!
