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Fudge is always a holiday favorite and this foolproof peanut butter fudge with marshmallow cream is quick and easy one to make. It’s rich, creamy and all about the peanut butter! Four ingredient peanut butter fudge without any special equipment!

pile of fudge squares in teal container with bite missing


Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge

During the fall and winter season I go a little fudge crazy! I can’t help it – homemade fudge is one of those treats that has endless possibilities. You can literally make any number of flavor combinations. There are also countless ways to make fudge with different ingredients that give it a rich and creamy texture. It’s one of my favorite treats to experiment with!

I’ve made peanut butter pumpkin fudge recipe, which is an amazing flavor combo for fall and I thought a pure peanut butter fudge would be great to share. I’ve been busy testing recipes, tweaking until I got it just right.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Tested several times and it works!
  • Great creamy texture
  • Not too sweet – the perfect amount!
  • It’s a holiday classic great for gifts!
ingredients in PB fudge

Ingredients in Peanut Butter Fudge

Have you heard of fantasy fudge? It’s a type of fudge made with marshmallow cream that’s been around forever. The original recipe was printed on the back of the marshmallow cream jar but now there are thousands of variations.

  • Granulated Sugar
  • Milk: use whole milk, no substitutions
  • Marshmallow Cream: also called marshmallow fluff
  • Peanut Butter: use a regular processed peanut butter like Skippy or Jif. Do not use a natural peanut butter.

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

Marshmallow cream is what gives this fudge it’s amazing creamy texture. If you’ve ever tried marshmallow cream you already know it’s light and fluffy and when you combine that with peanut butter you end up with a rich and creamy fudge!

collage of 6 photos showing how to make peanut butter fudge

How to make EASY Fudge

  • Prepare: Line an 9-in. square pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Assemble all your ingredients because this recipe goes fast.
  • Boil: Combine sugar and milk in a 3-quart saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Make sure it is at a ROLLING boil. Once it starts to boil, boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
  • Stir: Immediately stir in peanut butter and marshmallow creme until blended. Immediately spread into prepared pan; cool slightly.
  • Refrigerate: Refrigerate until firm. Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Remove foil; cut into squares.
  • Store: Store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container. It will keep for a few weeks in the refrigerator.
pile of fudge squares in teal container with fudge behind

Why this recipe works:

  • I’m so excited about this easy fudge recipe because it’s foolproof! It’s so easy to make and it works every time. 
  • Unlike other recipes, you don’t need a candy thermometer to make this fudge. No special equipment needed! You only need a saucepan and a baking dish.
  • You only need four ingredients and about 10 minutes to make it! It’s a great recipe for the holidays when you need a batch of something sweet on short notice.
  • This fudge starts to set immediately and is ready to slice after an hour in the fridge.
pile of fudge squares in teal container with fudge behind

FAQs

Why is my fudge grainy? 

Grainy fudge usually happens because the sugar has not completely dissolved into the milk. Be sure to stir well and continuously while the milk and sugar boil to ensure it fully dissolves.

How long should I boil fudge?

You need to boil this fudge for three minutes. Make sure it is at a rolling boil then set your timer.

How long does it take for fudge to set?

It depends on the recipe but this easy peanut butter fudge sets very quickly and is ready to slice after it’s chilled for an hour. In fact, as soon as you pour the mixture into the dish you will notice it will start to firm up almost immediately.

Should peanut butter fudge be refrigerated?

For this recipe, after the fudge has set, you don’t need to keep it in the refrigerator. I recommend slicing it and storing the slices in an airtight container. Separate them with wax paper and the fudge will keep well for up to a week.

Can peanut butter fudge be frozen?

This fudge can be frozen in an airtight container for up to one month.

Why didn’t my fudge set?

Chances are it didn’t set because it wasn’t cooked hot enough. It needs to stay at a continuous rolling boil for 3 minutes.

How to fix peanut butter fudge that didn’t set

You can add some powdered sugar and mix and it should help it set up. How much powdered sugar depends on how thin it is. To offset the extra sweetness, add some extra salt.

Is peanut butter fudge vegan? Is it gluten-free?

This fudge is not vegan but it is gluten-free if the marshmallow cream is gluten free – be sure to check the ingredients list.

the best peanut butter fudge

Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

4.84 from 98 votes
This is an easy FOOLPROOF recipe for peanut butter fudge with just 4 ingredients. It's fast and simple and SO creamy and good!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Yield 36 pieces
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (118ml) whole milk
  • 1 ½ cups (400g) creamy peanut butter
  • 7 ounces marshmallow creme (1 jar)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Line an 9-in. square pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Assemble all your ingredients because this recipe goes fast.
  • Combine sugar and milk in a 3-quart saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once it starts to boil, boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
  • Immediately stir in peanut butter, vanilla, and marshmallow creme until blended. Immediately spread into prepared pan; cool slightly.
  • Refrigerate until firm. Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Remove foil; cut into squares. Store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Use a regular store peanut butter, not a natural one where you have to stir it. You can use Skippy or Jif Naturals, but not a fully natural peanut butter.
  • This fudge needs to be at a rolling boil for a full 3 minutes. It will reach approximately 234°F (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer in this time. As long as the fudge is at a full boil before you start your timer you don’t have to use a candy thermometer.
  • This easy peanut butter fudge sets very quickly and is ready to slice after it’s chilled for an hour. In fact, as soon as you pour the mixture into the dish you will notice it will start to firm up almost immediately.
  • For this recipe, after the fudge has set, you don’t need to keep it in the refrigerator. I recommend slicing it and storing the slices in an airtight container. Separate them with wax paper and the fudge will keep well for up to a week.
  • This fudge can be frozen in an airtight container for up to one month.
  • This fudge cannot be made in the microwave.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Other fudge recipes for the holidays:

Fudge goes great on holiday platters with:

Make this FOOLPROOF Peanut Butter Fudge whenever the craving hits! With only 4 ingredients it takes no time at all and is a creamy soft fudge recipe.

Last Updated on March 14, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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57 Comments

  1. Thank you! I made this recipe for years at Christmas time and whenever I just wanted something sweet but I lost it! Every recipe I’ve found with marshmallow fluff calls for evaporated or sweetened condensed milk and I KNEW that I didn’t use those when making the best fudge ever. Thank you so much for sharing and giving me back my favorite fudge recipe!

  2. This peanut butter fudge was a huge hit last Christmas! Very easy to make. Will definitely make it again this Holiday season!

  3. I just made this peanutbutter fudge! Super easy I love the fact it calls for very little ingredients! Can’t wait to try it yummmm!!

  4. Mine came out gritty. Not happy. I went by the recipe, with cooking times etc. Its a great flavor, just disappointed with the grit.

    1. I’m sorry that you had trouble but for me it was a learning process. Sugar crystalizes on the sides of the pan and you can either use a wet brush or better yet just swirl the pan to get them off, otherwise they remain crystalized and end up in the fudge causing grittiness. Hope this helps.

      1. just a couple of days ago used this recipe using peanut butter chips. Works great.
        Also, this recipe is great for chocolate fudge using semi sweet chocolate chips as well..
        I mistakingly grabbed the orange extract. WOW it’s awesome.