White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (2024)

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Whether you’re looking for a fun holiday gift or just a way to treat your family, this white chocolate peppermint fudge recipe is a classic.

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (1)

I was so surprised to read that it's believed fudge originated from Baltimore, Maryland!

I may be a Florida girl now, but I'm originally from the Old Line State. I still make Maryland crab dip and Old Bay crab cakes, both recipes from my home state, and both delicious!

This fudge is rich and creamy, but with the refreshing taste of mint. It is one of those dishes that feels like it should be complicated, but it really is an easy recipe for the holiday season.

The red and white colors are ideal for the winter months, making this a great homemade Christmas gift for family or friends.

The only problem is that this festive fudge tastes so good it may be hard to give it away! You’ll want to make extra to get through the holiday months.

If you also love all things peppermint this time of year, be sure to check out these Christmas Peppermint Brownies, Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies, and these to die for Peppermint Mocha Cookies.

Jump to:
  • 🖤 Why We Love this Recipe
  • 🛒 What Goes Into This Fudge
  • How to Make White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
  • 📖 Variations
  • FAQs
  • 💭 Top Tips
  • More Sweet Holiday Treats
  • White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe

🖤 Why We Love this Recipe

This white chocolate fudge recipe takes only a few ingredients and minimal prep time. That can be your little secret, though, because it is so rich and luxurious that everyone will think you spent a lot of time on this homemade fudge.

All of the ingredients are easy to obtain at your local grocery store. For some added gift-giving pizazz, pick up some holiday-themed boxes to give slices of fudge away.

Most of the time needed for this recipe is just chilling it in the fridge. Just mix this up and then write out those holiday cards or wrap some gifts while you wait. Yay for multi-tasking during this busy time of year!

🛒 What Goes Into This Fudge

Creamy, sweet, and minty, there are not a lot of ingredients needed to whip up this white chocolate peppermint fudge recipe.

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (2)

Key Ingredients

White chocolate chips. It wouldn’t be fudge without a chocolaty base. In this case, it’s white chocolate chips that provide that creamy fudge starter.

Sweetened condensed milk. To make your white chocolate fudge even more creamy, sweetened condensed milk is a must. Without it, basically you’re just making a chocolate bar.

Mint extract and candies. It would be impossible to have minty fudge without the mint. The peppermint flavor comes from both mint extract and peppermint candies.

See recipe card for quantities and full directions.

How to Make White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

With only a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, it doesn’t get much easier than this fudge recipe!

Step 1: Prepare an 8x8 inch square baking dish by lining it with parchment paper, and set aside.

Step 2: Add the condensed milk to the chocolate chips in a glass bowl.

Step 3: Heat the sweetened condensed milk and white chocolate chips in the glass bowl over water in a double boiler over medium heat until they start to melt.

You can also do this in a regular pan with just a few inches of water covering the bottom of the bowl.

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Step 4: Fold in half of the crushed mints or crushed candy canes, peppermint extract, and salt. Stir until combined.

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (5)

Step 5: Scoop the mixture into the prepared pan. Use a rubber spatula to make sure the fudge is even and smooth.

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (6)

Step 6: Sprinkle the rest of the crushed mint candy pieces on top of the fudge.

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Step 7: Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set (about 1 hour). Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (8)

📖 Variations

Any of these variations would make a great holiday gift!

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Fudge. Love the richness of dark chocolate when it mixes with the chill of peppermint? Simply swap out the white chocolate chips for dark chocolate ones and keep everything else the same.

Rocky Road Marshmallow Fudge. Prepare the fudge as above, but omit the mint extract and peppermint candies and swap the white chocolate chips for milk chocolate chips.

Once the fudge is put into the pan, but before it sets, swirl in a half a cup of marshmallow creme. Top with mini marshmallows and a few more chocolate chips, and then chill until set.

Mint Oreo Fudge. Instead of topping with crushed peppermint candies, use crumbled mint Oreo cookies on top. They add a great texture and a wonderful chocolate-mint flavor.

Cranberry Bliss Fudge. Replace the mint extract with orange extract, and stir in ½ cup of dried, sweetened cranberries instead of the crushed mint candies. Top with chopped walnuts or pecans before chilling.This is another one that's perfect for holiday parties!

FAQs

Can you melt the chocolate in the microwave instead of a double boiler?

If you’re not a fan of cooking fudge on the stove top, you can make it in the microwave. Simply put the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on high for 60 seconds. Stir and microwave in 30-second intervals until melted, and then blend in the sweetened condensed milk, mint extract, and salt.

How long will the fudge keep?

When kept at room temperature, fudge will last around 2 to 3 weeks. Putting fudge in the fridge will actually remove moisture from it, making it dry and crumbly.

Do you need a candy thermometer for making fudge?

Some fudge recipes do call for a candy thermometer to monitor the tempering of the fudge. Generally, those recipes use butter and sugar. Because this recipe uses sweetened condensed milk, there’s no need to carefully monitor the temperature with a candy thermometer! One less thing!

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (9)

💭 Top Tips

Keep a close eye on the chocolate while you are melting it. If you’re using a double boiler method, make sure that you have enough water in the bottom of your double boiler so that it doesn’t boil off.

Also, keep an eye on the chocolate to make sure that it melts but doesn’t burn. If you feel it starting to stick to the pan, remove it from the heat.

Don’t have an actual double boiler? Use a fondue pot! If you have a fondue pot lying around, it is a great way to slowly melt the chocolate without the setup of a double boiler.

Add colorful swirls for a festive look. Want to make your fudge even more festive? Once it's in the baking pan, but before you chill it, drip a couple drops of food coloring on the top of the fudge. Use a knife to gently swirl the food coloring into the fudge, leaving ribbons of color throughout.

This fudge makes such a nice way to say thank you to those who serve us all year long, like our mail delivery person, trash pick up, and people we hire throughout the year. We love food gifts for Christmas!

I'd love to know what you think of this easy white chocolate peppermint fudge. If you make it, please give it a rating. Thank you!

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (10)

More Sweet Holiday Treats

  • Christmas Donuts Recipe
  • 33 Christmas Desserts Recipes
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  • No Bake Cookie Dough Balls Recipe

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (15)

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe

This delicious recipe for White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge makes a creamy and festive dessert that’s perfect for Christmas!

5 from 2 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Chill time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 20 pieces

Calories: 254kcal

Author: Kelly Stilwell

Ingredients

  • 2 12 oz. bags of white chocolate chips
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • ¼ teaspoon Peppermint extract
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • 25 starlight mints crushed

Instructions

  • Prepare an 8x8 inch square baking dish by lining it with parchment paper, and set aside.

  • Heat the sweetened condensed milk and white chocolate chips in a double boiler over medium heat until they start to melt.

  • Fold in half of the crushed mints or crushed candy canes, peppermint extract, and salt. Stir until combined.

  • Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Use a rubber spatula to make sure the fudge is even and smooth.

  • Sprinkle the rest of the crushed mints on top of the fudge.

  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set (about 1 hour). Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Notes

Keep a close eye on the chocolate while you are melting it. If you’re using a double boiler method, make sure that you have enough water in the bottom of your double boiler so that it doesn’t boil off.

Also, keep an eye on the chocolate to make sure that it melts but doesn’t burn. If you feel it starting to stick to the pan, remove it from the heat.

Don’t have an actual double boiler? Use a fondue pot! If you have a fondue pot lying around, it is a great way to slowly melt the chocolate without the setup of a double boiler.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 86mg | Potassium: 171mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @kastilwell or tag #FFFP!

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

Why is my white chocolate fudge not setting? ›

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).

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 you know when fudge is beaten enough? ›

After letting the fudge cool, it's time to beat it. It is important to stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to thicken and its surface starts to look dull or matte. Now is the time to stop beating and pour the fudge into a mould.

What not to do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

Is evaporated milk or condensed milk better for fudge? ›

The sweetened condended milk is needed as no extra sugar is added to the fudge. If evaporated milk were used then the fudge would not be sweet enough and also would still be too soft unless the fudge is frozen.

What to do with failed fudge? ›

OPTION 1) Depending on how runny it is, you can either use it as a frosting for cakes, or a sauce for ice-cream. OPTION 2) Freeze it overnight. Cut it into squares. Cover each square thickly in melted chocolate, ensuring no part of the fudge is exposed.

Can you fix fudge that didn't set? ›

Solutions to Save Your Fudge:

You can start by gently reheating it and boiling or cooking it again, aiming to reach the correct temperature.

What is the difference between white chocolate and white fudge? ›

Chocolate uses elements of the cacao bean; even in creating white chocolate, cocoa butter from the cacao bean is the main ingredient. Fudge, however, is a confection made both with and without cocoa or other chocolate elements. You can substitute vanilla or peanut butter, for example, for the chocolate.

How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›

How long does it take to make fudge:
  1. about 18 min to reach boiling.
  2. about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
  3. 60 minutes to cool.
  4. 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
  5. 4 hours to set.

Why did my fudge turn out like taffy? ›

If the fudge is very soft and slightly chewy then it is possible that it did not quite cook to soft ball stage and next time the mixture should be cooked to a slightly higher temperature (soft ball is 112-116c/235-240F and a sugar or candy thermometer can help).

What went wrong with my fudge? ›

If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature.

Do you stir fudge when it's boiling? ›

Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer

Another key part of a successful fudge texture is when you stir the mixture. Stirring the sugar and milk during the initial stages of cooking allows the sugar to dissolve. However, once the mixture comes to a boil, it's time to put the spoon down.

What is the best pan to make fudge in? ›

Secondly, the pot's material should allow for good heat distribution hence your top choice should be copper cookware or a pot with a copper core. Copper's exceptional heat conductivity offers unparalleled temperature control, an asset when working with finicky ingredients like sugar.

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!

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