Need a quick treat to take to a Christmas party, or a last-minute gift for a neighbor? Make this easy fudge recipe in five minutes. You can dress it up by adding mix-ins, or keep it simple with only two ingredients. No one will know how easy it was to make!
Thanksgiving is over, and the Christmas carols are on. It’s officially Christmas around here!
Okay, it actually doesn’t really feel like Christmas to me right now because I’m writing this from a condo in Hawaii listening to the waves lapping against the shore (I know, I’m super spoiled). Still, I know that when I go home to snowy Utah in 3 days, I’m going to get into full celebrate-the-season mode.
I have one main goal for Christmas this year: KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Am I the only one who feels like Christmas has the ability to switch really quickly from a wonderful, Christ-centered holiday full of family and fun to an over-commercialized, crazy-busy madhouse? This year, I’m trying to guard against that. I’m trying to streamline my gift-giving. I’m trying to limit my commitments outside my home. Mostly, I’m just trying to remember what is most important and make decisions accordingly.
That’s where today’s recipe comes in. It’s the easiest Christmas treat you can possibly make. It would make a great contribution to a cookie/candy exchange, a Christmas potluck party, or a gift for a friend/neighbor/teacher/bus driver/whoever.
Fudge.
Often, people think of fudge as a time-consuming, messy, fussy dessert, but this version takes less than five minutes and only two ingredients (unless you decide to add in extra mix-ins, which is fun and still easy).
I learned how to make it from my mom when I was a little girl. Because it’s so simple, it’s a great recipe to let kids help with in the kitchen!
Beware though, if your kids are anything like mine, they will want to lick the spoon, and the bowl, and have a chunk (or five) of fudge when it’s done. The good news is that you can cut it into really small pieces so you don’t completely sugar-overload them.
So, this season, choose to simplify. Spend time making memories, not rushing around like a crazy person (take it from a trying-to-change crazy person). Hopefully this easy fudge recipe will save you a bit of time and help you enjoy your family just a little more. Merry Christmas!
Five-minute easy fudge recipe
This super easy fudge recipe comes together in five minutes, but no one will ever guess how easy it was to make! Dress it up by adding mix-ins, or keep it simple with only two basic ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz.) bag chocolate chips (get the good kind)
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- Optional mix-ins (see note)
Instructions
- Combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave on high (does anybody ever really use any other setting?) for one minute, and stir.
- Continue microwaving in 30 second intervals, stirring between each time, until everything is nice and melty. When it stirs together nicely and looks uniform, it’s done! (Mine only took about 1 minute and 30 seconds.)
- Pour in a greased (or parchment-lined) 8×8 pan, and refrigerate for one hour.
- Remove from pan (if you leave some extra parchment sticking up, it pops right out), and cut into squares for serving.
Notes
The basic recipe has only two ingredients, but the options are limitless with mix-ins.
Variations:
Rocky road – mix in mini marshmallows and chopped pecans/walnuts.
Peppermint – sprinkle crushed candy canes on top
Other ideas: coconut, macadamia nut, pistachio, sprinkles, sea salt, chopped candied cherries.
You can also experiment with adding various flavorings (extracts) to the fudge. Try mint, almond, orange, or cherry.
Source: My wonderful mom (I'm pretty sure she got it off the back of a can of sweetened condensed milk ages ago.)
See, the possibilities really are endless. Any way you make it, it’s a quick and easy treat.
Enjoy!
Want more simple Christmas ideas? Try these:
I am definitely going to make these! My husband has been asking me when I’m going to start the Christmas baking, and honestly most of the ones that he wants are a lot of work! This one is so simple, I would add the nuts though, I love any chocolate with nuts in there!
I love nuts, too. My favorite version is the rocky road with nuts and marshmallows.
This looks amazing! I need to try it. My son is allergic to nuts, but I think he’d love the marshmallows added in! 🙂
That’s the great thing about this recipe…it’s super adaptable to whatever mix-ins you want to use. Make it with just marshmallows and call it “snowball surprise fudge” or something like that if you want to be fancy. 🙂 Enjoy!
Not gonna lie, I had no idea it was that easy to make fudge! That rocky road version looks amazing, I am going to pin this for later!
There are lots of more complicated recipes, but I think this one is super yummy and I probably won’t ever be bothered to make another kind…at least not while I have little kids around. 🙂
I love how quick and easy this is. It still looks just as amazing as the recipes that take forever too!
I’m all about getting a big return for very little effort. 🙂 Enjoy, Jehava!
This looks so yummy! And I LOVE how few steps it takes to make! 🙂
It’s the ultimate quick and easy dessert. Enjoy!
Wow! That is really easy. Definitely making this!
I think my mom has the same recipe (also gotten from the back of a sweetened condensed milk can! I love how easy this is!
Hooray for moms who appreciate the simple recipes!
That does seem super easy! I have a knack for ruining easy things though…but I think I’ll give it a try!
I hope you have success, Leighann! The only trick is making sure you don’t microwave it TOO long and burn the chocolate. Good luck!
I’m all about a five minute recipe! This is great!
I know, right? Who has time for much more than that? You can be done from start to finish in the time of one Daniel Tiger episode. 🙂
Yum!! This looks delicious and so easy! I love how easily you can alter it for the yummy variations !
These look absolutely amazing! I’ve never made fudge but I might need to try this out!
We used to do it all the time when I was a kid, but I hadn’t done it for years until recently and I remembered how yummy and easy it is! Thanks for reading!
This dessert is perfect for the busy holidays! Great flavors, too!
Yep, perfect for busy moms who have long to-do lists. Thanks, Sharon!
You had me at 5 minutes! And fudge 😉
I need to try this! Thanks!