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    Foodtasia » Recipes » Dessert

    Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe (VIDEO)

    Published: Dec 8, 2021 · Modified: Dec 2, 2024 by Kelly · This post may contain affiliate links · 86 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This smooth and creamy, Easy Peanut Butter Fudge recipe is quick and simple to make in less than 5 minutes with only 4 ingredients. A fool-proof, never fail recipe perfect for the holidays!

    stack of peanut butter fudge this recipe!

    All I can say is WOW. This is not only the easiest peanut butter fudge recipe but it is hands down the best!

    Jump to Section

    • ❤️ Why you'll love it!
    • 🥜 Easy, Microwave Fudge
    • 🏆 The BEST Fudge Recipe!
    • 📝 Ingredients:
    • 🧑🏻‍🍳 How to make Peanut Butter Fudge
    • 🍫 Variations and add ins
    • 🧺 How to store
    • ❓FAQs
    • Recipe
    • Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

    ❤️ Why you'll love it!

    • Addictive peanut butter flavor
    • Super creamy and smooth
    • Only 4 ingredients
    • Fool-proof, never fail recipe
    • Super easy
    • Less than 5 minutes to make
    • Never flakey or gritty
    • Always sets
    • No boiling sugar
    • No thermometer

    If you love peanut butter recipes and peanut butter desserts, try my easy peanut butter cookies, peanut butter blossoms, and peanut butter Rice Krispie treats. For more peanut butter candy recipes, try my homemade peanut brittle and Buckeyes - the famous chocolate dipped peanut butter balls from Ohio.

    peanut butter fudge stacked on a plate

    🥜 Easy, Microwave Fudge

    This 5-minute Peanut Butter Fudge is made in the microwave. It’s not only the easiest peanut butter fudge, it’s the creamiest and smoothest with rich, peanut buttery flavor.

    No cook Peanut Butter Fudge makes a melt in your mouth fudge without the fuss of boiling sugar, taking the temperature, testing for a soft ball. It also spares you the frustration of a fudge that doesn’t set or has a gritty, flaky texture.

    Simply melt butter and peanut butter in the microwave, then stir in powdered sugar.

    peanut butter fudge stacked on a plate

    🏆 The BEST Fudge Recipe!

    I did a side-by-side taste test of the highest rated recipes to find the world’s best peanut butter fudge. Here are some of the ones I tried:

    Old fashioned peanut butter fudge – made by boiling milk and sugar until it reaches the soft ball stage then stirring in peanut butter. This method requires either a thermometer or testing by dropping some into a glass of ice water to determine its texture. This can be tricky for those not experienced in making candy. Some recipes call for boiling for 2 ½ minutes, which in the comment sections, many people had problems with because of the differing heat of stoves and the conductivity of different pans.

    Even with a thermometer, I found this method made a drier, grainier fudge that flaked when cutting.

    Peanut butter fudge with marshmallow cream or marshmallow fluff – butter, milk, and sugar are cooked until the soft-ball stage then marshmallow cream and peanut butter are stirred in. I wasn’t crazy about the texture and in the comments some people had trouble getting theirs to set properly.

    Peanut butter fudge with marshmallows – marshmallows are melted in milk then sugar is added and cooked. Finally, peanut butter is stirred in. I thought this method had promise because the gelatin in the marshmallows would help set the fudge. However, the texture wasn’t my favorite and again, some people had trouble with the fudge setting.

    Peanut butter fudge with powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) – Although it’s the easiest and most fool proof, I didn’t anticipate that this method would be my favorite. Without fancy ingredients like marshmallow cream or a fussy cooking method, I thought it would be an inferior fudge, albeit an easier one.

    Much to my happy surprise, peanut butter fudge with confectioners’ sugar was the absolute creamiest with a perfectly smooth texture and a rich, peanut buttery taste. Added to it being absolutely simple to make in less than 5 minutes, I’m pretty sure I just found the best peanut butter fudge in the world!

    📝 Ingredients:

    • Peanut Butter – Use a smooth, commercial brand of peanut butter like JIF or Skippy. Natural peanut butter may separate and become oily in the fudge.
    • Butter – unsalted if you’re using salt or salted if you’re not.
    • Powdered Sugar – (Confectioners’ sugar) Sift your sugar so the fudge is perfectly smooth. I like to mix the fudge and get it into the pan as quick as I can
    • Vanilla – the ingredient that makes this a 4-ingredient fudge instead of a 3-ingredient fudge. Vanilla adds a wonderful, rounded flavor to the fudge.
    • Salt – optional, but it really balances the sweetness and brings out the flavor. If you use salted butter, it’s not needed.
    peanut butter fudge ingredients

    🧑🏻‍🍳 How to make Peanut Butter Fudge

    • Butter an 8 by 8-inch square baking pan then line with a piece of parchment paper with the 2 sides over hanging for easy removal.
    • Put butter and peanut butter in a large bowl and microwave until both are melted and liquid, about 3 minutes. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
    • Stir in the vanilla and salt, if using.
    • Add the powdered sugar and stir until no white streaks remain.
    • Pour into the prepared pan and smooth with a spatula. If you’d like a swirly pattern on top, press the edge of a spoon around the surface.
    • Refrigerate for 4 hours until set and firm.
    • Slice into squares.
    how to make peanut butter fudge step by step

    🍫 Variations and add ins

    Try some of these variations and add ins:

    • Chocolate peanut butter fudge – stir ¾ cup chocolate chips in the warm mixture before spreading in the pan.
    • Reese’s Peanut Butter Fudge - stir ¾ cup chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in the warm mixture before spreading in the pan.
    • Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips Fudge - stir ¾ cup Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips in the warm mixture before spreading in the pan.
    • Butterfinger Peanut Butter Fudge - stir ¾ cup chopped Butterfinger candy bars in the warm mixture before spreading in the pan.
    • Double Peanut Butter Fudge - stir ¾ cup chopped peanuts in the warm mixture before spreading in the pan.
    • Keto Peanut Butter Fudge – for a sugar free peanut butter fudge, substitute the same amount of Swerve Confectioners’ Sugar for the powdered sugar.

    🧺 How to store

    • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a week, or 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.

    ❓FAQs

    Can the fudge be frozen?

    Yes. Wrap the chilled fudge in plastic wrap then place in a plastic freezer bag. Store for up to 2 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    stack of peanut butter fudge

    Recipe

    peanut butter fudge stacked on a plate

    Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

    Kelly
    This smooth and creamy, Easy Peanut Butter Fudge recipe is quick and simple to make in less than 5 minutes with only 4 ingredients. A fool-proof, never fail recipe perfect for the holidays!
    5 from 19 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 3 minutes mins
    Chill 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 64 1-inch pieces
    Calories 79 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks or 227g
    • 1 cup creamy peanut butter 260g
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar 460g
    • ¼ teaspoon salt optional

    Instructions
     

    • Butter an 8-inch square baking pan then line with a piece of parchment paper with the 2 sides overhanging for easy removal.
    • Put butter and peanut butter in a large bowl and microwave until both are melted and liquid, about 3 minutes. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
    • Stir in the vanilla and salt, if using.
    • Add the powdered sugar and stir until no white streaks remain.
    • Press the fudge into the prepared pan and smooth with a spatula. If you’d like a swirly pattern on top, press the edge of a spoon around the surface.
    • Let cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate for 4 hours until set and firm.
    • Cut into squares.
    • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a week, or 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    • Use a commercial brand of peanut butter such as JIF or Skippy.
    • Don’t substitute margarine for the butter. It may not set properly or have the right texture.
    • Let come to room temperature before eating, it’s creamier.
    • I find I get a neater slice if the fudge is at a cool room temperature (after chilling and setting in the refrigerator). Clean the knife and dip the knife into hot water between each slice.
    • Have the pan buttered and lined before starting so you can get the fudge into the pan without delay. As it cools it gets harder to smooth.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 79kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 27mgPotassium: 24mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 89IUCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mg
    Keyword peanut butter fudge
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

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    1. Mrs Wanda Ethridge says

      November 01, 2024 at 8:03 pm

      5 stars
      This is a year round perfect for anytime RECPIE. It's quick, easy, and the all around best peanut butter fudge ever. I am trying it next with crunchy peanut butter. This is a must share with family and friends. Everyone is going to want this. Thank you so much. My friends abdfamily thanks you too.

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        November 04, 2024 at 6:48 am

        So happy you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Teresa says

      October 14, 2024 at 7:15 pm

      If I want to triple the recipe would I need to use a 9x13 pan?

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        October 17, 2024 at 8:28 am

        Hi Teresa, A 9x13 pan would be about double an 8x8 pan. (117 sq inches vs 64 sq inches). If you did triple the recipe in a 9x13 pan, it would come out thicker than shown in the photos here.

        Reply
    3. Cynthia says

      October 10, 2024 at 10:59 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious!!!!

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        October 26, 2024 at 2:37 pm

        So happy you liked it, Cynthia!

        Reply
    4. Cindy says

      October 10, 2024 at 10:55 pm

      As a grandma, I am always looking for recipes to do with my two grand daughters. This was so simple and easy to do , directions were easy to follow and we each had fun. The end result was so delicious as well. Thank you for this recipe, it will be made many more times in our house!!!!

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        October 26, 2024 at 2:38 pm

        So happy you liked it, Cindy!

        Reply
    5. Teresa Coffey says

      March 17, 2024 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      I have a 9 year old who has been wanting to make fudge. I've been putting her off because frankly, I don't enjoy prolonged stirring on the stove. This was perfect! I used plant based butter because I have one who can't do dairy so I'm not sure that it will set up properly. I've tasted it and really will be fine if it doesn't.. Melting only took about a minute and a half.

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        March 17, 2024 at 2:51 pm

        Thanks for sharing that, Teresa. Please let me know how it sets using plant based butter!

        Reply
    6. Seiarra says

      February 16, 2024 at 3:48 pm

      5 stars
      Hi, my gram is obsessed with this fudge, if I wanted to double it how would I do it? Just 4 sticks of butter 2 cups peanut butter and 8 cups of powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla?

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        February 17, 2024 at 6:30 am

        Hi Seiarra, So happy to hear she likes it! Yes, doubling it with those amounts should work just fine.

        Reply
    7. Virgie Garzon says

      September 17, 2023 at 6:37 pm

      5 stars
      This was so easy to make! Stayed soft and smooth for the 3 days it lasted and I think I literally spent 5 minutes making it! I love how few ingredients it needed and it just hit the spot when you want something sweet and fast - thanks!!

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        September 26, 2023 at 3:33 am

        So happy you liked it, Virgie! Thanks so much!

        Reply
    8. Cassie says

      July 18, 2023 at 1:02 am

      5 stars
      This is a fantastic recipe, I made a batch and it was very quickly eaten by the family!
      Im wondering what might happen if I swapped out the peanut butter for nutella using the same other ingredients and process? What do you think?

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        August 04, 2023 at 5:31 am

        Considering that nutella and commercial peanut butter have a similar texture, it might work. Although I know that even using natural peanut butter changes the texture and setting of the fudge. Let me know if you try it! Thanks so much!

        Reply
    9. Lee Parker says

      May 19, 2023 at 6:10 pm

      5 stars
      Peanut butter fudge is delicious and recipe is as easy to follow as instructions for microwave popcorn.

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        June 01, 2023 at 4:39 pm

        So happy you liked it, Lee!

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    Kelly Shaban

    Hi there! My name is Kelly Shaban. Here you’ll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. Read More About Me

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