VANILLA FUDGE: Easy 4-ingredient microwave vanilla fudge recipe! (2024)

Published: Aug 11, '18 · Modified: Jan 24, '24 · By: Meaghan · Commission earned on paid or sponsored links.

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This is the best recipe for easy vanilla fudge. No need to fiddle with candy thermometers when sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips do all your work for you!

easy vanilla fudge

I'm in love with this vanilla fudge recipe. It's a cinch to make, it only takes a few ingredients, and it's so delicious and full of vanilla flavor. Feel free to mix in any of your favorite ingredients, for this is a perfect fudge base to personalize to your own tastes or use as a homemade food gift idea. Mix in nuts, dried fruits, small candies... anything you like. I would love to try this recipe with homemade vanilla extract.

If you want an even easier vanilla fudge (although that's hardly possible), check out this two-ingredient vanilla fudge. This vanilla fudge recipe is a sweetened condensed milk fudge. The other vanilla fudge is a frosting fudge recipe. You might also love this creamsicle fudge, which combines the flavors of orange and vanilla.

Everything you need to know about how to make fudge can be found on this FAQ page.

watch this short video on how to make vanilla fudge

how to make easy vanilla fudge

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray or shortening, or line with greased parchment paper or non-stick foil.
- For even thicker fudge, try an 8-inch square pan.
- My preferred method for greasing the pan is to line the baking pan with parchment or non-stick foil, lightly spray it with non-stick cooking spray, and remove the excess with a paper towel. This way, you can easily lift the fudge from the pan for cutting.

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In a large, microwave-safe bowl place 2 ⅔ cups of chocolate chips and a 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. Microwave for 90 seconds at 70 percent power. Use the residual heat to stir the mixture well until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. If necessary, microwave for additional 15-second intervals.
- Alternatively, melt the chocolate and milk in the top of a double boiler or in a bowl on top of a saucepan of simmering water.
- For best results, melt the chips with heat only until they are about three-quarters of the way melted, then rely on residual heat to fully melt the chocolate chips, rather than adding additional heat. This prevents scorching.
- I find that Nestle white chocolate chips melt a bit thinner than the Ghiradelli brand. So if you're using the latter, you may want to reduce the number of chocolate chips to 2 ½ cups.
- Please note, the recipe here uses Nestle-brand white “morsels,” which is actually confectionery coating. If you’re using white confectionery coating chips (no cocoa butter listed in the ingredients, use 16 ounces. If using pure white chocolate (with cocoa butter listed in the ingredients), use 19 ounces.

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Stir in a tablespoon of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
- Yes, I really use a whole tablespoon of vanilla. This fudge is so flavorful!

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Gently stir in any mix-ins, if you're using them.
Pour and spread into the prepared pan.
Chill until well set, several hours. Cut into squares. Makes about 25 pieces.

how do I melt chocolate in the microwave?

The key to most of the easy fudge recipes on this blog is mixing chocolate with a shortcut ingredient (such as sweetened condensed milk) and melting the combination. The microwave is the easiest and fastest way to melt chocolate. Melting chocolate can be tricky because if you overheat the chocolate or scorch it, your fudge won't work.

So what is the best way to melt chocolate in the microwave?

Place your ingredients in a large, microwave-safe bowl, and first heat the mixture for 90 seconds at 70 percent power. If your microwave doesn't allow you to choose the power percentage, try the defrost setting. I find this time and power works perfectly when I make fudge. However, microwaves have different levels of power, so you may need to add more time. If so, add 15 seconds at a time. No matter how long it takes, heat only until the chocolate chips are about three-fourths of the way melted. That's the key! Do not fully melt the chocolate chips. Instead, stir well to use the residual heat to fully melt the chocolate chip mixture. This may take several minutes, but it will prevent you from overheating the chocolate and having it seize (or, stiffen suddenly).

For fantastic visual tips on how to melt chocolate in both the microwave AND the stove top, check out the video in this chocolate fudge post.

can I substitute evaporated milk for the sweetened condensed milk?

Eek! No! This recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk, which is a great shortcut for easy fudge because it allows you to skip the candy-making stage of creating a sugar syrup. However, evaporated milk is not the same thing, and it cannot be used as a substitute. For more fudge recipes that use sweetened condensed milk, check out Rocky Road Fudge and Cookies and Cream Fudge.

recipe

4.72 from 14 votes

vanilla fudge

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

2 mins

Chill time

4 hrs

Total Time

12 mins

Four-ingredient EASY vanilla fudge recipe you can personalize with any mix-ins you like.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: vanilla fudge

Servings: 25 pieces

Calories: 149 kcal

Ingredients

2 ⅔ cup white chocolate chips 16 ounces SEE NOTES!!
1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
pinch salt

Instructions

Prepare an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan by lining it withgreased parchment paper or non-stick foil.
In a large, microwave-safe bowl place the white chocolate chips and the sweetened condensed milk. Microwave for 90 seconds at 70 percent power. Use the residual heat to stir the mixture well until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. If necessary, microwave for additional 15-second intervals.
Instead of melting in the microwave, you can alsomelt the chocolate and milk in the top of a double boiler or in a bowl on top of a saucepan of simmering water.
Stir in a vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Gently fold in any mix-ins, such as coarsely chopped nuts or dried fruits, if you are using them.
Pour and spread evenly in the prepared pan. Chill in the refrigerator several hours, until very well set. Cut into squares.

Recipe Notes

Please note, the recipe here uses Nestle-brand white “morsels,” which is actually confectionery coating. If you’re using white confectionery coating chips (no cocoa butter listed in the ingredients, use 16 ounces. If using pure white chocolate (with cocoa butter listed in the ingredients), use 19 ounces.

More vanilla recipes

Is vanilla flavor your thing? If so, check out more vanilla-flavored inspiration.

more easy fudge recipes

Inspired to make more homemade fudge? Check out these awesome recipes:

3-ingredient caramel fudge

Velveeta-is-the-secret-ingredient chocolate fudge

divine chocolate peanut butter fudge

Author
Recent Posts

Meaghan

Hi! I’m Meaghan, the creator of delicious desserts and easy recipes at TheDecoratedCookie.com. I've published several cookbooks including SUGARLICIOUS and COOKIE SENSATIONS and have teamed up with Beth to make easy fudge recipes to share with you.

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About Meaghan

Reader Interactions

Comments

Please leave a comment.

Louise J
August 14, 2018 at 11:01 am
Will try adding coconut to the vanilla fudge. It looks great.
Reply
- Beth
  August 14, 2018 at 6:25 pm
  That would be a really nice addition to this recipe! Enjoy.
  Reply
- Gayathri Krishnamoorthy
  July 15, 2023 at 10:23 pm
  The white chocolate looks great,is it a 1:4 ratio of chocolate chips and condensed milk,did I get it right?
  Reply
  - Meaghan
    July 28, 2023 at 11:30 am
    Hi Gayathri, 1 to 4 is much too few chocolate chips. Your fudge will be quite runny. It's about 8 : 7, so almost the same number of ounces. (If you go by weight, not measuring cups).
    Reply
Ken C
August 16, 2018 at 5:22 pm
What a simple yet tasty treat!
Reply
- Beth
  August 16, 2018 at 5:48 pm
  That it is!!!
  Reply
cloud tv apk
August 21, 2018 at 5:57 am
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you actually realize what you are talking about!
Bookmarked.
Reply
Kelley Brown
January 20, 2019 at 1:20 pm
I made this using Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers and it turned out great. It was crazy easy to make, which I loved.
Reply
- Beth
  January 28, 2019 at 5:39 pm
  That's a great idea. The melting wafers melt smoothly and have a really nice flavor. We are glad you liked this easy fudge recipe.
  Reply
Kimberley
February 18, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Thank you so much for this easy fudge recipe.It worked perfectly and the fudge tastes great.
Reply
Desiree
February 19, 2019 at 2:01 am
This is the best vanilla fudge I've ever eaten and it is so easy to make. Thanks for all these easy fudge recipes.
Reply
Shelly
February 20, 2019 at 10:30 am
This vanilla fudge was so easy to make and it tastes great!
Reply
Linnea Showers
February 23, 2019 at 2:59 pm
This was so easy to make and had a really nice flavor and texture. I made three batches and mixed in cookies, candies, and even sprinkles. It's a great basic fudge recipe.
Reply
- Beth
  March 06, 2019 at 2:36 pm
  Adding mix-ins is a great idea. We are so glad you had fun with this fudge recipe.
  Reply
Geoffrey
February 28, 2019 at 2:30 am
I love how easy this fudge is to make! It's very sweet, but I like that. 🙂
Reply
- Beth
  March 06, 2019 at 2:20 pm
  We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed this sweet vanilla fudge recipe!
  See Also
  Korean Kimchi Recipe
  Reply
Stella
March 30, 2019 at 8:27 pm
Great recipe! Can i mix in some lemon juice? Like, will it have any negative effect on the fudge?
Reply
- Beth
  March 30, 2019 at 9:09 pm
  Thanks. Glad you like this easy fudge recipe. If you add enough lemon juice to flavor the fudge it will become very soft and possibly even sticky. You could add lemon extract or lemon oil to flavor it or better yet make our simple 2-ingredient lemon fudge recipe. You can find that here - https://howtomakeeasyfudge.com/lemon-fudge/
  The lemon fudge has a wonderful lemon flavor and it is so easy to make.
  Reply
Raina Strong
May 26, 2019 at 12:49 am
This fudge was so easy to make. I added some sprinkles on top which looked really fun.
Reply
- Meaghan
  June 27, 2019 at 2:25 pm
  Such a great idea to add a bit of rainbow!
  Reply
Alexandra
June 13, 2019 at 3:15 am
So yummy!
Reply
Jill M.
June 26, 2019 at 2:06 am
Can I use the caramel version of the condensed milk to make this fudge?
Reply
- Beth
  June 27, 2019 at 2:02 pm
  Yes, you can but the fudge will taste like caramel not vanilla. I've used the caramel condensed milk and it makes a really wonderful caramel fudge.
  Reply
Margit
June 29, 2019 at 7:07 am
Who knew fudge could be so easy to make?
Reply
Rosie
July 22, 2019 at 10:57 pm
Love how easy this was! We added rice crispies to the mix for a little crunch. Yummy!
Reply
Sandy
July 30, 2019 at 1:23 am
This fudge couldn't have been easier to make. I've tried so many fudge recipes that have failed and this one seems fail proof.
Reply
RoseMary Hunter
October 21, 2019 at 10:32 am
I would like to know if you could add like peppermint extract to your vanilla fudge?
Reply
- Beth
  October 27, 2019 at 9:45 am
  Definitely! The vanilla fudge is the perfect base for flavoring. Add a teaspoon of peppermint extract for a wonderfully flavored peppermint fudge. Enjoy.
  Reply
- Meaghan
  October 27, 2019 at 1:52 pm
  Hi RoseMary, absolutely!! I made peppermint fudge for my other blog doing exactly that. Here is the link: https://thedecoratedcookie.com/peppermint-fudge/
  Reply
Michelle
December 17, 2019 at 7:47 pm
Mine was too soft😭. It tastes good but I guess needed more chips. Is it possible to melt it all back down gently and stir in more white chocolate chips? I really don't want it to go to waste.
Reply
- Meaghan
  January 01, 2020 at 2:03 pm
  Hi Michelle! As I mentioned above, chocolate can be so finicky. I might use the same exact amount of one brand it turns out perfectly, and you might use the same amount of another brand and it turns out softer. But you're right! The secret is in the chocolate. It should definitely help to gently melt it down (in a double boiler, or in a bowl set over simmering water) and adding more chocolate.
  Reply
Ashley
December 18, 2019 at 10:46 am
This fudge is delicious! My husband and son are big fans of vanilla and they love this. We put little snowman faces on it with mini chocolate chips and orange sprinkles for a fun winter treat. It took quite a while to set up this last time we made it, though. How long does it usually take for you? Is it faster to set at room temperature? We put it in the fridge and it was still sticky and hard to cut after seven hours. I don't remember this being an issue last time we made it. Any ideas what could have caused that problem? Thanks for the delicious recipe and your help! 🙂
Reply
- Meaghan
  January 01, 2020 at 2:02 pm
  Hi Ashley, love that idea! The amount of time fudge takes to set depends on the chocolate and it varies from brand to brand. If fudge is too soft, it's because there isn't enough chocolate, and unfortunately, because it varies from brand to brand, what works well for me may be softer for you. Refrigeration definitely helps! Did you switch brands of chocolate? If so, that's the culprit. It can be rather frustrating, I know!
  Reply
Tammy Ritchie
December 22, 2019 at 5:38 pm
Can I use 2 cup of chips?
Reply
- Meaghan
  December 23, 2019 at 3:31 pm
  Hi Tammy, The recipe calls for 2 2/3 cups because I find that amount sets the best. 2 cups will likely be a much softer fudge that doesn't set as well, but if you prefer softer fudge, it's fine to try!
  Reply
Debi
April 26, 2022 at 7:12 pm
Can I fold in diced Kraft caramels after its been taken out of the microwave ? I live in a studio and don't have a kitchen and microwave fudge with chips and milk or frosting has made so many seniors in my complex smile again. I'm trying to get a good variety of flavors for them to enjoy and not get bored. Haven't made white chocolate fudge yet but I think caramel bits would be good. Will the fudge still get firm?
Reply
- Meaghan
  April 26, 2022 at 9:49 pm
  Hi Debi! I think it's a great idea and something to try, but I've NOT done that personally, so I can't guarantee it would work. I'm not sure if the mixture would be hot enough to melt the caramel. My gut tells me it would be great and would still get firm, but if you want to play it save, we also have a recipe for caramel fudge that can be made in the microwave: https://howtomakeeasyfudge.com/caramel-fudge/
  Oh, and if you're looking for microwave treats, we have a jillion awesome recipes on our other site, Howtomakecerealtreats.com!
  Reply
Shana
July 29, 2022 at 1:55 pm
I was looking for a vanilla fudge recipe for my kids who have food allergies and are unable to eat store bought fudge. This is definitely different from vanilla fudge at the beach fudge stores...it's a lot sweeter and just has a different flavor. If you like the flavor of white chocolate chips, then I'm sure you'll like this creamy fudge. Our family definitely prefers the chocolate though 🙂
Reply
Al
September 27, 2022 at 4:30 pm
White chocolate is not vanilla.
Reply
- Meaghan
  October 20, 2022 at 4:06 pm
  No, but a whole tablespoon of vanilla extract is vanilla.
  Reply
Happy mom
February 20, 2023 at 4:54 pm
Easy to follow- stove top instructions. Preteens loved eating and making it with me. ( 12 & 14)
Reply
Leslie McGregor
August 16, 2023 at 9:56 pm
The cans of sweetened condensed milk are only 10 ounces not 14 ounces.
Reply
- Beth
  August 17, 2023 at 5:22 pm
  Hmm, I've never seen a 10-ounce can but I assume some brands might package their sweetened condensed milk in smaller cans. Eagle Brand, Borden, and Nestle all have 14-ounce cans as of the time of writing this. I just saw cake mixes got smaller again so it is always possible. It's very frustrating when companies shrink the products. If you use a 10-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk, just use 2 cups (12 ounces) of white chips to make the fudge.
  Reply
Maroud
September 09, 2023 at 6:40 am
You certainly can’t mean to “microwave the can” as you indicate in your recipe.
Reply
- Beth Klosterboer
  November 07, 2023 at 8:49 am
  Microwave the ingredients from the can of sweetened condensed milk not the physical can. Sorry for the confusion.
  Reply
Marci D. Huebert
December 17, 2023 at 7:11 am
I want to start making fudge at home. I lost all my recipes, so this site is nice to find them again
Reply
- Meaghan
  December 18, 2023 at 9:43 am
  I'm so sorry you lost your recipes, Marci, but hopefully you'll be able to rebuild your collection!
  Reply
Rick Cortese
February 03, 2024 at 8:39 pm
Why does the description say 2 2/3 cups of chocolate chips when this is supposed to be vanilla fudge ?? 'In a large, microwave-safe bowl place 2 ⅔ cups of chocolate chips and a 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. Microwave for 90 seconds'
Reply
- Meaghan
  February 04, 2024 at 11:05 am
  At its base, fudge is chocolate. This recipe calls for white chocolate.
  Reply