This is one of my favorite fudge recipes - chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and nougat - homemade Snickers fudge!
My favorite Snickers fudge recipe! A delicious Christmas treat!
This is my kind of fudge! Many traditional, plain fudge recipes are too chocolaty and rich for me. I know, I know, for many of you that is a good thing. But fudge with a caramel layer? Yes, please! These delightful, layered treats are like a rich, homemade Snickers candy bar.
The amount of peanut butter flavor can be adjusted according to taste. I prefer to either omit or add just 1 tablespoon of the peanut butter in the nougat layer. It is definitely delicious either way though!
I recommend using high quality and delicious chocolate chips for this recipe. My favorite milk chocolate chips are Guittard. They usually go on sale sometime during the holiday baking season at one of my local grocery stores.
This recipe is all about layering on the deliciousness. Each simple layer sets up in the freezer while you prepare the next layer. You will want to keep the fudge cold or it will start to “melt.” When I give these treats to neighbors and friends, I make a little note letting them know to keep it refrigerated.
While it may look complicated with the 4 layers, it is actually still pretty simple. The chocolate layers only take about 2 minutes to prepare and the caramel layer is only as long as it takes the caramel to melt. The nougat layer is where most of the ingredients come into play, but it takes less than 10 minutes still.
Gather up your ingredients and supplies, including a spatula for spreading the layers, and make space in your freezer!
Speaking of the freezer, one of the perks of this Snickers fudge is that you can make it in advance and just keep it in the freezer for up to a week, maybe longer. Then just remove from the freezer about 10 or 15 minutes before serving.
You might also like this easy Reese’s fudge recipe.
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Snickers Fudge Recipe
This is one of my favorite fudge recipes - chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and nougat - homemade Snickers fudge!
Print Rate
Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
Serves: 80
Adjust Servings: 80
Ingredients
2nd Layer - Nougat:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup evaporated milk
- 1 ½ cups marshmallow creme about 7 ounces
- 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter depending on preference (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup salted peanuts chopped
Instructions
Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, combine chocolate chips and peanut butter. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Microwave again for 30 seconds and stir until creamy and smooth. You may need to repeat microwaving one more time. Pour the chocolate mixture in an even layer into the bottom of the prepared pan. Place pan in freezer.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the sugar and evaporated milk and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately stir in marshmallow crème, peanut butter (if adding), and vanilla. Add peanuts and stir until incorporated. Pour mixture over the chocolate layer from the freezer and spread evenly. Place back in freezer.
Add the caramels and evaporated milk to a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until caramel is melted and smooth. Remove pan from freezer and pour caramel over the second layer. Place back in freezer.
In a small bowl, combine chocolate chips and peanut butter. Repeat microwaving intervals used for the first layer. Stir until creamy and pour in an even layer onto the top.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or freeze for 30 minutes, before serving. Lift the parchment paper and fudge out of the pan and cut the fudge into small squares when ready to serve. Keep refrigerated or frozen.
Nutrition
Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g
Recipe Adapted From: Pip and Ebby
FAQs
Fudge Didn't Set
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).
Why is my 3 ingredient fudge not setting? ›
The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.
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.
What not to do when making fudge? ›
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
- Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
- Stirring the Sugar. ...
- Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
- Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
- Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
- Scraping the Pot. ...
- Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.
Can I fix fudge that didn't set? ›
OPTION 3) Sieve together some powdered sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually work this into your unset fudge until it reaches the consistency of dough, then roll out and cut into squares, or shape into balls and then roll in powdered sugar (roll the balls in icing sugar, not yourself).
Can I reboil fudge that didn't set? ›
How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.
Why does fudge fail? ›
Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set
If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.
How do you make homemade fudge firmer? ›
Harden the fudge: Place your container or tins in the fridge for 2 hours, which is the time it takes for the fudge to set. Once it's hardened, cut the fudge into 12 pieces or remove it from the muffin tins. Store in the fridge or the freezer (if you don't devour it right away).
Why does homemade fudge get hard? ›
Too cooked
The result is hard and brittle fudge. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 45 to 60 ml (3 or 4 tbsp.) of 35% cream and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely melted. Then let it boil without stirring until the thermometer reaches 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).
Fudge can turn into caramel due to overcooking or undercooking, incorrect temperatures, or wrong ingredients.
What to do with ruined fudge? ›
Good use of failed fudge: fudge that is too hard, too soft, too runny, too sugary, too chewy, etc. Proportions are as follows: for every 2 cups (roughly 1 pound yield) of any failed fudge that is not runny, you'll need 1 egg, ½ cup all-purpose flour, and ½ cup milk. If fudge is soupy, halve the milk (to ¼ cup).
How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›
How long does it take to make fudge:
- about 18 min to reach boiling.
- about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
- 60 minutes to cool.
- 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
- 4 hours to set.
So, the key to smooth yet firm fudge, pralines, and fondant is to first bring the mixture to a high enough concentration and then let it cool off somewhat before starting to stir. And once you do start to stir, stir fanatically and without stopping for the finest, creamiest texture.
What gives fudge its firm texture? ›
The key to creamy, luscious fudge is controlling crystal formation. If the sucrose (table sugar) crystals are small, the fudge will feel creamy and smooth on your tongue. But if the crystals are large, the fudge develops a crumbly, dry, or even coarse texture.
What would cause fudge not to harden? ›
Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set
If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.
What happens if you stir fudge too early? ›
That smooth, creamy melt-in-your-mouth fudge texture is achieved with small sugar crystals. If the mixture is stirred too soon — when it is warmer than 110 degrees — the crystals will be large and make the fudge grainy.
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!
