Christmas Fudge {Candy Cane Fudge}

Easy Christmas fudge recipe, homemade with 3 simple ingredients. This peppermint candy cane fudge is silky smooth, creamy. Perfect for holiday parties and gifting.

With the decadence of Christmas, I find that mint or peppermint desserts are the perfect sweet treat that somehow feels refreshing and settling instead of over the top. Not to mention the red and white combination feels and looks positively festive. Add them to your dessert table or wrap them as gifts for those you love and appreciate. Either way, these are the perfect easy treat for the holidays. These White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies and this Peppermint Cake are also delicious and statement pieces visually.

How to make easy Christmas fudge recipe from scratch?

1. Microwave ingredients- This includes white chocolate chips, condensed milk.
2. Pour mixture- In a pan.
3. Add crushed candy canes- On top.
4. Chill- Until firm.
5. Cut small pieces- With sharp knife.

Variations for classic homemade white chocolate candy cane fudge

Other fudge toppings- Such as sprinkles, chopped up candy bars, crunched Oreos, chopped nuts, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, crushed pretzels, finely chopped dried fruit, M&Ms, or Reese's Pieces.

Can use round peppermint candies- Instead of candy canes. Place them so that you get one candy on each piece you cut.

Add extracts in the mixture- Like peppermint or vanilla. If you leave out the candy canes then the possibility for extract flavor addition is basically endless.

Mix some crushed candy canes in the mixture- I didn’t do this. I thought the topping was more than enough. The flavor became too over powering and the texture became too crunchy when added to the mixture. Plus it was harder to slice evenly into square pieces.

Mix-ins swirls- If you leave off the candy canes, you can swirl Homemade Caramel Sauce, Nutella Syrup {2 Ingredients}, or even peanut butter into the mixture after the mixture has been poured into the pan.

Use other flavors of candy canes- They make so many varieties of candy cane flavors. Simple choose your or your guests favorite and crush that as a topping.

Tips and techniques for peppermint fudge

How to melt ingredients? Melt chocolate and condensed milk in the microwave in 15-30 second increments making sure to mix between each increment to prevent burning and allow for even melting.

Must use sweetened condensed milk that's full fat- You cannot use evaporated milk or heavy cream as a substitute. It does not work well.

This is a super sweet treat- The peppermint kind of helps to balance out the sweetness.

Fudge must set before you slice- Because this allows you to cut clean squares or rectangles without it becoming a sticky mess.

Must line pan- Because this prevents the mixture from sticking to the pan.

Use a sharp knife for cutting- Because it will make for a cleaner cut. Avoid using a serrated knife because they leave ridge marks.

How to get smooth perfect slices? Run your knife under hot water, wipe it dry with a paper towel, and then cut the slices. Repeat this before each cut. 

Make the mixture on stovetop- You must use a nonstick saucepan to prevent the mixture from adhering to the pan and becoming a gooey mess and/or burning on the bottom of the pan.

What size pan to use? Pour mixture in a 9 inch square pan for best results.

How long to chill the mixture? Chill it in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight or until it is firm.

Storage of no bake fudge

Refrigerate- In a sealed container for up to 1 week.

Freeze- You cannot freeze this fudge because the candy cane topping becomes sticky and starts dissolving/ melting due to condensation and moisture. 

More easy homemade fudge recipes

• Oreo Fudge {Cookies and Cream Fudge}
• Maple Fudge {With Maple Syrup}
• How to Make Chocolate Fudge {3 Ingredients}
• Fantasy Fudge {With Marshmallow Creme}
• Easy Pumpkin Fudge Recipe {With Gingersnap Crust}

Recipe