I discovered this recipe scrawled on a faded index card in my grandmother’s recipe box, and the promise of “5-minute fudge” seemed too good to be true. One rushed December evening, I decided to put it to the test. In just a few minutes on the stove, my kitchen filled with the intoxicating, sugary scent of bubbling chocolate, a smell that instantly felt like home and holidays. As I poured the glossy, molten mixture into the pan, I was skeptical. But after a few hours of patient waiting, I cut into a slab of the most perfectly smooth, creamy, and richly pecan-studded fudge I had ever tasted. It felt like unlocking a family secret, one that delivers deep nostalgia and pure joy with almost no effort.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You will love this recipe because it hands you the power to create old-fashioned, melt-in-your-mouth fudge in the time it takes to boil a kettle. It’s unbelievably simple, requires no fancy equipment or a candy thermometer, and yields a rich, impressive treat that tastes like it took hours of careful stirring. It’s the perfect solution for last-minute gifts, holiday platters, or satisfying a sudden, powerful chocolate craving.
Ingredients
- 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup evaporated milk (not sweetened condensed milk)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 (7 oz) jar marshmallow creme (also called marshmallow fluff)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
Let’s talk specifics, because precision is everything with fudge. First, the evaporated milk is crucial. I made the mistake once of grabbing sweetened condensed milk, and it created a sickly-sweet, grainy mess. Evaporated milk provides the right liquid and dairy richness without extra sugar. For the chocolate, a good quality brand of chips matters for a smooth melt and rich flavor. And the pecans? I like to toast mine. It’s an extra five minutes, but trust me, toasting them in a dry skillet until fragrant makes a huge difference, adding a deep, nutty complexity that elevates the entire batch.(See the next page below to continue…)