Peanut Butter Fudge is made easily with only 4 simple ingredients, no candy thermometer needed! This easy fudge recipe is made with delicious and simple ingredient you can find in your pantry: peanut butter, sugar, milk and vanilla extract- that’s it!
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge is one of my favorite fudge recipes because it is so simple to make and it is always amazingly delicious. The creamy and smooth texture of this peanut butter fudge recipe reminds me of the fudge my grandma use to make.
Recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge
This fudge recipe has become my go to fudge recipe due to how quickly the fudge sets, I typically do still wait a couple hours before slicing it, but it seems to be nearly complete and set after about an hour. Fudge in an hour, that’s amazing!! Also, unlike many other fudge recipes, this one does not require a ton of stirring or attention to the exact temperature of the mixture. I enjoy making this recipe with creamy peanut butter, it produces a smooth and creamy texture that is perfect. But sometimes it is fun to mix it up and use a crunchy peanut butter, who doesn’t love a little crunchy in their fudge? No matter how you choose to make this fudge the results you will achieve a nothing less than fudge perfection!
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Ingredients
- Sugar: You need 2 cups of graduated sugar to give this fudge the right amount of sweetness in contrast to the peanut butter flavor.
- Milk: Using 1/2 cup milk will give this fudge a perfect texture and consistency.
- Vanilla extract: Using 1 tsp of vanilla extract will help enhance the natural flavors in this recipe.
- Peanut Butter: You will need 3/4 cup peanut butter, you can use creamy or chunky depending on your preference.
Peanut Butter Fudge Easy Add-Ins and Variations
Feel free to add mini chocolate chips, salted peanuts or mini M&M candies to the top of the fudge, before it’s set. Press add-ins into the fudge slightly so that they stick.
How to make Peanut Butter Fudge
Prep
Prepare an 8X8 (or 9X9) square pan with buttered foil. To do this, cut a piece of foil that is slightly larger than the pan and then spread softened butter on the foil with a spatula or by placing your hand in a plastic bag like a glove and using your fingers to spread the butter on the foil. Press the foil into the pan, butter side up. The foil should come at least most of the way up the sides.
Making the Fudge
Next, in a medium saucepan, bring the sugar and milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Boil for 2 1/2 minutes.
After the 2 1/2 minutes, remove the mixture from heat and add the peanut butter and vanilla extract, stirring until smooth.
Set and serve
Proceed to pour the fudge mixture into prepared pan and let set for about 1-2 hours in the refrigerator before slicing and serving.
To slice, just remove the entire foil from the pan and fold the edges down flat. It is so much easier to slice and serve this way than trying to do it while it is still in the pan!
Serve and enjoy!
Do I need a thermometer for 4 ingredient peanut butter fudge?
You do not need a candy thermometer to make our easy peanut butter fudge! Just combine the sugar and milk and bring to a full, rolling boil. Set the timer and boil for 2-3 minutes and then proceed with the recipe.
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup peanut butter
Instructions
Prep
- Prepare an 8X8 (or 9X9) square pan with buttered foil. To do this, cut apiece of foil that is slightly larger than the pan and then spread softened butter on the foil with a spatula or by placing your hand in a plastic bag like a glove and using your fingers to spread the butter on the foil. Press the foil into the pan, butter side up. The foil should come at least most of the way up the sides.
Making the Fudge
- Next, in a medium saucepan, bring the sugar and milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Boil for 2 1/2 minutes.
- After the 2 1/2 minutes, remove the mixture from heat and add the peanut butter and vanilla extract, stirring until smooth.
Set and serve
- Proceed to pour the fudge mixture into prepared pan and let set for about1-2 hours in the refrigerator before slicing and serving.
- To slice, just remove the entire foil from the pan and fold the edges down flat. It is so much easier to slice and serve this way than trying to do it while it is still in the pan!
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe FAQ
I always make this recipe with regular creamy peanut butter and it works perfectly for achieving that smooth, fudgy texture. If you like a bit of crunch and texture, I think that crunchy peanut butter would work really well in this recipe too. Use a regular peanut butter like Jif or Skippy for best results – I have found that more natural peanut butters (the ones where the oil is separated out) usually don’t work as well in baking, most likely because they tend to be a little bit runnier.
If your fudge isn’t setting, double check that you added the full 2 cups of sugar to the pan. Make sure you brought the fudge to a full boil before starting your 2:30 timer.
Make sure you didn’t overcook the fudge to avoid it getting dry. The best way to avoid this is by setting a timer when you’re cooking the milk and sugar.
Milk and sugar boil together to make a type of candy, which, when combined with the peanut butter, cool and harden to make the fudge.
You can stir the sugar and milk while they are cooking to make sure all the sugar granules dissolve and avoid grainy fudge.
Oily fudge happens most often as a result of the type of peanut butter used to make it. Natural peanut butters tend to be more separated, resulting in oily fudge. I recommend using basic Jif or Skippy to make this fudge recipe.
Storing Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
Does homemade peanut butter fudge need to be refrigerated?
Peanut Butter fudge should NOT be refrigerated as it tends to dry out the fudge.
Can you freeze fudge?
Yes! Freezing fudge is easy. Just double wrap it in plastic wrap or parchment paper, then store it in an airtight container. Will stay fresh for 3 months. Thaw and cut into squares to serve.
How long is peanut butter fudge good for?
If stored in an airtight container on the countertop, fudge will stay good for about a week. It does slowly dry out, so I recommend enjoying it within 4-5 days.
Enjoy Easy Holiday Candy recipes? Here are more we love:
- Easy Oreo Balls
- Buckeye Balls Candy
- Saltine Cracker Toffee recipe
- Tiger Butter Fudge
- Easy Chocolate Peppermint Patties
- Raspberry Jelly Candy
- Easy Mint Chocolates
- Chocolate Raspberry Sticks
- Homemade Almond Joy Bars
- Microwave Pumpkin Spiced Caramels
- Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
- Martha Washington Candy (Coconut Pecan Truffles)
- Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Peanut Butter Fudge is made with only 4 ingredients and is so easy to make. This is the perfect recipe for a family get together or any holiday, try it today and see what we mean!
Eli@JustADad says
I’m going to try this with sun butter. Ever tried that?
Nicole says
We have not tried this recipe with other nut butters but it does sound interesting. Let us know how it turns out!
JoLynn Atkinson says
I love. The mega stuffed Oreos as well, but we buy the double stuffed gluten free Oreos because my husband has celiac disease. They are really good! I love that there are more gf options these days. I would love to know if you have tried any of your other recipes with gf flour & such. I love getting your recipes & trying new things.
Nicole says
We have quite a few recipes on this blog where we used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten free flour instead of regular flour. If you search “gluten free” on our site you will find some great recipes to choose from. Make sure to read the notes within the posts as some recipes use regular flour but mention that gluten free is fine to use as well.
Judith J Chandonnet says
Haven’t made it yet! I’m a diabetic, but my granddaughter loves peanut butter fudge, so I’ll make it for her. At a later time, I’m going to attempt to make it for me using Swerve sugar substitute. Don’t know if it’ll work, but I’ll never know if I don’t try!
Nicole says
Sounds very adventurous, and you’re right, we don’t know unless we try. Fingers crossed that all goes well 🙂
Susan Zugehoer says
I love the thin Oreos. I use them a an Oreo cupcake recipe I have. Very popular cupcake. I love the Oreo ball recipe.
Nicole says
Ohh that sounds great
Marianne DeLano says
I love chocolate mint oreos. So yummy!
Rita cross says
I made it it was delicious !!’ I love being on your list for recipes ILOVE the printable cards !!😍
Nicole says
Thank you so much 🙂
Sandra says
I love freeze dried strawberries so I know strawberry shortcake would be a fun flavor.
Nicole says
Ohh yes it would be!