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Too early for holiday treats? Who are you kidding.
I clearly have no concept of time or seasons when it comes to holiday baking. I made you a mint chocolate chip pie in August, peppermint fudge cookies in September, and some crazy super-soft Gingersnaps just last week. I’m a seasonally challenged baker. I’m sorry… but not really. 
I’m telling you guys… this is only the beginning of the holiday baking madness.
I made this fudge over the weekend with the intention of bringing it into work on Monday.
SOMEHOW the fudge never made it into the office. No no, we didn’t eat it all! I love me some mint and chocolate but I’m not about to eat an 8×8 brick of it.
This swirly-twirly-chocolate-white-chocolate-candy-cane-crunch fudge is certainly something I do not want to share! I’m selfishly keeping it all to myself, which is fabulous and horrible at the same time. It is the season to give, after all. This fudge is hard to share!
My latest fudgy creation could NOT get any easier – it’s even easier than the Andes Mint Chocolate Chip Fudge I made a few weeks ago! I clearly cannot get enough mint chocolate these days. I’m not alone in my love for mint chocolate chip ice cream, am I?
You’re going to put in the bare minimum effort when you make today’s fudge. We’re talking one pot, five simple ingredients, and only ten minutes to throw together. Until earlier this year, I always believed that making fudge was daunting. There’s candy thermometers, sugar syrups, endless stirring, etc. While I love a smooth creamy fudge recipe, wasting time over a boiling pot waiting for sugar to concentrate sounds like a nightmare to me.
My fudge recipes include none of that! I never knew that homemade fudge was this easy. 
The whopping five ingredients making these gorgeous squares are sweetened condensed milk, peppermint extract, white chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips, and candy canes. Diet food, I swear.
First, melt the white chocolate chips down with a can of sweetened condensed milk – an ingredient I always, always have in my pantry. Sweetened condensed milk is a ready made concentrated sugar syrup – it is made from a mixture of whole milk and sugar with 60% of its water removed. Thick and sticky, it’s VERY sweet and takes the place of sugar syrup in a fudge recipe.
The combination of melted white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk is your fudge base. Use this base for whatever add-ins you prefer – it’s a wonderful blank canvas and completely versatile.
Next, mix in a couple drops of peppermint extract. The fudge is quite sweet without the peppermint extract, so I found it to be necessary. Do not add too much though – that stuff is extremely potent and you don’t want to completely clear your nasal cavity! Stick with 1/2 teaspoon, taste it, and then add more if you prefer. 1/2 teaspoon was plenty for me.
Stir in some crushed candy canes and pour your minty white chocolate fudge into a square pan. The crunchy candy cane bits are a lovely texture break from the smooth fudge. I love a good crunch!
Top with mini chocolate chips and gently swirl them on top as they melt into the warm fudge mixture. If you’d like, replace the chocolate chips with a swirl of red food coloring. I chose chocolate chips over red food dye because I clearly cannot get enough chocolate lately. Tis the season!
Allow the fudge to set up in the refrigerator for about 3 hours. Really, waiting is the hardest part about making this fudge! Once set, slice into tiny squares. I love all the swirly-twirly action on top!
If you can muster up the generosity to share this divine fudge, it makes a wonderful gift for friends and family. I do plan to make it again for my coworkers (and not only myself) in December, I promise.
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makes 48 squares
Ingredients
- 3 cups white chocolate chips
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (or more, taste and go by your preference)
- 8 crushed candy canes
- 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line 8x8 square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Combine the white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until chips are melted. Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint extract and candy canes.
- Spread evenly into prepared baking pan. Top with chocolate chips and gently swirl them into the fudge with a knife. Top with a few more crushed candy cane pieces. Chill for 3 hours, then cut into squares. Store in refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
RECIPE SOURCE: sallysbakingaddiction.com
© Sally’s Baking Addiction. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe.
Have you made any holiday recipes yet?
Here are some holiday favorites I already have on my 2012 Christmas Baking List.
Andes Mint Chocolate Chip Fudge
Skinny Frozen Mint Chocolate Chip Pie
Golden Oreo Cake Batter Blondies – with Christmas sprinkles!
Soft Gingersnaps with Butterscotch Chips
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge
{ 72 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m betting that fudge wouldn’t last the night in my house.
Looks Fabulous!
The Witch’s Kitchen recently posted..Not fit for man or beast!
since i had SO many other goodies lying around the house this weekend, we couldn’t eat it all right away – but i can assure you.. it’s all gone now!
PEPPERMINT!!!! The season is finally here! I feel like I’ve been waiting all year, and you just made me so excited
Ari @ Ari’s Menu recently posted..Spicy “Spaghetti” & Meat Sauce
heck yes Ari – it’s peppermint time!
Love how simple this is. Peppermint and chocolate is perfect together!
Cassie | Bake Your Day recently posted..Salted Caramel Cashew Popcorn & A Virtual Baby Shower
agreed. and thank you Cassie – for all your sweet comments!
Um, this is definitely the definition of perfection. SO creamy and minty, OMG. And peppermints can do no wrong in my book, any time of year!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel recently posted..Hot Cocoa 3 Muskateers Cupcakes
i have a lot of andy canes and i am NOT afraid to use them in all my recipes lol!
There is never enough mint! I’m going for a mint and gingerbread palooza throughout December (uh, though not together, of course).
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted..Macadamia Nut White Chocolate Pie
i made gingerbread cake this weekend Dorothy! my palooza has begun!
What lovely homemade fudge! I haven’s started making any holiday recipes yet, but I’ve certainly been collecting them!
Amy (Savory Moments) recently posted..Kabocha squash and ricotta pierogi
i can’t wait to see what you bake for the holidays Amy
these are the perfect holiday treat! i should’ve known that you would be one of the firsts to whip out a peppermint treat
this is brilliant – it would make such a wonderful gift. put 3 little cubes in a cellophane baggie & tie it with a cute ribbon. now who wouldn’t LOVE that gift?!
Julie @ Table for Two recently posted..Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing
i love that idea Julie! fudge is the PERFECT gift giving treat – it’s so portable!
Totally not too early for holiday treats – it will be Christmas before you know it. I love candy canes. Can’t wait to do some baking with them myself!
Laura Dembowski recently posted..Pumpkin Puree
i can’t wait to see what candy cane treats you make Laura!!
Fun fudge! I made white choc fudge last Dec and I need to go look up my own recipe
I think I made it with sweetened cond milk, white choc chips, and confectioners’ sugar…LOL the one good thing about a blog is you at least are forced to write down what you did 
This looks so good, Sally! I love white chocolate, hugely. And with mint – yes!
And I saw your post on Nikki’s site – you’re on fire today!
Averie @ Averie Cooks recently posted..Chocolate Molasses Chocolate Chip Cake with Baileys Irish Cream Glaze
i know you’re a huge white choc fan Averie! I love it too, esp with mint! i have been candy cane crazy lately with those cookies and this fudge!
I love peppermint candies around the holidays. The peppermint kisses are fantastic and the Frango mints…mmmm! Is it wrong that I am already thinking about my holiday baking list?
luv what you do recently posted..Turkey Meatball and Barley Soup
i already HAVE a holiday baking list Jennifer! I can’t wait to see what you make!
Bring on the holiday baking! Girl, chocolate and peppermint is my favorite holiday combination. I’m drooling over these photos–this look phenomenal!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Weeknight Bolognese
aww thank you Ashley! we are twins my friend – b/c i love love love choc + peppermint together as much as you
I love that you kept these for yourself! I’d have a hard time sharing them too. And the swirly chocolate on top is a detail that makes this fudge pretty AND delicious. I’m just about over my pumpkin craze and ready for all of the mint and chocolate that’s about to enter my life.
Elaine recently posted..Stuffed Chicken Meatballs
although it will be hard to stop baking with pumpkin (which I probably won’t even after thanksgiving lol!!), i’m looking forward to all the peppermint and chocolate treats coming ahead too!
Hi
Any chance you can advise the weight of your choc chips? I’m in Australia and I know our cup measures are different…
Thanks in advance,
Ange
Hi Ange! 2.5 cups of white chocolate chips is 380 grams. Enjoy!
OMG! I found a recipe to make vegan condensed milk so I am so going to make this!! Thank you!!
wonderful, Melisa! let me know how it turns out!
If I worked in your office I’d be 800 pounds hahaha (well, if any of the desserts actually MADE it there) haha
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes recently posted..Pumpkin Blondies
lol! I’m prety sure my coworkers love it and hate it at the same time.
Yes for holiday baking! I have to admit, fudge usually scares me too much to actually make (not to mention, not my favorite thing to eat), but I have to say this looks beautiful. Definitely looking forward to more holiday baking recipes in the future!
Emilia recently posted..You Know You’ve Had a Good Weekend When…
it scared me too, but Emilia – this fudge recipe is easier than anything… easier than cookies, boxed brownies, etc. A must try!
I loooove easy recipes like this! I used to think fudge was daunting too, but there are actually quite a few easy recipes out there, thankfully! The peppermint and chocolate combo here looks simply heavenly.
Colleen @ What’s Baking in the Barbershop?! recently posted..We’re MARRIED!!!
I have to come clean: I turned on Christmas carols for the first time last night AND, I impulse bought a “Snow Day” scented candle. All I need now is a hunk o’ this fudge, and I’ll be in business
Erin | The Law Student’s Wife recently posted..Blue Cheese Soufflé
Erin! I can’t believe you already turned on Xmas music! You are my hero. I am prepared to start listening on Thanksgiving
I want that type of candle! Is it Yanke Candle?
Definitely not too early for holiday treat!! Love how simple yet perfect this fudge is!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction recently posted..Eggnog Muffins with Gingersnap Streusel
It’s never to early for fudge. Especially white chocolate one! I think white chocolate does not get the attention it should. Love the candy cane swirl!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet recently posted..Nutty Nougat Caramel Bites
Anna, I completely agree with you – white chocolate is underrated. I like it better than the milk and dark stuff!!
Sally, we must be on the same brain waves or something – I just picked up candy canes today… woo woo!
Ashley – Baker by Nature recently posted..Earl Grey Truffles
can’t wait to see if/what you bake with them Ashley! xo
Oh my, this is so incredibly pretty and divine! And a whole 8×8″ batch, I swear between my family and I, could certainly polish it off in one night! *epic blush*
I love the swirled chocolate on top and the flecks of the candy canes throughout.
And yes, I’m seasonally challenged too. I made cake batter ice cream in September and still haven’t got around to posting it on my blog yet. So that’ll be coming soon. But then, it’s almost summer in the Southern Hemisphere. LOL.
Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} recently posted..Chocolate Funfetti Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats
Holiday baking madness – BRING IT ON! This fudge looks absolutely amazing! And it’s totally getting me into the spirit of Christmas
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious recently posted..Roasted Shrimp Quinoa Spring Rolls
I have the same fear of boiling fudge, so I love easy to make fudge recipes. Anytime I can make fudge in 5 minutes is a plus in my book. Peppermint and chocolate is a classic…not sure I would share either:-)
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted..Gingerbread Oreo Truffle Bark
Woah Nelly! This looks good! I’m not normally a chocolate and peppermint lover, but I think I’m coming around slowly…
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen recently posted..Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
Sally these look amazing! Yes we do think alike =). I love peppermint and I love fudge, these are perfect!
Jaclyn recently posted..Browned Butter Sweet Potato Casserole
Love how simple this looks. I agree – I’ve stayed away from fudge in the past since I don’t want to bother with candy thermometers, etc. But this… hmm may need to make some very soon… : )
Ashley recently posted..Company Corn
this is the easiest fudge ever! you’d love it for sure
Hooray for peppermint!! I am so excited that the holiday season is here (mostly for peppermint everything…) Plus all of the awesome sweets that come along with it. I have found too many daunting fudge recipes out there, so I like to stick to the simples ones that use sweetened condensed milk too
It’s the only way to go
Nicole @ The Marvelous Misadventures of Foodie recently posted..Black Bean & Sweet Potato Turkey Chili
I swear by sweetened condensed milk in fudge recipes! I’m going to be pepperminted out by January. If that is such a thing!
I love the peppermint fudge, it looks so Christmassy. Can you store this fudge at room temperature or does it have to be stored in the fridge?
Hi Laura!
Store the fudge in the refrigerator.
Hi Sally,
Thanks for the information, I’ll be making these as a Christmas gift as they are perfect for this time of year.
Laura @ bakinginpyjamas.com recently posted..Tailor make your Christmas cake
I love this fudge! And I plan to make it for my coworkers as gifts – it will gift beautifully!
I never made fudge by my self, now I have too. These are amazing!
It is SO easy to make!! Let me know how this turns out for you.
Oh my gosh, I just made this. It is SO good and such a hit with my friends! I was planning on taking it to my co-workers but it might not happen…ha! I’m going to attempt the Andes mint one tomorrow, but quick question – why the shortening in the top layer (I’m baking-dumb)? I pretty much never use shortening so I don’t really want a huge can of it sitting around – could I substitute oil or something?
Thanks, and your blog is fantastic!
Hi! I’m glad you like this fudge – it’s so easy to make and it pleases a crowd! i love the andes mint version as well. the shortening is needed for the top layer of chocolate because it softens and smooths out the melted chocolate. you may use regular melting chocolate and not add the shortening for the top layer if you wish. Hope you enjoy!
This fudge would be gone in a flash in our house!
Hi Peggy! I love love love this fudge! Let me know if you and your family gobble it up
Looks great! When you say “white chocolate chips”, do you mean “white chips” (the white vanilla candy chips in every baking aisle) or do you actually mean chips made of white chocolate? I don’t even know where I’d *find* white chocolate chips . . ..
Hi Christopher, yep – white baking chips.
Hi Sally!
I’ve made this recipe twice now, and both times it’s not managed to look anything like your pictures.. The first time I made it in an 8 x 8 pan, with tinfoil and cooking spray, but the entire bottom half of the fudge stayed too soft (with a melted type consistency) to allow for me to cut it into nice squares; that was after the prescribed 3 hours of chilling. It also mostly stuck to the tinfoil. The top half, though was quite perfect, it was just the bottom half that went awry. I tried to keep it in the freezer for a night to see if that helped, but after a half hour or back to room temperature (to try and serve) it went back to the melted consistency.
The second time I tried to spread it out and make it thinner, this time in a bigger pan and with parchment paper in lieu of tinfoil (though still with cooking spray), and while they were easier to separate into columns, they still stuck to the parchment paper and did not want to form into squares. Any advice? Both recipes tasted wonderful, they just looked.. ugly haha.
Kelsey
Hey Kelsey! I can’t imagine how the fudge would stick to the tin foil and/or parchment paper when sprayed generously with nonstick spray! That is strange. I’ve used the combination of chocolate chips/white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk to make fudge quite a bit and haven’t run into problems. Without physically being there, I’m not sure what could have gone wrong in the few steps to make the fudge – did you use sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk? They are right next to each other in the baking aisle and I know I’ve accidentally bought one over the other by mistake! I’m so sorry the fudge didn’t set up properly for you. I’m glad you still enjoyed the taste of it at least!
I had the exact same issue with the bottom.. how do you get it to harden up? We must be doing something wrong. Are we over melting the chocolate? Does it matter if you use full fat or reduced fat or fat free sweetened condensed milk?
I found that spraying the paper left an oily coating on the fudge itself. Does it matter if you use parchment or foil?
I used White chocolate nestle morsels from the baking isle (same thing as semi-sweet morsels except white chocolate). Is this the wrong chocolate??
Hi Cindy – sorry it didn’t turn out! I hope you can give it a try again. Try using 3 cups of white chocolate chips next time; sounds like there is too much liquid from the SCM for you. You are using the correct kind of white chocolate chips. The fat content of SCM does not matter – I used fat free actually. Try skipping the baking spray.
oh goodness sally! everything on your list looks sinful! i would like to sample each and every one of those delights….hehe
Hi Sally,
I’m working on my first batch and will be making a second batch next week. How did you crush your candy canes? I started in the food processor but worried they would become too “pulverized” and took them out half way through and finished by crushing by hand.
Sonia – this is a super fancy way to crush your candy canes… but I put them in a ziplock bag and rolled them with a rolling pin. haha – not fancy at all! I’ve put them in a food processor for about 5-10 seconds before and that did the trick as well. You want larger chunks for this!
These look fabulous! I think I’ll make these for the neighbors. Yum!! Love your pictures.
Kaylie @ Skinny Muffin recently posted..Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cupcakes
Hey Kaylie! Thanks for the photo compliment and I wouldn’t mind being your neighbor!
I have to make this fudge again soon. Like… tonight.
This fudge is amazingly delicious! Creamy with a crunch, and beautiful too! Thanks Sally!
Thanks Melissa! I do like how pretty it is.
I’m glad you liked the cake batter blondies too!
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