The creamiest, smoothest, peanut butteriest fudge ever. Only 4 ingredients and no candy thermometer or stove are required.
Warning! Warning! You are about to enter dangerous fudge territory.
Let me preface this recipe by saying a few things: if you’re a peanut butter fan like me, you should not be trusted around this fudge. One taste and all self control will be lost. All healthy eating plans will flush down the drain. If you were planning to skip dessert today, then I’m sorry.
Not really.
Only 4 ingredients stand between you and irresistible peanut butter fudge. It couldn’t get any easier. (Except for these Oreo balls of course!)
Since there is no flour needed for fudge, you can make this for anyone following a gluten free diet. For even more inspiration, here are 40 gluten free dessert recipes that everyone always loves. This Reese’s peanut butter white chocolate bark is also a peanut butter and gluten free favorite!
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Peanut Butter Fudge
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes
- Yield: 48 squares
- Category: Candy
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Creamy and smooth peanut butter fudge made with only a few ingredients. It’s dangerously good! No candy thermometer, no stove, just a few simple steps to make this decadent fudge.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250g) creamy peanut butter*
- 1 cup (2 sticks or 230g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 cups (460g) sifted confectioners’ sugar*
- optional: 1/4 teaspoon salt
- optional: 3/4 cup add-ins, such as chocolate chips, peanuts, or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the finished fudge out.
- Melt the peanut butter and butter together in a large bowl. I prefer to slice the butter to make melting easier. Stop the microwave and stir the mixture every minute until completely melted and smooth. Remove from the microwave and stir in the vanilla using a large silicone spatula or wooden spoon. Add the salt if you prefer a salty/sweet fudge. Add the sifted confectioners’ sugar and stir until completely combined. The mixture is very, very thick and resembles cookie dough. If using any add-ins, fold them into the fudge while it is still warm.
- Press the fudge into prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with the back of a spatula or spoon. The top will be somewhat oily. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and chill for at least 4 hours or until firm. Cut into pieces.
- Store fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Freezing Instructions: Fudge may be frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw, simply transfer to the refrigerator for 2-4 hours.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 8-inch Square Baking Pan or 9-inch Square Baking Pan | Glass Mixing Bowl | Silicone Spatula or Wooden Spoon
- Peanut Butter: Just like when we make other candy like peanut butter eggs, I recommend using store bought creamy peanut butter, not homemade. If using natural, make sure the peanut butter is not oily at all. Crunchy peanut butter is OK.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Sift confectioners’ sugar before measuring. Weights may vary depending on brand, make sure you measure exactly 4 cups. I used Domino.
Reader Comments and Reviews
This sounds amazing! I want to make this for a party, and we’re hosting over 25 people. How much is the serving size? Will one batch be enough?
Thanks!
Hi Kenz! This recipe makes 48 small fudge squares, so one batch could definitely be enough depending on how much you think your guests will eat!
Would love to try this but what is confectioners sugar? Is it caster sugar or perhaps icing sugar?
Hi Carol, it’s the same as icing sugar.
I made this today, I usually cut down the sugar and this time, I used 2 cups of sugar instead of 4 cups, it’s still very sweet, I can’t imagine how sweet it would be if using 4 cups of sugar instead. I will definitely try it again and will cut down even more sugar.
Perhaps you should consider using a cooked pb fudge instead.
Easy delicious
I have store-bought unsweetened peanut butter. Would you add extra sugar in this case or just follow the recipe exactly?
Hi Rachel, you will have the best results with creamy peanut butter (the processed kind with sugar in it), but you can use another kind if you wish, with no other changes to the recipe. Hope it turns out great!
This peanut butter fudge is brilliant! It’s smooth, creamy, delicious,quick, and easy! The ease of this recipe is fantastic! I’ve repeatedly been asked to make itl i have hand tremors and memory problems due to ms! This recipe is one that i can make myself without help! And that not only gives je confidence but also pride that i can be in the kitchen again!
Hi, I am going to try this. Can I add dry roasted peanuts as that is what I have on hand at this time.
Definitely.
I’m new to making fudge~can you tell me how you got that beautiful marbled look, please?
Hi Mandy, by stirring in the chocolate chip add-ins when it’s warm, they will melt into the swirls/marbled look you see here in the photos. Once in the pan, you could also gently drag a toothpick through the mixture to help create more swirls. Hope this helps and that you enjoy the fudge!
I have made this numerous times it is a big hit at the hospital where my better half works she loves it too. She just made another request for it tonight and I decided maybe I should say it is a big hit. I chop almonds up and add chocolate chips the 3/4 cup add ins. I coat the top with a bag of Ghirardelli milk chocolate melts.
Hi, can I use coconut oil instead of butter?
Hi Claire, we recommend sticking with butter here for best results.
Can this be poured over baked peanut butter bars as they come out of the oven as topping? I’m looking for something that will harden over the bars and then be Individually cut and packaged for sale.
Hi Kary, we haven’t tried anything like that with fudge, but if you’re looking for a thin topping, you might try the chocolate peanut butter topping from this chocolate chip loaf cake instead.
This recipe was delicious, I added roasted peanuts and chocolate chips, the chocolate melted into swirls in the fudge, WOW it was great!
This is my go to recipe for fudge. My bf absolutely loves it. I usually cover it in chocolate. I tried ganache but he didn’t like it as much.
I love this fudge and I have been making it for a while now. The last 2 times it has turned out very soft. It tastes the same just soft.can you help me?
Hi Linda, with so few ingredients here, there are only so many factors! Are you using a different brand of powdered sugar or peanut butter? A different type of butter?
Excellent! I used the chocolate base from the Peppermint Bark fudge, and then put this on top. They both set perfectly. I’ll definitely be making both again.
Bet this would be REALLY yummy with dark roast peanut butter! Think that’s what I’ll try
Did not like this recipe. The butter made it too greasy for my liking.
I really loved the recipe added a thin layer of dark chocolate on top and ground mixed nuts into the mixture after it had been heated.
Great texture and flavor!!!
Can stevia be used in place of con sugar
Hi Larry, We’d love to help but we are not trained in baking with sugar substitutes. For best taste and texture (and so you don’t waste your time trying to adapt this recipe since it may not work properly), it may be more useful to find a recipe that is specifically formulated for sugar substitutes. Thank you!
This is my go to website for almost everything. The peanut butter fudge is sooooo good! My only question is, why do you not have any rocky road fudge recipes??!
Have you ever doubled or tripled this recipe? Does it affect the outcome?
Hi Kelly! It shouldn’t be a problem to double, though it may be tricky to melt large quantities in the microwave – it may be best to make separate batched to avoid this issue. Let us know if you try it!
I’m not the chef here, but I wouldn’t think so. Mine came out perfect. Just use a large pot on the stove and melt on low stirring often. Also use a larger pan to set it in.
Question: How peanut buttery does this taste? I’m having a hard time finding peanut butter fudge that actually tastes like peanut butter instead of sugar and/or marshmallow cream. In other words, I’d like the fudge to taste as close to peanut butter straight from the jar as possible. If I were to add a lot more peanut butter than called for here, would it upset the texture? I just want it to taste like peanut butter.
Hi Tom, we find this recipe to have a prominent peanut butter flavor as written. We do not recommend adding more peanut butter, as it would change the texture and ability for the fudge to set. Let us know if you give it a try!
This is absolutely delicious. I did reduce sugar to 3 cups. I also melted chocolate chips and poured on top. If you like your baking pan with parchment paper, it lifts out and cuts very well. So easy and delicious, I highly recommend it.
easiest thing to make and tastes amazing!! no joke!!
I made this but it didn’t turn out thick prior to setting. So never actually set when it was cooled. Any ideas what I’ve done wrong, I’ve been over and over the recipe. Tastes amazing but certainly not fudge more a gloop!
Hi Nicola! Did you use a creamy, processed peanut butter (like JIF)? A natural peanut butter will be too oily for this fudge to set.
Any tips for cutting it into nice pieces? When I tried to cut mine, it kind of broke apart? I let it sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours!
Hi Jessica, 3 solutions usually work for this– you can microwave the fudge as a whole for 10-20 seconds to loosen it up before cutting. Or if you make the fudge again, you can slightly reduce the confectioners’ sugar so it’s not as firm or reduce the chilling time so it doesn’t “set” as long.
Hi. I’ve tried two of your recipes and they were a hit! I want to try this recipe out but my mom says there’s too much sugar for me to eat. Do you think it would still come out if I used less sugar? 1 cup?
Thank you!
Hi TQ! Sugar provides not only sweetness, but also moisture and structure to this peanut butter fudge. We don’t recommend reducing the sugar for best results. So glad you’re enjoying our recipes!
Okay. Thanks.
It was OK but hard. Taste was good. It was almost like chocolate that had seized.
I didn’t use this recipe but the one from your candy addiction book. Ober u added the peanut butter and vanilla to the cream and sugar mixture it got solid! Recipe says to pour into pan but I had to dump into pan then press down. What went wrong?
Hi Stefanie, sounds like the mixture was pretty thick which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. How did the fudge set?
Have just made a batch of this and it’s chilling in the fridge.
Can’t wait to try it!
It was very easy to make; my peanut butter had a slight salt taste so I didn’t add any more.
I scraped the bowl – back to my childhood – tastes wonderful warm.