Grandma's Old Fashioned Fudge Recipe

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Grandma's old fashioned fudge recipe has all the flavors of yesteryear, but it's made with modern sensibilities - namely no-bake! It's delicious and so easy.

Closeup shot of squares of Grandma's old fashioned fudge on plate. The fudge squares are decorated in festive sprinkles.

I love fudge, especially when it's as loaded with nostalgia as it is flavor. That's exactly what you get with this recipe. It's full of classic fudge flavors, but it's not a ton of work. You can't get better than that!

Why You Will Love this Recipe

It has old fashioned flavor, but you don't have to make it the old fashioned way.
It's a simple recipe that only uses a few ingredients.
It's perfect any time of year, but it really shines during the holidays.

Top Tip:

DO NOT skip microwaving the flour. This process kills any bacteria that might be hiding in it, so it's safe to eat.

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The highlights are below, but you'll find the complete list along with amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Butter
Sugar
Vanilla
Ground ginger
Ground cinnamon
Ground cloves
Sweetened condensed milk
Melted white chocolate

Overhead shot of individual ingredients for Grandma's old fashioned fudge recipe

Substitutions and Variations

White Chocolate - Check out our substitues for white chocolate page to assist you in your decision-making process if white chocolate isn't available to you.
Add-ins - my grandmother used to rotate between CHOPPED nuts, coconut, cookies, cream-filled cookies, dried fruits, marshmallows, cereal, broken pretzels, M&M's, toffee bits, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, caramel chips, smarties, chocolate covered caramels, mints or sprinkles or sparkles. She would quickly add treats in right before dumping fudge into the pan to set so there could be treats in every bite.
No ginger, cinnamon, or cloves - Try pumpkin pie spice instead.
Skip spices - Instead of vanilla extract use peppermint, maple, almond, lemon, coconut, banana, orange, or rum extract to alter your fudge flavor.
No Sprinkles - Use anything else your heart desires from the add-ins list above. Simply sprinkle on top of the fudge before leaving it to set.

Instructions

This recipe might taste old fashioned but it's not made the old fashioned way. You'll be all done in a flash.

The broad strokes are below. Check out the recipe card at the end of the post for the specific steps.

1: Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla. Then, add microwaved flour and the rest of the dry ingredients and beat until smooth.

Overhead shot of butter, sugar, and vanilla in bowl

Overhead shot of dry ingredients on top of creamed butter and sugar in bowl

2: Combine melted white chocolate and sweetened condensed milk. Then, mix it with the previously mixed ingredients.

Overhead shot of spoon mixing white chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in bowl

Chocolate mixture being poured into mixed fudge ingredients in bowl

Overhead shot of fudge batter in a glass bowl

Overhead shot of prepared baking dish filled with fudge mixture

3: Pour the batter into a prepared dish and top with holiday sprinkles. Then, chill until firm and cut into squares.

Overhead shot of Grandma's old fashioned fudge in a baking dish. The fudge is topped with festive sprinkles.

Closeup shot of fudge squares. The squares are topped with festive sprinkles. The squares are neatly separated.

4: Enjoy!

Closeup shot of fudge square held up by hand with bite taken out

Storage

On the Counter: Store for up to 2 weeks in an air-tight container.

Refrigerator: Store for up to a month in an air-tight container.

Freezer: Wrap fudge pieces in parchment paper, place them in an air-tight, freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Make Ahead: This fudge is delicious when chilled overnight, so feel free to make it ahead of time!

What to Serve with Fudge

Fudge is absolutely delicious on its own or with coffee, tea, or milk. It also makes a great addition to any party's dessert table. Some great ideas include:

Other sweet treats
Berries
Ice cream
Milk
Coffee
Tea

Tips

If you decide to add treats on top or mixed into your fudge, chop them up first to make slicing and eating easier.
Be sure your butter is fully softened so it creams easily and you don't end up with butter bits in your mixture.
Chill this fudge overnight for best results.

Closeup shot of Grandma's old fashioned fudge recipe squares stacked atop one another with bite taken out of top square

FAQ

Do you really have to microwave flour for no-bake recipes?

YES! Flour can and does have bacteria in it. If you plan to use it in any unbaked recipe microwave it for at least a minute.

What does this Grandma's old fashioned fudge recipe taste like?

It tastes like gingerbread, fall, and nostalgia. It's so good!

Can I mix candies into this fudge?

Absolutely. In fact, it's a delicious way to switch things up.

Video

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