peanut butter fudge -- easy, microwave, 4-ingredient recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: · By: Beth Klosterboer · Commission earned on paid or sponsored links.

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This is the absolute best Peanut Butter Fudge you will ever taste and it's so easy to make in the microwave. It has an incredibly smooth texture and a lovely peanut butter flavor.

Its unique ingredients give it an incredibly smooth texture and a lovely peanut butter flavor.

peanut butter fudge -- easy, microwave, 4-ingredient recipe (1)

There are many different recipes for making quick peanut butter fudge, but none quite like this one made using creamy peanut butter, peanut butter chips, and white chocolate. It is the best homemade peanut butter fudge you will ever taste.

Most easy peanut butter fudge recipes combine butter and peanut butter with a large amount of powdered sugar and a bit of vanilla. This makes a good fudge, one which I have enjoyed many times, but it can taste overly sweet, can be dry, or even greasy.

Traditional old-fashioned peanut butter fudge recipes have you boil sugar with milk, butter, and peanut butter which can be challenging to make and may end up having a grainy texture. Plus the traditional recipe is time-consuming and requires a candy thermometer.

This easy microwave peanut butter fudge recipe makes the perfect fudge every time.

peanut butter fudge -- easy, microwave, 4-ingredient recipe (2)

This easy peanut butter fudge has a robust peanut butter flavor and is not overly sweet. It looks and feels firm, but when you take a bite, it melts in your mouth.

You can make it plain using the recipe below or top it with chocolate to make Chocolate P.B. Fudge or even Tiger Butter Fudge. and you can even use it to make a Fudge Starfish, Fudge Hearts, and even Fudge Cauldrons.

How to make Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge?

This 4-ingredient peanut butter fudge recipe is so simple. You just melt the peanut butter chips and white chips together in the microwave then stir in the peanut butter and salt, pour it into a pan, and let it sit overnight to firm up. Easy, right? See the recipe below for detailed instructions.

Before you begin, I thought I'd answer some of the most commonly asked questions about making this microwave peanut butter fudge. You can read all our tips for making easy fudge on our FAQ page.

peanut butter fudge -- easy, microwave, 4-ingredient recipe (3)

Ingredients:

white chocolate chips

  • I use Nestle White Morselsor Peter's IceCaps to make this peanut butter fudge.
    • I have been making this type of fudge for almost 30 years and I have experimented with many different brands of white chocolate and find that everyone I serve this fudge to agrees that the flavor is best when I use either of those types of white chocolate.
    • Nestle White Morsels and Peter's IceCaps are actually confectionery coating (a candy similar in taste and texture to chocolate that does not contain cocoa butter). They have a nice creamy texture and sweet white chocolate flavor.
  • You can also use White Candy Melts, white almond bark, or Ghirardelli White Melting Wafersif they are easier to find, but the flavor will be slightly different.
  • You can also use pure white chocolate but they tend to have a more robust custard-like flavor which may mute the peanut butter flavor slightly. You will also need to increase the amount of white chocolate to 42 ounces in order for your fudge to set up properly.
peanut butter fudge -- easy, microwave, 4-ingredient recipe (4)

peanut butter chips

peanut butter

  • I use Jif Creamy Peanut Butter and love the flavor of the fudge it makes.
  • Choose your favorite peanut butter if you prefer a different flavor.
  • NOTE: I have not tested this recipe using natural peanut butter but assume that if it's well stirred that it will work all right.

salt

  • A pinch of salt will balance the sweetness of the white chips and will help to intensify the peanut butter flavor.

Microwave method:

  1. Combine white chocolate and peanut butter chips together in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl.
  2. Heat for 60 seconds on high power, then stir.
  3. Heat for another 60 seconds on high power, then stir.
  4. Then heat for 45 seconds and let the bowl sit in the microwave for 3 minutes before stirring.
  5. If all your white chocolate and peanut butter chips are not melted at this point you can heat it for 15-second increments, stirring after each, until melted.
    • When you are melting chocolate chips of any kind in the microwave, they will appear to hold their shape until you begin to melt them. It is important that you do not overheat the chocolate or it will burn.
    • So be sure to heat and stir even though the candy looks solid.
    • Microwaves heat from the middle out so you need to move the chocolate that is hotter out so it won't continue to heat up.
  6. Now stir in creamy peanut butter and salt.
  7. Pour into a 9x13-inch pan and set aside for at least 6 hours.

How to make smooth peanut butter fudge:

  • This recipe will create amazingly smooth and creamy fudge.
  • Use creamy peanut butter to get the best texture.
  • Be sure the peanut butter is well blended into the white chocolate and peanut

What size pan should I use?

  • You'll want to use a 9 by 13-inch pan.
    • This recipe makes a large quantity of really thick pieces of homemade peanut butter fudge.
    • You can cut the recipe in half if you just want to just fill an 8-inch square pan or you can fill two 8-inch square pans using the recipe as written if you'd like thinner fudge.
  • You can use metal, glass, ceramic, tin foil, or silicone pans.

Should I line my pan?

  • Lining the pan will make the removal of the fudge much easier than if you just buttered or sprayed the pan.
  • You can line the pan with non-stick tin foil, regular tin foil that is buttered or sprayed with cooking spray, or strips of parchment paper.
  • If you use a silicone pan you do not need to line it with anything. The fudge should release beautifully from the silicone pan.

Video

Be sure to watch this video to see how to make these easy microwave peanut butter fudge using just four ingredients.

This recipe was originally posted on August 21, 2018.

Storage

  • Store at room temperature in an airtight container.
    • A metal tin will keep the fudge the freshest for almost 2 months.
    • A plastic airtight container will keep this fudge fresh for about 1 ½ months.
    • You can freeze this peanut butter fudge. Wrap it well in wax paper, place it in a zip-top bag, and inside an airtight container to keep it from picking up any odors in the freezer. It will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.
    • To thaw, remove from freezer and let sit at room temperature in its container for at least 1 hour before opening.

I hope you enjoy this recipe for homemade peanut butter fudge. I think it's the easiest microwave peanut butter fudge recipe that makes the most amazingly creamy fudge. If you agree that this is the best peanut butter fudge in the world, I'd love to hear it in the comments below.

Variations

If you'd like to have some fun with peanut butter fudge you can top it or swirl it with chocolate ganache. You can even make adorable treats using peanut butter fudge like these...

peanut butter fudge -- easy, microwave, 4-ingredient recipe (6)

Can you believe that each of the treats pictured above is made using this creamy peanut butter fudge?
See the other step-by-step recipe tutorials at HungryHappenings.com.

Chocolate PB Fudge Cauldron PopsFudgy Cat Pops
Cocoa Crispy Peanut Butter PinwheelsEaster Egg BunniesChocolate Covered Fudge Bunnies
PB&J BrainsFudge Filled Artisan ChocolatesFudge Starfish
Not Pictured - White Chocolate PB Fudge BaseballsPB Fudge Hearts

Related Posts

If you want to see more easy fudge recipes be sure to check these out.

  • chocolate peanut butter fudge
  • tiger butter fudge
  • fudge peanut blossoms
  • moose tracks fudge

Recipe

5 from 27 votes

peanut butter fudge -- easy, microwave, 4-ingredient recipe (11)

Print

Peanut Butter Fudge

Prep Time

10 mins

Resting Time

6 hrs

Total Time

14 mins

This 4-ingredient microwave peanut butter fudge is so easy to make and is creamier than any other fudge you've ever tasted.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: peanut butter fudge

Servings: 49 pieces

Calories: 163 kcal

Author: Beth Klosterboer

Ingredients

  • 36 ounces Nestle White Morsels* (3 bags, about 6 cups)
  • 24 ounces Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips (2 bags, about 4 cups)
  • 40 ounces Jif Creamy Peanut Butter
  • ¼ teaspoon table salt
  • *NOTE: If using pure white chocolate instead of the Nestle White Morsels, use 42 ounces.

Instructions

  1. Line a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan with non-stick tin foil or parchment paper.

  2. Combine white and peanut butter chips in a large (12-cup or larger) microwave-safe mixing bowl.

  3. Heat on high power in the microwave for 1 minute.

  4. Remove and stir.

  5. Heat for another minute, then stir, and another minute, then stir.

  6. Then heat for 45 seconds and let the bowl sit in the microwave for about 3 minutes.

  7. Remove and stir until it's completely melted.

  8. If needed, heat for 15-second increments, stirring after each until melted.

  9. Add peanut butter and salt and stir until well combined.

  10. Pour into the lined baking pan.

  11. Cover with tin foil and set aside for about 6 hours.

  12. To speed up this process you may refrigerate for about 2 hours.

  13. Remove the fudge from the pan and peel off the parchment paper or tin foil.

  14. Cut into 96 squares and serve.

Recipe Notes

  • *You can use white confectionery coating wafers (like Candy Melts) in place of the white morsels.
  • For thinner fudge pour into two 8 inch or 9 inch square pans.
  • For really thin fudge pout into two 9x13 inch pans.
  • If you cut into 48 larger pieces (as you see pictured) each piece will have 326 calories.
  • Author
  • Recent Posts

Beth Klosterboer

Hi, I'm Beth, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I share my fun food recipes at HungryHappenings.com, easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy fudge recipes to share with you here.

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peanut butter fudge -- easy, microwave, 4-ingredient recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why won t my microwave fudge set? ›

Fudge Didn't Set

If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).

Why did my peanut butter fudge not get hard? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

What should you not do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

What thickens fudge? ›

If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream. Stir the fudge as it heats, but only until the sugar in the chocolate is completely melted again.

Why is my fudge so soft in the microwave? ›

there is too much leftover water in the syrup and the resulting fudge is soft. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 15 to 30 ml (1 or 2 tbsp.) of 35% cream and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely melted.

What can I do with peanut butter fudge that didn't set? ›

Options for what you can do with your unset fudge:

OPTION 1) Depending on how runny it is, you can either use it as a frosting for cakes, or a sauce for ice-cream. OPTION 2) Freeze it overnight. Cut it into squares.

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.

Why does my peanut butter fudge taste grainy? ›

– There are a number of reasons why the fudge was grainy. It might be that you haven't dissolved all the sugar before boiling the fudge mixture. It could be that there just wasn't enough fluid or fat to enable the sugar to dissolve or it might even be that the fudge wasn't beaten long enough or hard enough.

Why is my peanut butter fudge chewy? ›

If the fudge is very soft and slightly chewy then it is possible that it did not quite cook to soft ball stage and next time the mixture should be cooked to a slightly higher temperature (soft ball is 112-116c/235-240F and a sugar or candy thermometer can help).

How do you make Paula Deen's 5 minute fudge? ›

Combine the sugar, milk, butter and salt. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the chocolate and stir until melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, nuts and marshmallows until melted; mix well.

Why is my 3 ingredient fudge not setting? ›

Why won't my 3 ingredient fudge set? This often happens when the condensed milk and chocolate chip mixture isn't hot enough to start. Everything must be completely melted before it is transferred to the pan to cool.

Will powdered sugar thicken fudge? ›

How to thicken your fudge? If your fudge it noticeably thin, you may want to add more chocolate. If you are out of chocolate, you can also add 1/4-1/2 cup of powdered sugar. This, however, can make the fudge very sweet.

Do you stir fudge while it is boiling? ›

Brush the sides of the pan with a wet brush at the beginning of cooking to dissolve sugar crystals stuck to the sides. Never stir the mixture during cooking or sugar could crystallize again. The mixture may seize and become grainy. Use a candy thermometer or conduct a cold water test to check if the fudge is done.

Can you beat fudge in a stand mixer? ›

Pour the mixture over the chocolate, being sure to shake, not scrape, the mixture from the pot. Set aside to cool for 10 to 12 minutes. (This prevents a grainy consistency.) Using the clean wooden spoon or a standing mixer on low speed, stir or beat the mixture until the chocolate is completely melted and incorporated.

Why is my fudge crumbling when I cut it? ›

The ingredients for fudge are combined and cooked to 234 degrees, cooled to 110 degrees without stirring, then beaten until creamy. Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard.

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