Carnation Famous Fudge Recipe - Tammilee Tips (2024)

How to make delicious Famous Carnation Fudge Recipe! This is the chocolate fudge dreams are made of! Soft, easy to make, and oh so delicious chocolate fudge!

Carnation Famous Fudge Recipe - Tammilee Tips (1)

Carnation Fudge Recipe

Contents show

This recipe was the first fudge I had ever made! I had always wanted to make fudge but heard it took a lot of work, and stories about other bakers’ experiences didn’t give me much confidence going in.

I guessed some made theirs too loose, so they didn’t harden and made a spoon necessary for digging in. I made milk chocolate and peanut butter fudge. I am usually a chocolate lover but also enjoy this peanut butter take.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making epic Carnation Fudge! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

  • Sugar
  • Carnation Evaporated Milk
  • Salt
  • Butter
  • Mini Marshmallows
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Vanilla

Optional: Chopped Pecans, Almonds, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, or your favorite nuts; Peanut Butter Chips instead of Chocolate Chips

Equipment Needed

  • Medium Saucepan
  • 8-Inch Square Baking Pan: This is the perfect size for this fudge recipe.
  • Parchment Paper: I like these 12x12 paper liners. They are easy to pull out, and you can easily cut them down to fit an 8-inch baking pan. You can also use greased aluminum foil, but we prefer parchment paper.
  • Dough Scraper: While generally used for making bread, I love using this tool to cut fudge. It cuts clean lines, and you can easily cut them without trying to contort your wrist to a crazy angle to get a clean cut.
  • Airtight container - for storing your fudge

Treat Boxes: If you're gifting your fudge, these treat boxes work great. They're not holiday-specific, so you can use them year-round. Wrap a ribbon around them or make a fun label, then you’re good. This fudge is the perfect gift.

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How to Make Carnation Fudge

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

  1. Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and salt in a medium, heavy-duty saucepan.
  3. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
  4. Boil, stirring constantly
  5. Remove from heat.
  6. Stir in marshmallows, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract.
  7. Stir vigorously .
  8. Pour into a prepared baking pan; place in fridge
  9. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 36-48 pieces.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead + Storage: The best way to store your homemade fudge is in an airtight storage container at room temperature.

Keeping fudge in an airtight storage container will prevent your homemade fudge from drying out.

You do not want to store fudge in the refrigerator. The refrigerator will cause the fudge to dry out and pick up the scents and flavors of food near it. The last thing you want is for your famous fudge to start tasting like cucumbers or other veggies.

How long your fudge lasts depends on how you store it. If you keep it in an airtight storage container, the chocolate fudge can last 3-4 weeks, if not longer, making it a make-ahead-friendly recipe.

Freezing/How to Freeze: You can freeze fudge, but you want to make sure you protect the fudge from moisture.

The best way to freeze fudge is to cut it into pieces and wrap individual portions in Saran Wrap to protect them from moisture. Place all of the wrapped pieces in a Ziploc Bag or freezer-safe container.

Only place the amount of fudge in each bag you want to defrost together. You can use snack-size freezer bags if you only want to pull out a small amount of Carnation Fudge at a time. This tip is excellent for eating this yummy homemade fudge in moderation!

How to Reheat: When defrosting the fudge, leave it in the plastic freezer bag until defrosted to room temperature to prevent moisture from getting inside.

Recipe Variations + Tips for the Best Carnation Fudge

Substitutions: Here are some easy variations of the original Carnation Famous Fudge recipe!

Milk Chocolate Fudge: You will need milk chocolate chips.

Butterscotch Fudge: You will need butterscotch-flavored chips.

Peanutty Chocolate Fudge: You will need peanut butter, milk chocolate chips, and ½ cup chopped peanuts for some crunch.

Mint Chocolate Fudge: Substitute the semi-sweet chocolate chips for mint chocolate chips.

Additional mix ins - miniature marshmallows

Vegetarian + Vegan Options: Marshmallows are not vegetarian or vegan-friendly since they contain gelatin. Gelatin derives from animal skin and bone parts. Vegetarians will want to replace the marshmallows with a vegan variety, while vegans should also swap the evaporated milk, butter, and chocolate chips with plant-based alternatives.

Gluten-Free: This recipe is gluten-free. Check any labels you are not sure of to confirm their gluten-free status.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: This recipe yields 36 to 48 servings, depending on what size you cut your pieces. Scale the written recipe up or down based on your desired quantity.

Make it Spicy: We enjoy this recipe as-is. However, you can add cinnamon, cayenne, and chili powder to turn it into Mexican Chocolate Fudge.

Sugar-Free: This recipe contains 14 grams of sugar. We have not found sugar-free evaporated milk, so this recipe may not be suitable for those needing to eat sugar-free. However, you may lower the sugar content by replacing the white sugar, chocolate chips, and marshmallows with sugar-free substitutes.

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What to Serve with Carnation Fudge

Carnation Fudge pairs well with fresh, light bites that let its chocolatey decadence shine. Here are some menu pairing suggestions.

Sides: Greek Goddess Appetizer, Super Easy Marinated Olives, Super Easy Bruschetta, Strawberry Bruschetta, Caprese Salad, Dried Apples in the Oven, Watermelon Salad, Pear Salad, Grape Salad, Bacon Candy

Desserts: 3 Ingredient Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip, Cherry Cheesecake Dip, Sugared Cranberries, Watergate Salad, Vodka Gummy Bears, Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding, Tropical No Bake Truffles, Lemon Meringue Cookies,

When to Serve

  • After-Dinner Dessert
  • Coffee or Tea Snack
  • co*cktail Night
  • Holiday Parties
  • DIY Gifts
  • Best fudge for Christmas
  • Easter

Carnation Famous Fudge Recipe - Tammilee Tips (4)

What is the best way to store fudge?

The best way to store your homemade fudge is in an airtight storage container at room temperature.

Keeping fudge in an airtight storage container will prevent your homemade fudge from drying out.

You do not want to store fudge in the refrigerator. The refrigerator will cause the fudge to dry out and it may also pick up the scents and flavors of food near it. The last thing you want is for your famous fudge to start tasting like cucumbers or other veggies.

How long does fudge last?

It really depends on how you store the fudge. If you store it in an airtight storage container the chocolate fudge can last 3-4 weeks if not longer.

Additional Dessert Recipes

Here are some of our favorite holiday sweet treats to make as gifts and for holiday parties:

Buckeye Bars

Rumchata Fudge

Bourbon Cherry Brownies

Mexican Wedding Cookies

White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Reindeer Chow

Do you love recipes? Check out ourcopycat recipes,dessert recipes, and ourCrockPot Recipes.

Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN,Facebook,Instagram, andPinterest,for all of our recipe posts.

Carnation Famous Fudge Recipe - Tammilee Tips (5)

Carnation Fudge Recipe

How to make delicious Carnation Fudge Recipe at home! This is a great holiday gift.

Print Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 36

Calories: 120kcal

Author: Tammilee Tips

Ingredients

Optional

  • ½ cup pecans or walnuts - chopped

Instructions

  • Line8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper

  • Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and salt in medium,heavy-dutysaucepan.

  • Bring to afull rolling boilover medium heat, stirring constantly.

  • Boil, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes.

  • Remove from heat.

  • Stirin marshmallows, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract.

  • Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted.

  • Pour into a prepared baking pan; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

  • Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 36-48 pieces.

Kitchen Tools

  • Saucepan

  • 8X8 Pan

  • Parchment Paper

Notes

FOR MILK CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
SUBSTITUTE1 ¾ cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels.

FOR BUTTERSCOTCH FUDGE:
SUBSTITUTE1 ⅔ cups (11-oz. pkg.) NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Butterscotch Flavored Morsels for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels.

FOR PEANUTTY CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
SUBSTITUTE1 ⅔ cups (11-oz. pkg.) NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels and ½ cup chopped peanuts for pecans or walnuts.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Carnation Fudge Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 120Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 4mg1%

Sodium 30mg1%

Potassium 75mg2%

Carbohydrates 16g5%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 14g16%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 35IU1%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 19mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Love this recipe?Follow @TammileeTIps on Pinterest

Tried this recipe?Mention @TammileeTipsLife when you share a photo!

Recipe originally shared December 11, 2011, updated in 2020, September2023

Carnation Famous Fudge Recipe - Tammilee Tips (2024)

FAQs

Why is my 3 ingredient fudge not setting? ›

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.

Why is my fudge not firming up? ›

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 won't my condensed milk fudge set? ›

If you didn't reach the correct temperature during the cooking process, it might not set properly. Use a candy thermometer to ensure that you reach the recommended temperature. Overcooking or Undercooking:Solution: Cooking the fudge for too long or too short a time can affect its texture.

Is evaporated milk or condensed milk better for fudge? ›

Evaporated milk doesn't have sugar added. The sweetened condended milk is needed as no extra sugar is added to the fudge. If evaporated milk were used then the fudge would not be sweet enough and also would still be too soft unless the fudge is frozen.

How do you make fudge creamy and not grainy? ›

You can fix it. Just place the fudge mixture back in a saucepan on the stovetop with about 1½ cups of water and slowly melt the fudge to a smooth liquid. Bring the liquid to a boil and then to the soft-ball stage and proceed with your recipe (ie: the cooling and stirring steps).

Can you redo fudge that didn't set? ›

OPTION 4) If you think the reason it didn't set was because you didn't heat it to the right temperature, you could try putting it back into the pan and re-cooking.

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.

Can you reboil fudge that hasn't set? ›

Don't panic if your fudge is grainy, nothing is lost it just requires some more work. Pop the grainy fudge back into the pan along with some water and a little cream and melt the fudge back down to a liquid and re-boil it to temperature.

Should I stir fudge while boiling? ›

You should mix the cream, butter, and sugar when making your fudge, but put down the spoon once it has reached its boiling point. Stirring while your sugar mixture is boiling will only form sugar crystals and make your fudge crunchy rather than silky smooth.

What gives fudge its firm texture? ›

Cooking. Cooking is necessary to dissolve sugar crystals and to evaporate part of the water in the cream. The length of this step has a direct impact on the firmness of the fudge. As water gradually evaporates, sugar is concentrated and the temperature of the mixture rises above 100°C (212°F).

How do you harden runny 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.

How to make soft fudge set? ›

If your fudge fails to harden in the fridge, it means that you probably didn't cook it to the right temperature. Fudge is a candy, and that means it is extremely picky about temperature - fudge must be cooked to precisely 237–239 degrees Fahrenheit so that sugar forms the desired consistency when cooled.

How do I know if my fudge is going to set? ›

Points to remember

You know it's ready when a small amount of the mixture dropped into a glass of cold water sets into a soft ball that you can lift out with a teaspoon and pinch between your fingers. Turn off the heat and keep stirring for 5 minutes or until the mix starts to thicken a little.

Does sweetened condensed milk fudge need to be refrigerated? ›

No, the only reason the fudge is put into the fridge to begin with is to help it set faster. This fudge is completely safe at room temperature.

What makes high quality fudge? ›

It's the size of sugar crystals that makes the knees of fudge lovers buckle…the smaller the crystals, the less they are perceived on the tongue and the more the fudge tastes smooth and creamy. Cooking, and beating after cooking, is the key to successful fudge.

What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›

Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

How do I get my fudge to harden? ›

Freezing your fudge is the key to a hardened result.

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