How to Make Fudge and Freeze It, According to a Dietitian | Livestrong.com (2024)

How to Make Fudge and Freeze It, According to a Dietitian | Livestrong.com (1)

Freezing your fudge is the key to a hardened result.

Image Credit: pamela_d_mcadams/iStock/GettyImages

If you're struggling to get your fudge to harden just right, you may be missing one key step. Preparing the perfect fudge will require some chilling time (and patience).

Advertisement

This Chocolate Maple Almond Fudge, crafted by Christy Brissette, RD and president of 80 Twenty Nutrition, is quick to prepare and will give you the firm, fudgy consistency you're looking for.

Video of the Day

How to Make Hard Fudge

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup no-sugar-added almond butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Advertisement

Instructions

Makes 12 servings

  1. Line your container:​ Line a medium glass or ceramic food storage container with parchment paper. You can also line mini muffin tins with muffin liners if you want to keep your serving sizes small.
  2. Combine the ingredients:​ In a small saucepan over low heat, combine your almond butter and coconut oil. Once the oil melts, stir in the cocoa powder, vanilla and salt. When the mixture looks shiny and smooth, stir in the maple syrup.
  3. Pour the fudge:​ After you've added the maple syrup, pour the fudge mixture into your prepared container or mini muffin tins.
  4. Harden the fudge:​ Place your container or tins in the fridge for 2 hours, which is the time it takes for the fudge to set. Once it's hardened, cut the fudge into 12 pieces or remove it from the muffin tins. Store in the fridge or the freezer (if you don't devour it right away).

Advertisement

Can You Freeze Fudge?

If you prefer harder fudge, freeze it for about 1 or 2 hours after pouring it in a container, Brissette says.

Using a mini muffin tin or silicone candy mold can also help your fudge firm up faster. Thanks to their smaller surface area, they'll help fudge harden much more quickly than if you pour it all into one larger container.

Advertisement

Storing Fudge in the Freezer

Fudge can last you about 7 days in the fridge — but it's best stored in the freezer because the fat (from the coconut oil) helps prevent a crystallized consistency, according to the USDA.

Advertisement

Fudge can last about 2 to 3 months in the freezer, per the USDA. Just make sure to store it in an air-tight container.

Advertisement

Smart Fudge Ingredient Swaps

Almond Butter

This upgraded fudge recipe swaps butter for almond butter and coconut oil, which not only makes this a plant-based recipe but also gives you a little more healthy, unsaturated fat and protein.

Almond butter packs heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats, which may help lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Advertisement

Almond butter also adds some fiber to your fudge, which regular butter doesn't supply. With about 3 grams of fiber per 2-tablespoon serving, almond butter offers about 12 percent of your daily recommended fiber intake, according to the USDA.

Fiber helps keep you feeling full for longer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Maple Syrup

Brissette's dessert also trades refined sugar for maple syrup, which adds sweetness plus some important nutrients, including potassium, manganese and magnesium, and packs fewer grams of sugar than refined forms of the sweet stuff.

Advertisement

Advertisement

How to Make Fudge and Freeze It, According to a Dietitian | Livestrong.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to freeze homemade fudge? ›

Freezing Fudge

Wrap your fudge in an air-tight container. Several layers of saran wrap, vacuum seal, Tupperware should all keep the moisture locked in pretty good. A couple hours before you would like to enjoy your fudge, take it out of the freezer and allow it to thaw out on your counter.

What is the secret to perfect fudge? ›

You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

Can you harden fudge in the freezer? ›

If you prefer harder fudge, freeze it for about 1 or 2 hours after pouring it in a container, Brissette says.

Does peanut butter fudge freeze well? ›

Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes-1 hour. Once fudge is firm you can cut into 15 squares. Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes before cutting into. Store fudge in a freezer safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How do you preserve homemade fudge? ›

Here's how to do it: First, make sure that your fudge is completely cooled. Wrap the fudge tightly, first with layers of wax or parchment paper, and then an exterior layer of aluminum foil. Store the wrapped fudge in an airtight container, which will help prevent freezer burns and ice crystals from forming.

Can you freeze fudge made with sweetened condensed milk? ›

Yes, you can also freeze fudge with condensed milk.

The first being, you'll need to wrap the fudge into cling wrap. You can also use plastic wrap. Just make sure you cut the fudge into appropriate sizes so that they fit into your freezer.

What not to 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

How do you make fudge creamy and not grainy? ›

Grainy Fudge

To avoid this issue, swirl the pan instead of stirring it with a spoon. You can use a wet pastry brush to wipe down any sugar that sticks to the sides of the pot.

What is the ball method fudge? ›

According to most recipes, the ingredients of fudge are cooked to what is termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.

How to make fudge more solid? ›

How do you fix fudge that is too soft? Bring the fudge back to a boil with 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of cream. 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.

Why won't my 3 ingredient condensed milk 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. Heat in 30-second bursts in the microwave, stirring well between each to ensure everything is melting evenly.

How to thicken fudge that won't set? ›

OPTION 3) Sieve together some powdered sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually work this into your unset fudge until it reaches the consistency of dough, then roll out and cut into squares, or shape into balls and then roll in powdered sugar (roll the balls in icing sugar, not yourself).

How to freeze homemade fudge? ›

Wrapping fudge to freeze is a simple 4 step process.
  1. Wrap the fudge (whole block or cut into individual pieces) in plastic wrap. ...
  2. Next, wrap the fudge in aluminum foil. ...
  3. Place the wrapped bundle of fudge in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. ...
  4. Place the fudge in the freezer.
Nov 2, 2022

Why is my peanut butter fudge so hard? ›

If there is too much evaporation, when the cooking time is too long, there will not be enough water left in the fudge and it will be too hard. Conversely, if the cooking time is too brief and there is not enough evaporation, too much water will remain and the fudge will be too soft.

Is fudge good frozen? ›

Freezing is a method that involves turning the liquid components in fudge into solid by exposing them to low temperatures. This process halts the growth of bacteria, thereby extending the shelf life of the fudge. Properly frozen fudge can last for months, retaining most of its original taste and texture.

Does hot fudge freeze well? ›

To Freeze: Cool completely then store this easy hot fudge in a freezer safe jar or bag for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator then reheat slowly in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Be careful not to let it get too hot or burn.

Do you set fudge in the fridge or freezer? ›

The ratio of chocolate to condensed milk needs to be just right, otherwise you might end up with fudge that is too soft or too hard. Do not freeze the fudge to set it. Best way is to just be patient for a couple hours and set it in the fridge. If your fudge hasn't set, then you've gone wrong somewhere else.

Does fudge with condensed milk need to be refrigerated? ›

No, fudge doesn't need to be refrigerated.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Laurine Ryan

Last Updated:

Views: 5827

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Laurine Ryan

Birthday: 1994-12-23

Address: Suite 751 871 Lissette Throughway, West Kittie, NH 41603

Phone: +2366831109631

Job: Sales Producer

Hobby: Creative writing, Motor sports, Do it yourself, Skateboarding, Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Stand-up comedy

Introduction: My name is Laurine Ryan, I am a adorable, fair, graceful, spotless, gorgeous, homely, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.