Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (2024)

Two tone Cranberry Pecan Fudge with sweetened condensed milk is an easy 5-minute Christmas fudge recipe -- and the perfect sweet treat for the holiday season.

A layer of white chocolate fudge with dried cranberries over classic chocolate fudge with cinnamon chips and pecans creates the best fudge that tastes just like Christmas.

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (1)

squares of Christmas fudge on a white plate

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge is a beautiful festive treat with all the flavors of the Christmas season.

This easy homemade fudge recipe is the perfect holiday treat and great last-minute gift idea -- you can make it in about 5 minutes!

The creamy fudge base is made with semi-sweet chocolate, crazy delicious cinnamon chips (have you had them?!), and pecans.

The white chocolate layer is a simple combo of creamy white chocolate and tart dried cranberries.

And when you take a bite of everything together, it tastes like Christmas time.

Now, don't be fooled by those pretty layers. They may look fussy, but I can assure you, this is an extremely easy recipe for Christmas fudge.

And you can whip it up in the microwave.

More Easy Christmas Treats

  • Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
  • Mocha Coffee Blossom Cookies
  • Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

Why You're Going to Love This No Bake Fudge Recipe

  • Insanely delicious fudge recipe that just might become a new family tradition
  • Festive fudge recipe for your Christmas cookie trays
  • Delicious treat that makes a great gift for friends, neighbors, and co-workers
  • Easiest fudge recipe ever -- no candy thermometer, no double boiler.
  • Simple recipe for foolproof fudge with condensed milk -- no marshmallows, no marshmallow cream.

Christmas Fudge Ingredients

This easy fudge recipe comes together with really simple ingredients.

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (2)

White chocolate chips. Sweet, creamy white chocolate is delicious with dried cranberries and a striking contrast to semi-sweet chocolate.

Dried cranberries. Dried cranberries add festive holiday flavor. You can also use chopped dried cherries, blueberries, or any kind of dried fruit you love.

Sweetened condensed milk. One 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk is divided between the two layers of white chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate fudge.

Butter. A little bit of butter makes the fudge extra smooth and creamy.

Salt. Don't worry, your fudge won't taste salty. Salt is necessary to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients.

Vanilla. A splash of vanilla is added to the chocolate layer only, so as not to darken the beautiful white fudge layer.

Semi-sweet chocolate chips. The chocolate fudge layer is made with semi-sweet chocolate, but you can use milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips.

Pecans. Roughly chopped pecans add texture and nutty flavor. Feel free to use your favorite nuts like walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, or pistachios. You can also toast the pecans for even more flavor.

Cinnamon chips. Hershey's cinnamon chips are DELICIOUS! They add warm cinnamon flavor to the chocolate fudge mixture. You can find them in the baking aisle of most grocery stores, Walmart, or Target.

Step-by-step Instructions

Line an 8 or 9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray.

Pro Tip: To keep parchment paper from slipping around the pan, brush some butter on the pan before laying down the parchment.

For the Chocolate Fudge with Pecans

Place the semi-sweet chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, 2 tablespoons of butter, ¼ teaspoon salt, vanilla extract, and ½ can of sweetened condensed milk in a microwave-safe bowl.

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (3)

chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, and sweetened condensed milk in a clear bowl

Heat in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the mixture is melted and smooth. Add the chopped pecans and stir to combine.

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (4)

wooden spoon stirring pecans into chocolate fudge mixture

Evenly spread the chocolate pecan fudge layer into the bottom of the prepared pan with a knife or offset spatula.

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (5)

offset spatula spreading chocolate pecan mixture into pan

For the Cranberry White Chocolate Fudge Layer

Place the white chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons of butter, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and ½ can of sweetened condensed milk in a microwave-safe bowl.

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (6)

white chocolate chips, butter, and sweetened condensed milk in a clear bowl

Heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.

Stir in the dried cranberries.

wooden spoon stirring dried cranberries into white chocolate fudge mixture

Carefully pour the cranberry white fudge mixture across the top of the chocolate pecan fudge layer and spread it evenly with a knife or offset spatula.

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (8)

cranberry white chocolate fudge spread over chocolate pecan fudge in square pan

Cover with foil and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours or until firm.

Use a sharp knife to cut the fudge into 1 to 1 ½ inch squares, wiping the blade between cuts, if necessary.

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (9)

hands holding up a bar of fudge to show the white and semi sweet chocolate layers

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (10)

squares of Christmas fudge on parchment paper

How to Store Fudge

Store fudge in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week or in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

How to Freeze Fudge

To freeze Christmas fudge, tightly wrap it in wax paper, then in foil, and place it in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to a few months.

Expert Tips

Heat the fudge mixture in the microwave just until the chocolate and butter have melted. Do not bring it to a boil.

No need to cool the chocolate pecan fudge layer before adding the white chocolate cranberry fudge layer. All you need is a gentle touch while spreading the top layer.

Let the Christmas fudge cool completely before cutting.

Take the fudge out of the refrigerator 5-10 minutes before cutting. If the fudge is too cold, it could splinter when cut.

Recipe FAQs

How do you cut fudge cleanly?

There are a couple of things you can do to make nice sharp clean cuts of fudge.

First, be sure to use a sharp knife. You can also run it under hot water to warm it up so it will easily slice through the fudge.

Next, if the fudge is at room temperature, chill it to let it firm up a bit. If the fudge is in the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes. Fudge that is too cold can splinter when cut. How do you store microwave fudge?

If you'll be enjoying your fudge within 1-2 weeks, it is best to store it at room temperature. For longer storage, place it in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

Can I freeze fudge with sweetened condensed milk?

Yes! Christmas fudge is such a great recipe because it freezes really well. To freeze fudge, wrap it tightly in wax paper, wrap it again in foil, and place it in a freezer bag. You can store it in the freezer for a few months.

Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (11)

squares of Christmas fudge on a white plate

Recipe Essentials

An offset spatula works perfectly for smoothing out the top of the fudge.

I always keep a box of these parchment paper sheets handy. They're much easier to work with than rolls.

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Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (12)

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Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (15)

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls

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Cranberry Pecan Christmas Fudge Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good 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).

How hard is fudge supposed to be? ›

Even without a candy thermometer, you can still check if the fudge is cooked by doing a cold water test. Drop a piece of hot fudge into a glass filled with ice water. It should form a soft ball that can easily flatten between your fingers.

Why do you beat fudge? ›

Our answer. Nigella's Vanilla Fudge is a traditional fudge recipe that is made by boiling butter, milk, condensed milk, sugar and golden syrup to soft ball stage. The fudge is then beaten as this makes the fudge slightly crumbly rather than chewy.

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

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.

What happens if you don't boil fudge long enough? ›

The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.

Can I fix fudge that didn'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).

Should fudge be soft or crumbly? ›

The best fudge is smooth and firm. If it's crumbly, it's been over cooked.

Why did my fudge come out like taffy? ›

When something goes wrong when making fudge, The culprit is likely to be the temperature. Chewy fudge results from the excessive moisture present in the mixture, which means the fudge was not cooked to the right temperature and could not be cooked enough to release the moisture.

Why does fudge fail? ›

Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set

If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.

What to do with ruined fudge? ›

Good use of failed fudge: fudge that is too hard, too soft, too runny, too sugary, too chewy, etc. Proportions are as follows: for every 2 cups (roughly 1 pound yield) of any failed fudge that is not runny, you'll need 1 egg, ½ cup all-purpose flour, and ½ cup milk. If fudge is soupy, halve the milk (to ¼ cup).

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!

Why won t my fudge go 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.

How to make your fudge soft? ›

Reset the fudge

Just as you read earlier you have to mix the ingredients and heat it at 234 degrees. But as you are doing it again just add a little amount of water to bring out the consistency. Along with this make sure to add moisture to make it soft.

What is traditional fudge made of? ›

At its simplest, fudge is a dense, soft candy, often made with sugar and dairy products like butter and milk. Nowadays, fudge is usually flavored with chocolate, but you can utilize pretty much any flavor, such as peanut butter, pumpkin, even birthday cake.

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