Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (2024)

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Easy maple walnut fudge recipe is perfect for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

The traditional fudge recipe is made with pure maple syrup and features plenty of flavor.

An Easy Fudge Recipe

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (1)

Fudge can be intimidating to make, but this is an easy recipe that will be a hit at any party, and it’s always a good idea to give as gifts.

The Perfect Holiday Gift

People will love you if you give the creamy fudge as a gift because it is the perfect treat. Last year we took fudge to the kid’s school around the holidays and everyone ate it right up.

The flavor is a deep, creamy, chocolatey flavor with crunchy walnuts.

The first time I made this fudge I wanted to keep eating it. It’s decadent and it’s seriously delicious fudge.

And maple syrup recipes are always a hit. They are rich with flavor and usher in the comforts of fall.

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (2)

Maple Walnut Fudge Ingredient Checklist

  • Salted butter
  • White granulated sugar
  • Maple syrup
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • White chocolate chips
  • Marshmallow cream
  • Chopped walnuts
  • Vanilla extract

Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

How To Make Maple Walnut Fudge

  1. Line a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish with parchment paper.
  2. Add the butter to a large saucepan and melt on medium-high heat.
  3. Next, add the sugar, maple syrup, and sweetened condensed milk and mix well.
  4. Bring to a full boil, stirring often, and cook until the candy thermometer reaches 234-degrees.
  5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the marshmallow cream and white chocolate chips until melted.
  6. Add the vanilla extract and mix.
  7. Finally, add the chopped walnuts and mix. Pour the fudge into the prepared pan and sprinkle some more walnuts on top.
  8. Allow the fudge to set up for at least two hours.
Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (3)

Step-By-Step Instructions

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Start by melting the butter in a large saucepan on medium high to high heat.

I made this recipe in a medium saucepan, but you really need one that will allow the fudge ingredients to expand as they cook and it’s a mess when it boils over.

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Pour the real maple syrup into the pan.

The real stuff gives the fudge a much better flavor than just maple flavoring with maple extract. (Thank you maple tree).

We vacationed in Vermont last year and toured a small maple syrup plant.

Sugarbush farms makes the best maple syrup.

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Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the pan.

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Add the sugar to the saucepan and mix the ingredients together.

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Bring the fudge to a full rolling boil. Add the candy thermometer to the pan and cook the ingredients until the temperature reaches 234-degrees.

TIP: Be sure not to allow the thermometer to touch the bottom of the pan or you will get an incorrect reading.

If you don’t have a thermometer you can try the soft ball stage method. I am not very good at it, so I like to use the candy thermometer.

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (9)

After the fudge reaches 234-degrees, remove the pan from the heat and add the marshmallow cream. Stir until it melts.

I always add the marshmallow cream before the chocolate chips because the hotter the mixture is, the easier the marshmallow cream will melt.

You can use either Marshmallow Fluff or Jet Puffed Marshmallow Creme, as either one will work.

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (10)

Next, add the white chocolate chips to the mixture and stir to melt.

For whatever reason, white chocolate chips don’t want to melt as easily and you have to stir a little bit more than usual.

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (11)

Finally, add the chopped walnuts to the pan and mix until well combined.

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (12)

Pour the fudge mixture into a 9″ x 13″ baking dish.

You can either grease the dish or cover it with parchment paper. I sprayed the dish with non-stick spray and then placed parchment paper over that so it would stay in place.

Using parchment paper makes it easy to pull the fudge out, after it sets up, and cut into pieces.

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Sprinkle a few more walnuts on top and let the fudge set up for about two hours.

If you’re in a hurry, you can put the fudge in the refrigerator and it will set up faster.

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Once the fudge sets up, you can lift fudge out easily with the parchment paper, grab a sharp knife, and slice.

I got about 28 pieces out of the pan, but you can cut them into small squares and get even more if you have a larger crowd.

The small pieces are perfect finger foods at a party (and my favorite kind).

More Homemade Fudge Recipes

  • Old-fashioned fudge with peanut butter – this fudge is made with creamy peanut butter for a sweet treat.
  • Dark chocolate fudge with sea salt – is for those that love dark chocolate. The sprinkles of salt are wonderful for bringing out all of the flavor.
  • Chocolate frosting fudge – the easy recipe is made with just two ingredients. You can’t ask for a more delicious and easy recipe.
  • Butter pecan fudge – heavy cream, brown sugar, powdered sugar, and a few more ingredients make up this decadent fudge.
  • The best chocolate fudge recipe – talk about yummy desserts, this fudge is traditional, creamy, rich, and chocolatey.
  • Tiger butter homemade fudge – you only need a few ingredients for this recipe and it not only turns out fantastic, but beautiful with swirls of chocolate. It’s the perfect gift.
  • Cake batter fudge – you will love the ingredients in this recipe with cake mix, sweetened condensed milk, white chocolate chips, and a few tasty items.
  • Caramel apple fudge from the First Year Blog is sweet, delicious, and we love it for the fall.

How Do I Store The Creamy Maple Fudge?

You can store the fudge in an airtight container on either the counter or in the refrigerator.

The fudge can be kept at room temperature or in the refrigerator. It will last about a week longer in the refrigerator.

More Delicious Maple Desserts

  • Maple pecan pie
  • Pumpkin spice bread with maple cream icing

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe

Maple syrup fudge is a delicious addition to the holiday dessert table. The creamy fudge is easy to make and a hit with everyone.

Print out the recipe below for the decadent maple treat.

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (15)

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe

Yield: 28 pieces

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Easy maple walnut fudge recipe is perfect for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The traditional fudge recipe is made with pure maple syrup and features plenty of flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup salted butter
  • 2 cups granulated white sugar
  • 1 cup pure maple syrup
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 12 ounces white chocolate chips
  • 7 ounces marshmallow cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups walnuts, chopped

Instructions

  1. Add the butter to a large saucepan and melt on medium high heat.
  2. Next, add the sugar, maple syrup, and sweetened condensed milk and mix well.
  3. Bring the ingredients to a full rolling boil, place the thermometer in the pan, and cook until the mixture reaches 234-degrees.
  4. Take the saucepan off the burner and mix in the marshmallow cream until it melts.
  5. Add the white chocolate chips and mix until melted.
  6. Next, add the vanilla extract and mix.
  7. Finally, add the chopped walnuts and mix well. Pour into a 9" x 13" inch casserole dish lined with parchment paper.
  8. Sprinkle some more walnuts on top of fudge and allow the fudge to set up for at least two hours.

Notes

TIP: Make sure the thermometer does not touch the bottom of the pan or you will get an incorrect reading.

TIP: Line the pan with parchment paper and it will be easier to lift the fudge out to cut after it sets up.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 28Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 349Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 1gSugar: 43gProtein: 4g

Nutrition is approximate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Julie Pollitt( Blogger Behind Back To My Southern Roots )

Hi there! I’m Julie Pollitt from ‘Back To My Southern Roots.’ My love for cooking started way back on my grandparents’ farm in Tennessee. Those sunny days, the smell of biscuits in the oven, and all the family fun really sparked my passion for cooking. On my blog, I share more than just recipes – they’re like stories from my life, full of Southern warmth and homey goodness. The best part? Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a kitchen pro, you’ll find my recipes super easy to whip up. So, come on, pull up a chair, and let’s make some delicious memories!

Easy Maple Walnut Fudge Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Tips for Making Fudge
  • Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
  • Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
  • Beat Thoroughly.
Mar 8, 2023

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.

What consistency should fudge be before it sets? ›

The fudge is ready when a candy thermometer reads between 112°C to 114°C (234°F to 237°F) or the mixture forms a soft ball in cold water. Let the mixture cool before beating.

Is fudge supposed to be hard or soft? ›

Is fudge supposed to be hard or soft? - Quora. Good fudge should be firm, but should yield to pressure. You should be able to pick up a good chunk of it without it deforming it in any way, but if you press on it you should get an indentation.

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 makes high quality 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).

Why is my maple fudge not setting? ›

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.

Can you fix fudge that didn't set? ›

It sounds like your fudge simply wasn't heated enough. ... If it's overcooked (resulting in grainy fudge) or undercooked (resulting in poor setting) all you really need to do is add a bit of cream, reheat the fudge to the target temperature, and let it set again.

How do you firm up homemade 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.

Should I stir fudge while boiling? ›

Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.

Can you over beat fudge? ›

Beating the cooled batter is one of the crucial steps of fudge-making, but overbeating can turn fudge hard as a rock. Pay close attention to the change in appearance and only beat the fudge until it loses its glossy sheen.

What does soft ball mean when making fudge? ›

making of fudge

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.

Why is my maple fudge grainy? ›

Fudge usually behaves this way when it's not cooked to a high enough temperature (due to oversight or a faulty candy thermometer). If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature.

What is the best pan to make fudge in? ›

Opt for a pot that can contain approximately four times the total volume of your fudge ingredients. Secondly, the pot's material should allow for good heat distribution hence your top choice should be copper cookware or a pot with a copper core.

Why did my fudge come out like taffy? ›

Apart from the incorrect temperature, chewy fudge could result from inadequate beating. When it has cooled to 110 to 113 degrees F (43-45 degrees C), beat until it is creamy and smooth. The process could take between 20 and 30 minutes. The mixture should begin to lose it's gloss and become more matte.

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!

What makes fudge softer? ›

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.

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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