How to make rich and creamy microwave peanut butter fudge with no graininess in just 5 minutes or less. This easy, foolproof fudge recipe is perfect for the holidays, edible gifts or a quick sweet treat. Serve it up as a Christmas treat, or make it for your New Year’s Eve party!
There’s nothing quite like old time fantasy fudge for the holiday season. Fudge is an easy dessert because you can make it in the microwave, and this microwaveable peanut butter fudge is no exception.
You can throw this easy peanut butter fudge together so fast, and it uses simple, everyday ingredients you probably already have on hand in your kitchen pantry. It’s so scrumptious that I always find myself going back for piece after piece! This fun, bite-sized candy is a holiday staple, and it’s chock full of decadent, peanut butter goodness.
Ingredients & Substitutions Notes
- Powdered Sugar – Using powdered sugar is the key to making homemade fudge that’s perfectly smooth with no graininess. If you ever wondered why your fudge was grainy and/or gritty in texture, it’s probably because you used granulated sugar. The sugar crystal size in granulated sugar is too coarse for smooth fudge, which is why I recommend powdered sugar with its super fine sugar crystal size.
- Peanut Butter – I just use creamy peanut butter for this recipe. If you use a “natural” peanut butter, just make sure that it’s not oily at all, as this can make your peanut butter greasy.
- Evaporated Milk – A little bit of evaporated milk makes for a richer taste and a smoother texture in peanut butter fudge.
- Salted Butter – You’ll need softened, not melted, salted butter. I just set mine out on the counter the night before so that it can soften up before I make this recipe. But if you forget, you can also soften it in the microwave in a pinch.
How to Make Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge
Before making peanut butter fudge in the microwave, you’ll need to grease an 8×8 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Let’s get started…
Making Microwaveable Peanut Butter Fudge
- In a large microwaveable bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, salt, peanut butter, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, and softened butter with a rubber spatula.
- Place the bowl in the microwave, cover with wax paper, and cook on high for 2 minutes.
- Pour the cooked mixture into the 8×8 pan that you greased up in the first step, and cool at room temperature.
- Cut into squares and serve. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
How to Serve Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge
That’s it! I like to sprinkle flaky salt over the top of my peanut butter fudge for a little extra flavor. This no bake peanut butter fudge makes the best edible Christmas gift, or you can serve it up at your New Year’s party. Serve it up at potlucks and family get-togethers, or keep a batch in the fridge for the perfect sweet ‘n’ salty snack!
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s
It probably didn’t get heated high enough. You can sometimes fix this by mixing in a splash of water to break it up, then reheat it in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave on high for a couple more minutes. You might reheat it in 30-second bursts, stirring in between each burst, until your homemade fudge is smooth, and the sugar is fully dissolved.
Just as undercooking fudge can prevent it from setting up, overcooking your peanut butter fudge can make it hard, dry and crumbly. If you followed the recipe exactly, and it’s still dry and crumbly, you might try heating it in 30-second bursts, stirring in between each burst. It’s ready to cool once it’s totally smooth and the sugar is totally dissolved.
I recommend storing homemade peanut butter fudge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Alternatively, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
Yes, you can freeze peanut butter fudge. Wrap it in a layer of plastic wrap, and then wrap it in another layer of aluminum foil, or you can transfer the plastic wrapped fudge into an airtight container and into the freezer for up to 3 months.
Optional Add-Ins & Recipe Variations
- Swirl in some melted semi-sweet chocolate chips towards the end to make chocolate peanut butter swirl fudge.
- You can add a lot to homemade fudge. Mix in mini marshmallows, white chocolate chips, toffee bits or even chopped walnuts or pecans for something a little bit different.
- Similar to my buckeye bars, you can make a chocolate ganache to spread on top of your peanut butter fudge to make chocolate peanut butter fudge!
More Holiday Desserts and Candies With Peanut Butter
- Buckeye Balls
- Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls
- No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cracker Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts
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Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup evaporated milk
- 4 tablespoons salted butter softened
Instructions
- In a large microwaveable bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, salt, peanut butter, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, and softened butter.
- Place the bowl in the microwave, cover with wax paper, and cook on high for 2 minutes.
- Pour the cooked mixture into a greased 8×8 pan, and cool at room temperature.
- Cut into squares and serve. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
This fudge is ridiculously easy and So So good and was a big hit with friends and neighbors.