This Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge recipe is a wonderful fudge the whole family will enjoy. Peanut butter lovers will love this old fashioned fudge recipe and it is the perfect gift to share with friends and family during the holidays.
This easy peanut butter fudge recipe is a boiled fudge recipe. It has no marshmallow cream or powdered sugar. Sugar and butter is boiled on the stove and once it reaches the softball stage the peanut butter and vanilla is beaten into the fudge. It is really not that hard, so come on and join me and I will teach you how to make the most perfect treat!
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❤️ Family Favorite
My mom always made boiled sugar fudge and for that reason alone, it is my favorite method to enjoy. The end result of this recipe is a creamy peanut butter fudge perfect for gift giving during any time of year.
I have very vivid memories of my mom making fudge in the kitchen on Saturday nights. It was a treat we would often enjoy with popcorn while we watched Petticoat Junction or Green Acres while waiting for Dad to get home from his shift work.
My Aunt Ann has memories of my mother making fudge at home for them also. To say my mom must have been a master fudge maker for a long time is not an exaggeration! I love that my mom knew how to make good old fashioned fudge and taught me how to do it as well!
🙋What Is Fudge
According to Wikipedia, fudge is a candy that originated in the late 19th century and became a popular treat to make at home due to decreasing costs in refined sugars. According to me, it is one of the best homemade candies that is fairly easy to make, although it may take a little practice to get a boiled fudge down pat. But, no worries, I am here to help you do that!
Boiled Fudge consists mainly of sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla and is the type my mom would make and what I consider the old-fashioned way of fudge making. The sugar can vary and when using brown sugar, the end result is more of a caramelike flavor producing what I call Brown Sugar Fudge, or Penuche.
As time passed and technology changed, people started to make fudge with chocolate chips, marshmallows or marshmallow creme. Some fudge recipes start out boiled and finish with beating in confectioners sugar. Most of these recipes implementing ingredients that are considered convenient, are newer candy recipes over the last 40 years.
🥘 Ingredients
Granulated white sugar: there is no substitution here, I recommend sticking to this ingredient, otherwise, the fudge will likely fail.
Half and Half: this is half cream and half milk. I like to use it because it is a little richer and creamier.
Cream of Tartar: this is the ingredient that works magic in the cooking process fo this old fashioned fudge recipe . Cream of tartar aids in setting the fudge and gives it a creamier texture. It breaks the sucrose down to glucose and the glucose into fructose, aiding in preventing the crystallization of the fudge.
Unsalted butter (room temperature): butter aids in preventing sugar crystals
Vanilla Extract will bring all the flavors together and compliment them. Use a good quality butter and do not substitute margarine.
Peanut Butter for a smooth fudge go with creamy peanut butter.
👪 Serving size
This delicious peanut butter fudge recipe makes 36 pieces of fudge.
🍽 Equipment
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Heavy bottom saucepan, one that is suitable for candy making like this one.
A wooden spoon, is used to beat the fudge.
Candy Thermometer: be sure to use a good candy thermometer, I use this classic candy thermometer and have used the same one for years. However, there are a couple of other options out there that I would consider that are highly rated. This stainless steel one clips to the sides of the pot, or this infrared thermometer is worth a shot for the price.
8 x 8 inch square baking dish
Aluminum foil to line the baking dish
🔪 Instructions
- In medium pan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, half and half and cream of tartar.
- Bring the sugar mixture to a boil and cook until the syrup mixture reaches the soft ball stage (234 on a candy thermometer).
- Remove the syrup mixture from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.
- Add the butter, peanut butter, and vanilla. Beat until thick but still pourable.
- Pour the peanut butter mixture into an 8x8 pan lined with foil or parchment paper.
- Let cool until completely set. Cut into 36 pieces.
💭 Top Tips
Candy making in itself can be a difficult task. Working with sugar can be touchy and there are a few things to keep in mind when making this fudge recipe.
- Do not use a metal spoon to stir the fudge. Metal conducts heat and will cause the syrup to heat unevenly.
- Use a candy thermometer. If you are a novice to fudge making, the cold water test is a very iffy way for you to determine if the syrup is ready.
- Once the fudge starts to boil, do not stir until it has been removed and cooled slightly.
- Watch the fudge carefully as you are beating it. Once the fudge starts to lose its gloss (it won't look shiny and wet), it is time to pour it into the square pan lined with foil.
📖 Variations
- Use crunchy peanut butter in place of creamy peanut butter.
- Make a loaded peanut butter fudge and sprinkle the top of the fudge with peanut butter candies, peanut butter chips, toffee chips, and more. Do this immediately after pouring the fudge into the pan and press the candy lightly to adhere it to the fudge.
More Homemade Fudge Recipes
Salted Chocolate Praline Fudge
Love caramel? Then you will love these Caramel Popcorn Balls!
This recipe for sweet and spicy peanut brittle has a wonderful hint of smoky chipotle.
Peanut butter fans will love this No Bake Peanut Butter Pie.
If you made this Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe, please give it a star rating.
📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge
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Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup half and half
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- In medium pan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, half and half and cream of tartar.
- Bring the sugar mixture to a boil and cook until the syrup mixture reaches the soft ball stage (234 on a candy thermometer).
- Remove the syrup mixture from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.Add the butter, peanut butter, and vanilla.
- Beat until thick but still pourable.
- Pour the peanut butter mixture into an 8x8 pan lined with foil or parchment paper.
- Let cool until completely set. Cut into 36 pieces.
Michelle
I have made fudge for years but never used a recipe with cream of tartar. Game changer! Now to send it home with the kids so I don’t over indulge.
Anette
Very Good! It is creamy and melts in your mouth!
Ginalee
Can you double this recipe?
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Ginalee, I personally don't recommend it because I cannot guarantee it would turn out. You would need a larger pot and would need to be certain it was reaching the correct temperature and with a larger volume, I believe that would be harder to achieve. Having said that, It is quite easy to make and doesn't take too long. My recommendation is to make the recipe as written, but make it twice if you need more fudge. I hope this helps.
Melanie
I've never made fudge at home and this will change! Thank you for the detailed post, I will try it next weekend! Looks easy and delicious!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Melanie, thank you for stopping by and I hope it works great for you! Shelby
Tammy
I love homemade fudge and you had me at PB with these! I can't wait to give them a try..such an indulgent little treat 🙂
Amy Nash
My favorite fudge ever! Oh man this stuff is SOOOO delicious. I have to be super careful about portion control!
Leslie
You had me at old fashioned and creamy! There's just nothing better than a classic, peanut butter fudge recipe!
Veronika
This is my hubby's favorite treat! So, I made it last weekend and he LOVED it! Such an easy recipe and so tasty!
Elaine
Does it get any better than this peanut butter fudge? Oh wow... I mean, I can't wait to get my hands on these this week!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Elaine! I hope you enjoy the recipe! Shebyl
Kathryn
This peanut butter fudge is super creamy and is exactly what I was looking for. I'll be making this again for Christmas and I'm going to add sprinkles 🙂
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Kathryn, Thank you! Glad it is a new favorite! Shelby
Marta
A great bite, loaded with peanut butter flavor. So smooth and creamy!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Marta, Thank you! Shelby
Bernice
I've never been great at making fudge either which is bad because my husband adores it! I will have to try your recipe and special tricks to get it just right. Thanks for the helpful post!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Bernice, I wish you luck with the fudge! Shelby
Robin Spaulding
While looking for an old fashioned pb fudge recipe I stumbled onto this one. Jumped in with both feet and made this. Lemme tell ya, it’s FANTASTIC!!!! The exact old fashioned peanut butter flavor I remember as a child and just the right consistency. Not too soft and nowhere near the dry, crumbly mess...just perfect! Thank you for the recipe. It’s gonna be a keeper here!
Cathy
Perfect first time! What a great recipe! I’ve been trying to replicate my father in laws peanut butter fudge for years and this is it! Thank you
Shelby
So happy this was a winner for you! Thank you for stopping by and letting me know!
Kala
Turned out really good but Oh My Goodness is it Sweet! I'm wondering how much the sugar could be reduced by without compromising the recipe itself. Would the amounts of the other ingredients need to be adjusted?
Shelby
Hi Kala, I have never tried reducing the sugar in fudge. I understand it's sweet but we don't consume much at a time when it is made. I feel like all fudge is super sweet (I always have to have a glass of water whenever I've eaten anything sweet!) I'm sorry I can't tell you how it would affect the recipe if you did reduce the sugar. It may or may not work. If I get a chance to test it I will and will definitely update the post when that happens.
Lynn
After looking at numerous recipes for peanut butter fudge I decided on this one. I do have a candy thermometer and followed the directions exactly. I had everything ready before I started.
The fudge was very crumbly and dry. Felt like I wasted a lot of time on something that was so “simple”. Back to the drawing board with a different recipe.
Shelby
Hi Lynn, I'm sorry the recipe did not work out for you. Good luck in finding a recipe that will work for you.
Jen
Lynn-
At what elevation do you live? If higher than 500 hundred feet or so, then 234 deg is too hot and your “candy” gets over cooked and will turn out hard. It’s based on the temperature at which water boils at different elevations. At 4800 ft, water boils at a temp 8 deg cooler, or 204 deg, not the sea-level 212 deg. So i boil my fudge to 234 - 8 = 226 deg. You can google for water boiling point at your elevation and / or double check it by boiling water with your thermometer... I finally put the research in after 3 failed batches in Dec (ohh, many failed batches in years prior). The fourth batch there was another problem. 5th batch was it! Hope this is relevant.
Shelby
Hi Jen, thank you for your input!
Kerry Dennis
I to make peanut butter fudge many years ago but lost the recipe while moving. I saw your recipe and bells went off, I will be making this for my family for Christmas and thank you for having this "Old Fashioned Recipe" I am delighted to have found it.
Shelby
Hi Kerry! I am happy you found this recipe and hope you will enjoy it! Thank you for stopping by!
Michele
My husband saw this recipe and said I MUST make this for Christmas. He is a huge peanut butter lover so this Peanut Butter Fudge recipe will be on my baking list this year. It looks incredible. The old-fashioned recipes are timeless classics that are so good they get passed down from generation to generation.
Shelby
Hi Michele, so glad your husband saw the recipe 🙂 It is so good its dangerous for me to have around! Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your comment, it is much appreciated. I hope you and your husband enjoy this fudge!
Katrina
Mmmm! I just might take this and change up the sugars to unrefined and maybe use coconut milk. And of course I imagine trying to drizzle some chocolate over the pieces. Sounds so good for a fudge deprived woman. ?
Shelby
??? sorry your fudge deprived! I hope you can make it work out!! ❤️