Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge

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!

Jump to:

• ❤️ Family Favorite
• 🙋What Is Fudge
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 👪 Serving size
• 🍽 Equipment
• 🔪 Instructions
• 💭 Top Tips
• 📖 Variations
• More Homemade Fudge Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

❤️ 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

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

1. In medium pan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, half and half and cream of tartar.
2. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil and cook until the syrup mixture reaches the soft ball stage (234 on a candy thermometer).
3. Remove the syrup mixture from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.
4. Add the butter, peanut butter, and vanilla. Beat until thick but still pourable.
5. Pour the peanut butter mixture into an 8x8 pan lined with foil or parchment paper.
6. 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

Cookie Butter Fudge

Brown Sugar Fudge

Pumpkin Spice Fudge

Easy Chocolate Fudge

Salted Chocolate Praline Fudge

Eggnog Fudge

Rocky Road Fudge

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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