This dense and creamy fudge tastes like a frothy mug of the best hot chocolate, liberally garnished with melty marshmallows, and stirred with a minty candy cane. Pure holiday perfection.
I was always a cookie kid growing up. People could have their icky chocolate, peanut butter, or penuche fudge. Blech.
Pass me the magic cookie bars and the mexican wedding cookies!
Perhaps we can overlook my childhood lack of appreciation for this time-honored confectionry, though, because I did not have this fudge.
This is a fudge to change people's minds about fudge.
I first made it for a holiday pajama movie day that my kiddo's fourth grade class had earned. After all, what better goes with PJs and a Christmas movie than hot chocolate with ooey, gooey melted marshmallows, stirred with a big fat candy cane?
This fudge is all of that--but incarnated into a snackable treat that can't be spilled. This is fourth grade we're talking about, after all!
Is this a rocky road fudge recipe?
If you like rocky road fudge, you'll love this. It's like rocky road fudge that was made at the north pole.
The crushed candy cane and toasted marshmallow top is what really sets this "hot chocolate fudge" apart from a traditional rocky road recipe.
If you really love peppermint, definitely add that into the chocolate mixture. It's wonderful without it though, too. That crushed candy cane on top is the perfect amount of mint for me.
Do you really have to broil this fudge?
Don't skip the final step of putting the fudge under the broiler, because that's what really pulls this all together. I'm a strong believer that marshmallows don't achieve their highest purpose, until they've been properly toasted into puffy, golden perfection.
Broiling this fudge is what gives the top that cozy campfire look, while putting that toasted-sugar crinkle finish over it all. It really makes these irresistible.
Can you make this fudge dairy-free?
Absolutely! Opt for dairy free condensed milk (I like a coconut-based one), and dairy-free chocolate chips. Endangered Species makes really nice diary-free chocolate chips that I use and love in this recipe.
Can this fudge be gluten-free or grain-free?
Yes! The ingredients for this fudge are already gluten-free in most brands, but if you'd like this recipe to be truly grain-free, you're going to want to look for marshmallows that don't contain corn. Corn is everywhere these days, am I right?
"Dandies" is a marshmallow brand that's generally very easy to find, but it does contain soy, so that's something to be aware of if you're also trying to stay away from soy.
This is one of those fudge recipes that just makes you want to share with everyone you love during the holiday season, so it's worth making more than you think you're going to need!
I hope that you and yours enjoy it as much as we do! Merry Christmas!
📖 Recipe
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Fudge
Ingredients
- 20 ounces dark chocolate chips (2 10-oz bags)
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (one can)
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows, divided
- 8 ounces chopped walnuts
- 4 ounces crushed candy canes
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract, optional
Instructions
- Prepare an 8" square baking pan by lining with parchment paper.
- Add condensed milk, chocolate chips, and half of the mini marshmallows (5 oz.), to the top of a double boiler, or a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Melt ingredients over very low heat, stirring frequently until everything is melted and thoroughly mixed.
- Remove from heat, then add the nuts, and the peppermint extract if desired. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
- Add half the remaining mini marshmallows (2.5 ounces), and quickly stir to incorporate.
- Press the mixture into the parchment lined pan. Sprinkle remaining mini marshmallows over the surface of the fudge, and press lightly. (It's ok if they don't feel securely "set" into the mixture. They will after the next step.)
- Place fudge under broiler. I find this works well if the surface of the fudge is near the center of the oven--just a little lower than usual. Watching closely, broil just until marshmallows are puffed and richly golden.
- Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with the crushed candy cane. With a light hand, you can gently tap the crushed candy into the melty marshmallows to help it all set firmly together.
- Refregerate for an hour, or until cool and completely set.
- Remove from pan, and cut into squares. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Anna Chesley
Anna Chesley is a freelance writer living a homestead lifestyle, with a special love for family travel, old books, vintage skills, and seaside living. In addition to founding Salt In My Coffee, she runs the website, New England Family Life, as well as The 1800's Housewife, a website devoted to re-creating authentic 1800's recipes.
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