Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (2024)

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Slow cooker fudge (or crockpot fudge), with only 4 ingredients, is so easy to make and even more delicious to eat!

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (1)

Slow cooker fudge is our new favourite treat. With only 4 ingredients, it’s so easy to make and cooking it in a slow cooker makes sure it’s smooth and delicious!

We’ve tried to make tablet (a Scottish treat a wee bit like fudge) a few times but with limited success. Trying to get it to the right temperature, for the right amount of time, even with the help of a digital thermometer seemed to defeat us. It’s also not a great thing to try and make with children, as boiling sugar and small hands don’t go well together.

This slow cooker fudge made with condensed milk and chocolate seems to solve all those problems. It’s so easy, you don’t have to worry about getting it to the right temperature and as you’re not doing it on the hob or boiling any sugar it’s safe enough for children to help with.

This recipe makes a simple milk chocolate fudge but you can experiment and add different flavours – try white chocolate instead of milk or add a little dark chocolate to make it less sweet. You can also add sweets like M&Ms or sprinkles on top to add a little crunch.

How can kids help to make slow cooker fudge?

This is a really easy recipe, so children of any age should be able to help make it. Kids can help to break up the chocolate, add the condensed milk and stir it all together. If you trust your little one around a slow cooker they can do almost all of this themselves.

Could I use a microwave?

Yes. I like melting everything together really gently in a slow cooker or even on a double boiler but if you prefer you can use a microwave.
Simply pop everything into a microwavable bowl and heat it at 80% power in 30 second intervals. Stir it in between each microwave blast and stop when everything has melted and come together.

You can also make fudge in a double boiler. To do it this way, simply add all the ingredients to a heatproof bowl, then place it on top of a pan of simmering water. Keep stirring until all the ingredients have melted then pour it into your baking tin to set.

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (2)

How long does the fudge keep?

This fudge will keep for a week or two in an airtight container. This makes it ideal as a homemade gift for friends and family.

If you want to keep the fudge for longer, you can freeze it for a few months. Simply wrap it well in cling film, and pop it in a freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw it thoroughly at room temperature overnight before serving it.

Other fudge recipes

If you liked this fudge you’ll love our other fudge recipes:

Biscoff fudge
Maltesers fudge
Rocky road fudge
Mint chocolate fudge
Easter fudge
Chocolate chip fudge
Maple fudge
Nutella fudge
Strawberry fudge
White chocolate fudge
Oreo fudge

Useful equipment

You might need the following baking tools/gadgets to make this slow cooker fudge

Digital scales
Slow cooker
Mixing bowl
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Spatula
Baking tin

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Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (3)

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 10 minutes plus 2 hours cooking and 2 hours setting

Serves: 30+ pieces

Ingredients

500g (3 cups) milk chocolate
1 tsp vanilla extract
A large knob of butter
1 can (395g or 14oz) sweetened condensed milk

how to make slow cooker fudge

Break the chocolate up

Get your children to help you break up the chocolate into small pieces. Once we’d done that we also chopped the pieces a little more with a knife to help it melt a bit quicker.

Add it to your slow cooker or crockpot.

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (4) Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (5)

Add everything to your slow cooker

Get your kids to help you add the vanilla extract, butter and condensed milk to your slow cooker.

Give everything a good mix.

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (6) Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (7) Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (8)

Cook the condensed milk fudge

Pop the lid on your slow cooker and leave the fudge to cook on a low heat for around 2 hours. Stir it with a non stick spoon every 15 minutes or so.

Leave the fudge to set

Line an 8 inch baking tray with baking paper. You can use a larger or smaller tin if you want thicker or thinner fudge.

Put the fudge in the fridge for a few hours until it has set.

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (9) Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (10) Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (11)

Cut into small squares with a sharp knife (this isn’t a job for the kids). We cut it into six pieces one way and six the other to get 36 pieces in total, but you could make them smaller or larger to get more/less.

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (12)

Serve and enjoy.

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (13)

Condensed milk fudge

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (15)cookingwithmykids

Slow cooker fudge or crockpot fudge, with 4 ingredients, is so easy to make. Simply melt chocolate, condensed milk, butter and vanilla extract in your slow cooker for a few hours, stirring every 15 minutes, then leave to set. Yum

4.75 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Setting time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine British

Servings 30 pieces

Calories 93 kcal

Ingredients

  • 500 g milk chocolate
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • A large knob of butter
  • 1 can 395g sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

Add everything to your slow cooker

  • Break the chocolate up and add it to your slow cooker. Add the vanilla extract, butter and condensed milk to your slow cooker.

  • Give everything a good mix.

Cook the slow cooker fudge

  • Pop the lid on your slow cooker and leave the fudge to cook on a low heat for around 2 hours. Stir it with a non stick spoon every 15 minutes or so.

Leave the fudge to set

  • Line an 8 inch baking tray with baking paper. You can use a larger or smaller tin if you want thicker or thinner fudge.

  • Put the fudge in the fridge for a few hours until it has set.

  • Cut into small squares and enjoy.

Video

Keyword chocolate, treat

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Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (16)

Similar recipes

If you like this fudge, you’ll love our Biscoff fudge, our condensed milk cookiesand our easy baking recipes for kids.

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (20)

Slow cooker fudge | Easy recipe | Cooking with my kids (2024)

FAQs

Is evaporated milk or condensed milk better for fudge? ›

Tips For Making Dad's Old Fashioned Fudge

Choose Pure Vanilla Extract- For a wonderfully rich and robust flavor, pure vanilla extract is recommended over imitation vanilla. Use Evaporated Milk- Make sure to use evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk.

What should you not do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

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.

What makes fudge firmer? ›

Cooking is necessary to dissolve sugar crystals and to evaporate part of the water in the cream. The length of this step has a direct impact on the firmness of the fudge. As water gradually evaporates, sugar is concentrated and the temperature of the mixture rises above 100°C (212°F).

Why won't my condensed milk fudge set? ›

Fudge Didn't Set

If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).

What happens if you use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk? ›

For the most part, if you find yourself without condensed milk on hand, you can substitute an equal amount of evaporated milk. The consistency will be the same, but since evaporated milk is unsweetened, you'll need to add sweetener to match the recipe's intended flavor profile or to suit your personal preference.

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.

Why can't you make fudge when it's raining? ›

Cooking in High Humidity Can Cause Problems

Humidity can cause fudge to boil over in the pan or stay soft when set, so try to avoid working on humid days if at all possible.

What happens if you over stir fudge? ›

Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a boil, do not stir it. If you do, the sugar can crystallize, giving your fudge a gritty texture. As you beat the fudge, pay attention to color and texture. Once the fudge loses its sheen and thickens, put down your spoon.

Can you fix fudge that didn't set? ›

OPTION 3) Sieve together some powdered sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually work this into your unset fudge until it reaches the consistency of dough, then roll out and cut into squares, or shape into balls and then roll in powdered sugar (roll the balls in icing sugar, not yourself).

Why do you add vanilla to fudge? ›

Vanilla is often added to chocolate candies or other chocolate recipes because it complements and accents the flavor of chocolate.

Can you reboil fudge that hasn't set? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

Why did my fudge come out like taffy? ›

If the temperature is too low, the fudge will be too soft and sticky, and if it's too high, it will turn into a hard, crumbly mess. The ideal temperature to cook fudge is between 232-234 degrees F (111-112 degrees C).

What is the softball test 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.

What is the best temperature to cook fudge? ›

Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F). The cooking is intended to evaporate a part of the liquid and concentrate the sugar. The temperature of the cream/sugar mixture (called syrup) rises as water evaporates.

Can I use condensed milk instead of evaporated for fudge? ›

Evaporated Milk Vs.

Sweetened condensed milk also has 60% of the water removed, but contains 40% sugar. Due to the big flavor difference, they cannot be substituted for each other. Always double-check which can you grabbed off the grocery store shelf to be sure it's the ingredient you're looking for.

Can I use sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated milk in fudge? ›

I suggest sticking with the regular version and skipping the fat-free kind. Make sure that you grab a can of sweetened condensed milk and NOT evaporated milk. Sweetened condensed milk is thick and sweet and will give you the proper consistency for this fudge.

Should I use condensed milk instead of evaporated milk? ›

While we don't recommend substituting condensed milk for evaporated milk or vice versa, you can make your own condensed milk when you're in a pinch. Simply heat together 1½ cups of sugar and one can of evaporated milk until the sugar has fully dissolved.

Why is my condensed milk fudge grainy? ›

– There are a number of reasons why the fudge was grainy. It might be that you haven't dissolved all the sugar before boiling the fudge mixture. It could be that there just wasn't enough fluid or fat to enable the sugar to dissolve or it might even be that the fudge wasn't beaten long enough or hard enough.

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