Grandma’s Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
on Jun 22, 2021, Updated Feb 09, 2024
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Delicious, old fashioned peanut butter fudge is so good and surprisingly easy to make. Freeze it and pack it up for your next party or road trip snack.
This yummy treat comes with a story.
I try not to lose focus when I post recipes but there is no way I can add this delicious peanut butter fudge recipe to my site without explaining why it’s such a family favorite for me.
I’ll save that for the end so you can get to the recipe, but it’s a fun one so stick around!
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Fudge
This peanut butter fudge is made with 5 simple ingredients and a bit of patience.
Once you get the hang of candy making, it’s really satisfying.
We love making classic desserts like pound cake or fun treats like a pizookie for sure, but there is something special about fudge.
To make this recipe, you will need this list of ingredients and supplies:
- Peanut Butter
- Butter
- Milk
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Sauce pan
- Large shallow baking dish
- Ice and water
- Square pan
- Wax paper
- Wooden spoon
Once you have what you need, it won’t be long until you are enjoying this classic dessert.
How to make Old-fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge
The tricky thing about fudge is you don’t want it to burn but you do need to boil it for at least 5 minutes.
To start, combine all of your ingredients and mix well on low heat. Then, gradually increase to medium heat.
Stir continuously to keep the peanut butter mixture from scorching and sticking to the pan.
Once the fudge starts to boil, continue stirring for five minutes.
Have shallow pan or dish nearby with some ice water in it. The pan needs to be big enough for the sauce pan to sit inside.
After 5 minutes of boiling, remove the pan from heat and set it in the ice bath.
Stir the hot mixture again for another 5 minutes as the creamy peanut butter fudge cools and thickens. If you ask me, watching this transformation is the best part!
Once the mixture has thickened, slowly scrape the sides of the pot and pour it into an 8×8 dish lined with wax paper and let it sit for at least 4 hours, overnight if possible.
As soon as the fudge has solidified, remove from the refrigerator and slice! Eat immediately or save it for your next road trip.
A quick note if this is your first time making fudge; be sure to stir gently for best results and don’t splash any of the ice water into the fudge.
Even a small amount of water can alter the recipe and it may not set correctly.
How long does Fudge Last?
No matter where you store your peanut butter fudge, keep it in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out.
I like to cut it into squares before storing it and separate the layers with wax or parchment paper.
In my house, this dessert doesn’t last more than a few days, but feel free to use the following guidelines.
At room temperature, fudge should keep for about 1-2 weeks and you can add a week to that if you plan to refrigerate it. Even longer if you freeze it.
If you are worried your fudge has gone bad, make sure you know the signs before you throw it out!
Can you Freeze Peanut Butter Fudge?
I have good news! This wonderful fudge can be frozen in an airtight container for several weeks, though it never lasts that long in my house.
Some people recommend wrapping each piece individually with plastic wrap and that is fine. But unless you really plan to freeze it for a long time, I think that is unnecessary. You could separate each layer with parchment paper if desired.
I love this easy dessert for summer but it would make a great gift for a special occasion or the holiday season too!
I mean really, is there ever a bad time for fudge? The hardest part is waiting!
Print it: Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
The cooking process is simple but there are a few step-by-step instructions to follow. Feel free to print them below!
Peanut Butter Fudge
Ingredients
- 3 TBSP Peanut Butter, heaping
- 2/3 Cup Milk
- 2 Cups Sugar
- 2 TBSP Corn Syrup
- 2 TBSP Butter
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil on medium, stirring and gradually increasing heat.
- Once boiling, stir for 5 minutes and remove from heat
- Set pan in cold water for another 5 minutes and continue to stir
- Spread in buttered or lined 8×8 pan
- Let set for 4 hours or more
- Slice and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My Grandma’s Homemade Peanut Butter Fudge Story
My dad’s mom was less than 5 feet tall and hearing impaired. That said, she was a FORCE to be reckoned with and boy could she cook.
Especially famous for her delicious breakfast potatoes and peanut butter fudge, which she brought to us on every visit and holiday, everyone wanted what Grandma was cooking.
One summer, my family took an epic road trip from Florida to New England and Grandma’s instructions were that we each eat a piece of her old fashioned fudge recipe each time we crossed a state line.
At the age of 10 or 11, I thought this was the best way to take a road trip ever!
But as we started going through those tiny northern states, the whole family was begging to stop eating fudge. But dad wasn’t having it. Grandma said eat the fudge and eat the fudge we did!
I love that memory and it’s a reminder of how closely food can be connected to our life stories.
Our family recipe is already a hit at my house and my son is already asking if we can add a layer of melted chocolate next time!
