This Candy Cane Fudge is a fantastic treat! Soft, sweet, and loaded with peppermint pieces, this festive fudge will be the star at any holiday party.
One of our holiday traditions is making fudge. During this time of year, it's the perfect sweet treat to share with loved ones, gift, or take to parties.
I enjoy creating a variety of flavors for our cookie tins. A few of our favorites are peppermint Oreo fudge and cappuccino fudge. Every year, we add a few new recipes to our classic favorites. This year, we fell in love with this candy cane fudge.
Swirls of chocolate chips and red candy pieces turn this pretty pink fudge into an eye-catching dessert.
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Why You Will Love This Candy Cane Fudge
This white chocolate peppermint fudge is a delightful holiday treat and a perfect gift for friends and family. You can wrap it in paper bags or Christmas tins.
- Easy to make. This simple fudge is made in one pan over low heat. No special tools or candy thermometer is needed. Plus, it's an easy treat to make year-round with starlight mints.
- Amazing flavor and texture. Creamy white chocolate, crunchy candy canes, chocolate chips, and a cool peppermint flavor make it taste like Christmas in a pan.
- Pretty and festive. This candy cane fudge is perfect for Christmas parties and events. The pink color and candy cane pieces make it stand out on dessert tables and cookie trays.
Main Ingredients
This quick and easy candy cane fudge recipe with simple ingredients can be made in minutes. All you need is one large pot and a baking pan.
- White Chocolate - Use good quality white chocolate chips or chunks, such as Ghirardelli. If you like chocolate, you can use milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips as an alternative.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - Adds a rich, creamy consistency.
- Marshmallow Creme - Gives the fudge a creamy, fluffy texture. It can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores and is commonly known as fluff.
- Peppermint Extract - Adds more flavor than just crushed candies.
- Candy Canes - Any color or flavor will work, but I prefer red and white peppermint.
- Mini Chocolate Chips - A fun extra texture and flavor.
- Pink Gel Color - This is totally optional, but food coloring gives the fudge a pretty pink color.
BruCrew Tip: Use the leftover candy canes to make peppermint ice cream or peppermint pretzel bark.
How To Make Candy Cane Fudge
This creamy peppermint fudge is loaded with candy canes and mini chocolate chips. It can be easily made within minutes and is sure to be a hit at holiday gatherings. This fun recipe has the advantage of being able to be prepared in advance.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk and white chips into a large saucepan. Heat over low-medium heat until melted and smooth.
- Add the marshmallow cream and peppermint extract and stir until smooth. Gently stir in the crushed candy canes, then let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Quickly and gently stir in the mini chocolate chips. Pour the fudge mixture into a lined square pan.
- Allow the fudge to set for 4-6 hours or overnight before cutting it into squares.
BruCrew Tip: Initially, the fudge will be soft and sticky. However, once exposed to air, the edges form a crust preventing sticking.
Storage Recommendations
On the Counter - Keep in a covered container at room temperature for 5-6 days.
In the Refrigerator - Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
In the Freezer - Wrap the fudge in a few layers of plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Tips and Tricks
- Line the pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper so you can easily remove the fudge from the pan.
- Crush unwrapped candies in a resealable plastic bag. Seal and crush with a wooden spoon, or go over it with a rolling pin.
- Use red and green candy canes for even more color in the sweet treat.
- Heat the chocolate over low heat because white chocolate can quickly burn or scorch.
- Add more crushed candy to the top of the fudge before it sets up. I don't personally recommend it because the candy can get sticky and wet the longer it sits.
- Allow the fudge to completely cool and become solid before cutting it into pieces.
- Run a large knife under hot water and dry it off to make clean cuts in the white chocolate fudge. Press it into the block of fudge, making one long cut. Do not drag or saw with the knife. Repeat for each cut.
FAQs
Starlight mints are a type of peppermint candy that is available throughout the year. These mints can replace any peppermint candy or candy cane.
No need to refrigerate this fudge recipe. It has a soft texture and will remain in shape at room temperature.
Not at all. Feel free to leave that out. Your fudge will be mostly white with swirls of candy cane pieces and chocolate chips.
More Holiday Treats
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Recipe
Candy Cane Fudge
This Candy Cane Fudge is a fantastic treat! Soft, sweet, and loaded with peppermint pieces, this festive fudge will be the star at any holiday party.
Ingredients
- 3 cups white chocolate chips
- 1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 cup marshmallow cream
- pink gel food color
- 6 tablespoons crushed candy canes
- ½ cup miniature chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 pan with foil or parchment paper.
- Combine the white chips and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until melted and creamy.
- Stir in the extract, marshmallow cream, candy canes, and a small amount of gel food coloring until the desired shade of pink is achieved. Remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Stir in the chocolate chips very quickly. Do not stir too much, or the chocolate chips will melt completely. Some swirling is to be expected. Pour the fudge mixture into the prepared pan. Let set for 6-8 hours or overnight before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Line the pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper so you can easily remove the fudge from the pan.
- Crush unwrapped candies in a resealable plastic bag. Seal and crush with a wooden spoon, or go over it with a rolling pin.
- Use red and green candy canes for even more color in the sweet treat.
- Heat the chocolate over low heat because white chocolate can quickly burn or scorch.
- Add more crushed candy to the top of the fudge before it sets up. I don't personally recommend it because the candy can get sticky and wet the longer it sits.
- Allow the fudge to completely cool and become solid before cutting it into pieces.
- Run a large knife under hot water and dry it off to make clean cuts in the white chocolate fudge. Press it into the block of fudge, making one long cut. Do not drag or saw with the knife. Repeat for each cut.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 35mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 0gSugar: 21gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*This post was first published in December 2012. We updated and republished it in December 2023.
carolinaheartstrings
Great post and the fudge looks fantastic. Come and visit us this week. We are having a wonderful giveaway from a very talented Southern author.
amy @ fearless homemaker
My heart breaks for those families + those affected as well. Even now, as I'm watching the Today Show, the stories are enough to make me cry in a heartbeat. I'm so happy to hear about the wonderful traditions you have and are making with your family - it's lovely to hear about happy, bright moments even as we struggle to comprehend tragedy. And your fudge looks amazing!
Tanya Schroeder
Seems to me Jocelyn, that you have perfected fudge. You are my new go to person for fudge! I love the 12 days of Christmas idea! Especially since kids are so handy! They are so helpful when it comes to unwrapping candy for baked goods!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
My heart is heavy with grief, too. I haven't stopped hugging my little one since I picked him up from school last Friday. I think he's getting tired of my smooches by now, but I don't care. 🙂
So, I love fudge and I love peppermint--perfect combination!!
Casey
oh my gosh, I LOVE the combo of mint and chocolate. Perfect for the holiday season! All those fudge recipes look fabulous, as well!!
Brandy Miller
My heart is aching as well. Our priest gave a beautiful sermon yesterday that really calmed my heart, but it is still heavy with sorrow. This weekend was our last weekend together as a family before my girls leave for Utah, so it was even more important than ever to enjoy one another's company.
Cherry
Visiting from Melt in Your Mouth Monday - this looks great, perfect for the holidays, and a variety from the other fudge recipes!
Fit Missy
The recipes look amazing!
I feel the sadness too...there are no words to describe what the parents must be going through 🙁
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Oh my this looks good!!! You know how much I love fudge...I could use some of this 🙂
Elaine @ Cooking to Perfection
This fudge is so pretty! I love the swirls and pieces of candy cane that show through. While not much can fix our spirits or the lives of people who have been affected by last weeks tragedy, it's good that it has reminded all of us to cherish the time we do have together and give lots of hugs!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
My thoughts as a mother are pretty much the same as yours. It's just...so...incomprehensible and makes you want to hug your kids even tighter!
Fudge helps bring some smiles 🙂
Brooke
This sounds so yummy! I've pinned it! Thanks for sharing and have a very Merry Christmas!
Tonia@thegunnysack
I love the sound of your 12 days of Christmas! What a great tradition to start and the fudge looks sooo good!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
The fudge looks incredible, Jocelyn! And I am totally OCD about stuff, too. The placement of things has to be symmetrical, and blah blah. But spending time with your family and having the kiddos help--definitely makes up for the fact if a couple of stamps are crooked or something 🙂
Jocelyn
I'm glad I'm not the only one that has to have things a certain way:-) This year though, I am loving the colors out of the lines and the crooked cards...it was fun!!!
Karyn - Pint Sized Baker
yes please, with fudge on top! All kinds of good going on here tonight!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
This fudge looks amazing!!!
Michelle Muckala
This was such a touching post 🙂 It is heartbreaking. Regarding the totes, they ROCK! I love my thirty-one totes for shopping as well. And your fudge looks delicious! I keep saying I need to try these out and then space them out, I'm putting this on in the calendar to make on Tuesday!
Jocelyn
You definitely need to try these...although don't blame me when you can't stop sampling:-)
Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen
I know it is incomprehensible what happened to those children and their families. I am glad that you are taking the time to do such fun things with your family! We are spread all over the country so it is nice to read how others celebrate together! I am obsessed with Thirty one Bags! I have them all over my house! What a fun Giveaway! Thanks For linking up at Show Me Your Plaid Monday's!
sally @ sallys baking addiction
My heart pours out to those as well. It is such a heartbreaking tragedy. The thought of how many children over the country now scared to go to school. My heart breaks.
This fudge looks divine - it reminds me of my own candy cane chocolate chip fudge!
The Witch's Kitchen
That fudge looks yummy!