Sugar Cookie Fudge

This simple, delightful Christmas sugar cookie fudge recipe should be on your wish list this holiday season. Each showstopping square is deliciously creamy, full of sweet sugar cookie flavor and topped with colorful sprinkles.

While homemade candy recipes have a reputation for being fussy, this easy fudge is great for beginners. It calls for a shortcut ingredient—a sugar cookie mix—which makes for a sturdy, smooth fudge that’s difficult to mess up. Prep this recipe to enliven any Christmas dessert spread or Christmas platter alongside your favorite Christmas cookies.

Ingredients for Sugar Cookie Fudge

• Sweetened condensed milk: There is a difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk, so make sure you pick up the latter. Since sweetened condensed milk is quite sweet, there’s actually no extra sugar added to the fudge.
• Sugar cookie mix: Many fudge recipes are a bit tricky since they require carefully heating chocolate, sugar and dairy ingredients without over- or undercooking them, but this fudge avoids those pitfalls. Instead, the cookie mix dissolves into the milk as it heats, creating a super-thick fudge that sets beautifully.
• White chocolate chips: Lovers of white chocolate will appreciate the velvety sweetness that these chips contribute to one of our favorite white chocolate recipes.
• Butter: Fudge recipes are a great time to splurge on one of the best butter brands because butter enriches the fudge and makes it smooth and creamy.
• Vanilla extract: We love the fragrant flavor of vanilla extract, especially that of high quality vanilla brands.
• Sprinkles: Colorful, cheerful sprinkles make for festive fudge and add a bit of crunch to contrast the creaminess.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the pan

Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment, letting the ends extend over the sides.

Step 2: Heat the milk and cookie mix

In a large saucepan on the stovetop, heat the sweetened condensed milk over medium heat. Once it’s hot, stir in the sugar cookie mix. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for four to five minutes.

Step 3: Add the rest of the ingredients

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Add the white chocolate chips, butter and vanilla extract to the saucepan. Stir until the mixture is creamy and smooth, three to four minutes.

Step 4: Pour the mixture into the baking dish

Remove the saucepan from the heat. Pour the melted chocolate mix into the prepared baking dish. Use a spatula to smooth the top into an even layer. Top with the sprinkles.

Step 5: Set the fudge on the countertop

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Allow the fudge to sit at room temperature for one to two hours.

Editor’s Tip: Sticking the warm fudge directly in the refrigerator can make it cool too quickly, causing the sugar to crystallize and the fudge to turn grainy.

Step 6: Chill the fudge

Cover the baking dish with storage wrap or foil. Refrigerate for at least two hours, or until the fudge is chilled and set.

Step 7: Slice the fudge

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Remove the fudge from the baking dish using the edges of the parchment to lift it out. Transfer the fudge to a cutting board. Cut into 1-inch squares.

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Sugar Cookie Fudge Variations

• Add nuts: Stir in walnuts, pecans or another preferred nut to add crunch and flavor.
• Change up the flavor: Swap in almond or peppermint extract for the vanilla.
• Stir in sweetness: Crushed peppermints, broken cookies or crumbled brownie bits would add color, texture and exciting flavor.

How to Store Sugar Cookie Fudge

The trick to storing homemade fudge? Protect it from exposure to air! Always store sugar cookie fudge in an airtight container, ideally with an extra layer of waxed paper or foil covering the surface. Exposure to air can discolor the fudge or make it turn hard.

If you’re planning to eat the fudge quickly, store it at room temperature away from direct heat or light. At room temp, the fudge is ideal: soft and full of flavor.

You can also store it in the refrigerator, where it will keep a bit longer. Straight from the fridge, the cold fudge will be very chewy. Let it sit at room temperature for a while before eating it if you prefer softer fudge.

How long does sugar cookie fudge last?

The key to how long fudge lasts depends on where it is stored. On the countertop, sugar cookie fudge lasts up to one week. In the refrigerator, it will keep for up to two weeks.

Can you freeze sugar cookie fudge?

Yes, fudge freezes well. To freeze this Christmas sugar cookie fudge recipe, allow it to cool completely and wrap it tightly in waxed paper and then in a second layer of foil. Store the wrapped fudge in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze it for up to three months. Defrost it in the refrigerator until it is soft enough to eat.

Sugar Cookie Fudge Tips

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Can you use a different size pan for sugar cookie fudge?

If you don’t have an 8×8-inch pan, you can adapt the recipe for a different pan size, like a 9-inch round pan, which has the same volume capacity. If you prefer thicker fudge, you can also make the fudge in a smaller pan—it will just take longer to set.

What’s the best way to cut fudge?

The best method for cutting fudge is similar to cutting cake. The trick: Use a sharp, hot, clean knife. Run the knife under hot water, dry it on a clean towel and make the first cut, slicing the knife across the pan. Rinse the knife under hot water to clean it, then wipe it and repeat the steps until the fudge is sliced.

How can you fix runny fudge?

This homemade Christmas sugar cookie fudge recipe is very forgiving, but one of the most common fudge mistakes is not cooking the fudge until it is set. Runny, liquid or loose fudge generally happens if you don’t heat the fudge hot enough in the saucepan. Follow this recipe closely, ensuring that you fully cook the fudge at every step.