This No Bake Peanut Butter Fudge is a peanut butter lover's dream dessert. It's smooth, creamy, and oh-so-perfectly peanut buttery. Made with only 5 ingredients and ready to chill in just 10 minutes, you'll be amazed at how quickly and easily this fudge comes together. A large-batch recipe ideal for holiday parties or Christmas gifts.
If you're a peanut butter lover, you are going to LOVE this easy peanut butter fudge recipe. The smooth and creamy texture combined with the rich, nutty flavor tastes just like the filling of a peanut butter cup. It's. SO. GOOD.
I love making this old-fashioned peanut butter fudge around the holidays. Since it makes such a large batch, I often give it away to friends and family as a gift. It's also the perfect dessert for a holiday party.
The best part about this no bake fudge is how quick and easy it is to make. You only need 5 pantry ingredients and about 10 minutes. It's the perfect recipe for someone who isn't a fan of baking.
>> Want more no bake recipes? Check out these No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- No Bake- No worrying about candy thermometers, sugar crystallization, or getting the temperature of the fudge just right. Simply melt and mix all of the ingredients together and chill.
- Only 5 Ingredients- An easy fudge recipe made with only 5 simple ingredients. Most of which are pantry staples that you likely already have on hand.
- Ready in 10 Minutes- This peanut butter fudge recipe only requires about 10 minutes of active time. So quick and easy to make!
- Big Batch- Makes 64 pieces of perfectly sweetened, creamy peanut butter fudge.
- Great for Holidays- I love giving this no bake peanut butter fudge as a holiday gift or bringing it to a Christmas party.
Ingredient Notes
Here are some notes on key ingredients. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card below.
- Natural Peanut Butter- Use smooth, natural peanut butter made with just peanuts and salt. Don't use crunchy peanut butter, as it may make the fudge too crumbly. Teddie All Natural Peanut Butter is my go-to brand.
- Butter- I use unsalted butter since the peanut butter already has salt in it.
- Powdered Sugar- Thickens and sweetens the peanut butter fudge. Sifting the powdered sugar prevents lumps or streaks in the final product.
- Brown Sugar- Creates a smoother fudge and adds a rich, caramelized sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract- Adds a hint of vanilla and enhances the peanut butter flavor.
Step by Step Instructions
Here is how to make this no bake peanut butter fudge.
Step 1: Melt the butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar together. Spray an 8-inch by 11-inch or a square 8-inch pan with cooking spray and set aside. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Once melted, add the peanut butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk thoroughly until well combined and the brown sugar has dissolved.
Step 2: Finish the fudge batter and chill. Thoroughly mix in the powdered sugar until no streaks remain. Spread the fudge mixture into the prepared baking dish and press it down using an offset spatula or clean measuring cup until it's smooth and even. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2-3 hours before slicing into 1-inch squares.
Microwave Instructions
Cube the butter and heat in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals until melted. Whisk in the brown sugar until fully dissolved. Then, stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
Follow the remaining steps of the recipe as instructed in the recipe card.
Tips for Success
- Use a kitchen scale. The most accurate way to measure ingredients, especially ingredients like powdered sugar, is to use a food scale. Measuring the powdered sugar using a scale will prevent you from ending up with fudge that is too dense.
- Sift the powdered sugar. Use a mesh sieve or flour sifter to sift the powdered sugar before mixing it with the rest of the ingredients. Sifting the powdered sugar removes any lumps that could end up in the fudge.
- Try a hand mixer. If the fudge is too hard to stir after adding the powdered sugar, try using a hand mixer.
- Make a half batch. I tested this 5-ingredient peanut butter fudge as a small-batch recipe as well and it worked beautifully. If you don't need 64 squares of fudge, just cut the recipe in half and you're good to go.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few ways you can try customizing this no bake peanut butter fudge recipe to fit your diet and taste preferences.
Substitutions
- Natural Peanut Butter- You can use regular peanut butter in place of natural peanut butter if preferred. While I haven't tested these myself, you can also try swapping the peanut butter for almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
- Butter- Swap regular butter for plant-based butter or margarine.
- Powdered Sugar- If you find yourself without powdered sugar on your baking shelf, don't fret! Try making it at home by combining 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a high-powered blender.
- Brown Sugar- Granulated sugar can be used in place of brown sugar.
- Vanilla Extract- Get creative with different types of food extracts. Try coconut, maple, or rum extract instead of vanilla.
Variations
- Chocolate Dipped- This no bake peanut butter fudge is similar in texture and flavor to Reese's Peanut Butter Cup filling. So, why not dip it in chocolate? Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate would all be delicious.
- Chocolate Chips- Alternatively, sprinkle and press chocolate chips into the top of the fudge.
- Chopped Peanuts- Press some chopped peanuts into the top of the fudge before chilling for a bit of crunch. Walnuts, pistachios, and other nuts or seeds can be used as well.
- Salted- Sprinkling a bit of sea salt on top of this peanut butter fudge helps balance the sweetness. If you're a fan of salty and sweet desserts, I highly recommend this.
Storage
How to Store
While this fudge recipe does contain dairy, it also has plenty of sugar, which acts as a preservative. This means we can easily store our fudge at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer.
- Room Temperature- Place the fudge in an airtight container with parchment paper or wax paper in between each layer. Store it at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.
- Refrigerator- For longer storage, keep the peanut butter fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. However, this may result in drier, more crumbly fudge.
- Freezer- Luckily, fudge is super easy to freeze. Simply wrap the fudge tightly in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil. Place the wrapped fudge in a freezer-safe plastic bag and store for up to 3 months. Thaw before serving.
Make Ahead
Fudge makes such a lovely homemade Christmas gift because it can easily be made a couple of weeks in advance. Thanks to the sugar, this peanut butter fudge is stable at room temperature for up to 2 weeks when stored in an airtight container.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if you only have regular peanut butter at home, feel free to use it. Regular peanut butter makes a slightly smoother, creamier fudge compared to natural peanut butter. However, I prefer natural peanut butter because it doesn't contain hydrogenated oils.
Yes, peanut butter fudge freezes quite well and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. To freeze, wrap the fudge tightly in plastic wrap with a sheet of parchment paper between each layer. Then, wrap it again in aluminum foil and store it in a freezer-safe storage bag.
If the brown sugar isn't melted completely, you could end up with grainy fudge. Whisk the brown sugar into the butter and peanut butter and let it dissolve for a few minutes before adding the powdered sugar.
Certainly! This recipe can easily be doubled or cut in half. Just consider the size of your pan and think about how thick you want your fudge to be.
In an old-fashioned fudge recipe, the secret to good fudge is all about the temperature. However, in this no bake fudge recipe, we don't have to worry about that. The secret to this fudge is completely melting the brown sugar and mixing all of the ingredients together thoroughly.
Let's Connect!
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More Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes
📖 Recipe
No Bake Peanut Butter Fudge
Equipment
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups (384 grams) natural smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup (192 grams) brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups (420 grams) powdered sugar sifted
Instructions
- Spray an 8" square pan or an 8"x11" baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Once melted, add the peanut butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk thoroughly until well combined and the brown sugar has dissolved.Cooking spray, 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, 1 ½ cups (384 grams) natural smooth peanut butter, 1 cup (192 grams) brown sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Thoroughly mix in the powdered sugar until no streaks remain. Spread the fudge mixture into the prepared baking dish and press it down using an offset spatula or clean measuring cup until it's smooth and even. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2-3 hours before slicing into 1-inch squares.3 ½ cups (420 grams) powdered sugar
Notes
- Microwave Instructions: Cube the butter and heat in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals until melted. Whisk in the brown sugar until fully dissolved. Then, stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Follow the remaining steps in the recipe card.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Make Ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and stored at room temperature up to 2 weeks in advance.
- Half-Batch: To make a half batch, cut the recipe in half and make as directed. Use a loaf pan if you want thicker pieces of fudge.
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