chocolate peppermint fudge

Enjoy the refreshing taste of this creamy Chocolate Peppermint Fudge. It's sprinkled with melt-in-your-mouth peppermint bits and makes a great gift or dessert for Christmas or any day throughout the year. 

If you like the refreshing taste of peppermint blended with chocolate you will love this Chocolate Peppermint Fudge.

My mom requested this fudge after I shared some of my Peppermint Bark Fudge with her. She loved the layers of mint-flavored white and dark chocolate fudge topped with tiny bits of crushed candy canes but has a friend who isn't a fan of white chocolate and has trouble chewing candy canes.

So, I told her I'd make a batch of my amazing chocolate fudge and add peppermint extract to it instead of vanilla then sprinkle it with lots of Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Bits. The mint-flavored white chocolate candy pieces add a tiny bit of crunch but are so smooth and creamy that they melt in your mouth.

The little red and white candy pieces also make this fudge festive enough to give as gifts for Christmas but the fudge isn't so Christmasy looking that you can't serve it or gift it for any other occasion during the year.

Let's make some easy peppermint chocolate fudge.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces chocolate (340 grams or 2 cups of chocolate chips)
• 1 - 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• ⅓ - ½ cup Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Pieces

Type of chocolate to use for fudge:

When making this chocolate peppermint fudge you want to use a chocolate that you love to eat straight out of the package.

You can use semi-sweet chocolate bars, callets, wafers, or chips with 45%-60% cocoa content if you enjoy a mild chocolate fudge flavor or use bittersweet chocolate (70%-90% cocoa content) if you prefer a more robust flavored chocolate fudge.

NOTE: Finely chop, grate, or shave chocolate bars in order for the chocolate to melt more quickly.

• The quickest way to chop your chocolate is by using a food processor. Cut the chocolate into about 1-inch pieces then pulse in the food processor until you get really fine pieces.
• You can even use the grating attachment to really finely grate large chunks of chocolate in the food processor.

Pictured below are some of the brands of dark chocolate that I recommend. I earn a small commission if you make a purchase using the Amazon links below at no extra cost to you.

 Peter's Gourmet Burgundy Di...Shop on AmazonCallebaut Finest Belgian Se...Shop on Amazon Eagle Brand Sweetened Conde...Shop on Amazon HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Mild...Shop on AmazonBarry Callebaut Chocolate |...Shop on AmazonGHIRARDELLI Semi-Sweet Choc...Shop on AmazonNestle Toll House Semi Swee...Shop on AmazonEqual Exchange Organic Choc...Shop on Amazon

Sweetened Condensed Milk VS. Evaporated Milk

• Sweetened Condensed milk is milk that has been pasteurized and condensed (heated and cooked to remove most of the water) and sweetened with sugar and it should be used to make this fudge.
• Evaporated milk is not sweetened and is not thickened with sugar and will not work in this fudge recipe.

Supplies

• glass, non-stick, ceramic, aluminum, tin foil, or silicone pans
• a 6-inch square pan if you prefer thick fudge squares
• an 8-inch square pan if you prefer thinner fudge squares or rectangles
• a 9-inch square pan if you want really thin fudge

Prepping your pan:

• line the pan with non-stick tin foil (preferable)
• or line the pan with parchment paper strips (also a good option)
• or butter the bottom and sides of your pan (an O.K. option but the fudge is harder to remove)
• or spray the pan with cooking spray (my least favorite option as I don't like the flavor cooking spray adds to the fudge)

I prefer to line my pan with non-stick tin foil or parchment paper. The fudge is easy to remove from the pan and it allows for easy cleanup.

You can find a huge selection of pans from Amazon (commission earned for sales for all affiliate links listed below).

Wilton Performance Pans, 6"...Shop on AmazonWilton Perfect Results Prem...Shop on AmazonPyrex 8 Inch Baking Dish, R...Shop on AmazonPedrini Square Ceramic Bake...Shop on AmazonBoxiki Kitchen Non-Stick Si...Shop on Amazon

Instructions

1. Combine your chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a microwave-safe mixing bowl.
2. Heat on 70% power for 90 seconds.
3. Let the bowl rest in the microwave for 3 minutes.
4. Remove and stir until smooth and creamy.
5. If all the chocolate is not melted, let the bowl sit for another minute or so then stir again.
6. If necessary, heat for 15 seconds at 70% power, let rest, then stir.
7. Repeat if needed.
8. Stir in the peppermint extract then pour the fudge into a prepared pan.
9. Immediately sprinkle on the Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Pieces.
10. Gently press down on the candies to ensure they are stuck in the fudge.
11. Cover the pan with plastic wrap or tin foil and chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours until the fudge firms up or simply leave the pan of homemade fudge on the counter for about 4 hours until firm.
12. Remove the fudge from the pan and cut it into 36 small squares. If you have lined your pan with tin foil or parchment paper it is so easy to just lift the fudge out of the pan and peel off the foil or paper before cutting.

Alternative Stove Top Method

• Combine the chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a medium saucepan.
• Set on the stovetop over low heat.
• Heat, stirring occasionally, until about ¾'s of the chocolate has melted.
• Remove from the heat and let sit for 3 minutes.
• Stir until smooth and creamy.
• Stir in the peppermint extract.
• Pour the fudge into a prepared pan and follow the instructions above.

Storage

Store your fudge in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze the fudge for up to 3 months. To thaw the fudge, remove the container from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature, unopened, for several hours. This will keep condensation from forming on the fudge

Got more questions about making easy fudge?

• Be sure to check out our How To Make Easy Fudge FAQ page.

Related Recipes

Here are more Christmas Fudge Recipes you might like...

Snowman Fudge

Easy Grinch Fudge

Eggnog Fudge

Easy Peppermint Bark Fudge

Video

Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Print

Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

Prep Time

8 mins

Cook Time

2 mins

Chill for

2 hrs

Total Time

10 mins

 

Refreshing peppermint-flavored chocolate fudge topped with red and white peppermint crunch baking bits make a festive Christmas treat, dessert, or gift. 

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chocolate peppermint fudge, easy mint fudge

Servings: 36 pieces

Calories: 139 kcal

Author: Beth Klosterboer

Ingredients

• 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate finely chopped or chips
• 14 oz (1 can) Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• ⅓ cup Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Bits

Instructions

1. Combine the chocolate and sweetened condensed milk.

2. Heat in the microwave at 70% power for 90 seconds. Then let the bowl rest in the microwave for 3 minutes before stirring until smooth. 

3. Add the peppermint extract and stir just to incorporate.

4. Pour the fudge into a prepared pan. 

5. Sprinkle the Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking pieces over top of the fudge.

6. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours until firm.

7. Remove from refrigerator and cut into 36 pieces. 

Recipe Notes

• If using a microwave, heat it t 70% power for 90 seconds. Let rest in the microwave for 3 minutes before stirring. If needed, repeat for 15-second increments. 
• If using the stove top, heat in a medium saucepan set over low heat, stirring until 75% of the chocolate is melted. Remove and stir until melted, allowing it to rest for a few minutes in order for the residual heat to continue melting the chocolate. 
• See the tutorial for food processor instructions. 
• Butter, spray, or line (with parchment paper or non-stick tin foil) a 6 or 8-inch square or an 8x4-inch loaf pan.
• Use a sharp knife to cut into squares, slices, or rectangles. 
• The calories are calculated based on 16 large pieces. 

• Author
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Beth Klosterboer

Hi, I'm Beth, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I share my fun food recipes at HungryHappenings.com, easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy fudge recipes to share with you here.

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