Peanut Butter Fudge

Peanut butter flavored fudge is an easy, chewy treat that is classically delicious. You’re going to love this recipe!

Fudge is a Christmas staple in our home, it’s a perfect treat for gifting! Besides the Classic Chocolate Fudge and Cookies and Cream Fudge, we love to make this Peanut Butter Fudge recipe!

Peanut butter fudge cut into squares on a kitchen counter.

Homemade Peanut Butter Fudge

There is nothing like a little homemade fudge. It reminds me of my grandma making her famous Chocolate Fudge every year for us. The smell of fudge brings back so many childhood memories! It’s a perfect sweet treat.

I love this peanut butter version. Peanut Butter Fudge is super creamy, and has the perfect amount of peanut butter flavor in it. It’s is totally addicting. Once I start eating it, it’s so hard to stop! Fudge doesn’t last long in our home.

I love making fudge around the holidays. This best Peanut Butter Fudge recipe makes the perfect treat to give away as gifts to friends, neighbors, teachers, family, etc.

Just cut into squares and wrap up in some pretty packaging. Add a bow, a little note, and deliver!

Ingredients to make easy peanut butter fudge measured out.

How to make peanut butter fudge

DRY INGREDIENTS. Sift powdered sugar and add to a large mixing bowl, set aside.

WET INGREDIENTS. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar and milk.

BOIL. As soon as bubbles start showing up, set a timer for 2 minutes and continue boiling. Remove from heat after 2 minutes and stir in peanut butter and vanilla.

COMBINE. Pour peanut butter mixture over powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Pour into a parchment paper lined 8 x 8″ baking dish.

CHILL. Chill until fudge is set. Cut into 2 x 2 squares.

Variations: Mix in up to ¾ cup chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups, Reeses Pieces, chopped peanuts, mini M&M’s, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips or peanut butter chips. 

Combining ingredients for homemade peanut butter fudge in a glass bowl.

Recipe tips

Prep ingredients. Be sure to have all ingredients measured out. The recipe moves swiftly, and you don’t want to stop and measure during the middle of cooking. 

Peanut butter. Avoid natural peanut butter. The texture is different, and can cause the results of the fudge to be different than expected. Brands like Jif or Skippy work well.

Grainy fudge. This creamy Peanut Butter Fudge doesn’t get grainy like other fudge tends to do. Even so, it’s always good to practice good fudge technique. It actually doesn’t take any practice at all:

  • Simply use a silicone spatula to keep the sugar off the sides of the pot as you bring it to a boil.
  • Once you pour the fudge into the pan to set, don’t scrape the pot.
  • Any sugar crystals that did form will be hiding along the sides of the pot and you want to leave them there.   

Temperature. Reaching the correct temperature while boiling is very important. If you don’t cook it high enough, it won’t set. If you cook it too high, the fudge will set too hard.

Ideally, you want to boil the fudge around 236-238°F. If you don’t have a candy thermometer stick, to the recipe instructions. Test it by dropping a dollop of the sugar mixture into the cold water, the mixture should be at the “soft ball stage”.

  • If the syrup is soft, but you can mold them with your fingers, it’s the right temperature.
  • If it dissolves and won’t hold a shape, it needs to boil longer.
  • If it hardens, then it’s boiled too long.

More delicious fudge recipes:

These fudge recipes are also among our favorites! They, also, are perfect for sharing.

Storing info

STORE or FREEZE. If you want to freeze or store your fudge, you must wrap each individual piece of fudge. Wrap each piece in wax paper, and then place the pieces in an airtight container.

You could use a sealable plastic bag, Tupperware, or a sealable box.

If you properly store the fudge in a cool place, it will last up to 2 weeks. It will last 3-4 weeks stored in the fridge. Frozen fudge will last up to 3 months.

Cut squares of peanut butter fudge stacked on wax paper.

For more peanut butter recipes:

Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

4.95 from 19 votes
Peanut butter flavored fudge is an easy, chewy treat that is classically delicious. You're going to love this recipe!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Chill 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 16 squares
Calories 256 kcal
Author Lil’ Luna

Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Sift powdered sugar and add to a large mixing bowl, set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
  • Stir in brown sugar and milk.
  • As soon as bubbles start showing up, set a timer for 2 minutes and continue boiling.
  • Remove from heat after 2 minutes and stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
  • Pour peanut butter mixture over powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Pour into a parchment paper lined 8 x 8" baking dish.
  • Chill until fudge is set. Cut into 2 x 2 squares.

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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Comments:

  1. My Mom’s very similar Tidewater Virginia version:

    1 ⅔ cups sugar
    ⅔ cups milk
    1 tablespoon butter
    1 pound peanut butter, (1 3/4 cups)

    1. Lightly butter an 8×8 pan

    2. Cook sugar and milk until just short of soft ball, 233 F. (Soft ball is considered to be between 235 and 240 F.) Because the fudge sets up so quickly and can get crumbly if the syrup is cooked to hot, it is better to err on the less than soft ball side.

    3. Add butter and peanut butter and quickly turn out into pan

  2. 5 stars
    This is the most heavenly fudge!! I’m not even the biggest peanut butter fan, but I love this!! It’s so rich & creamy!

  3. I’m making chocolate fudge, not using chocolate bars to make chocolate fudge.
    Seems like an oxymoron. (Let’s use some chocolate to make chocolate.)

  4. 4 stars
    This was good, a bit oily though which is I’m guessing a result of the peanut oil in the peanut butter. I did not pour it on to a parchment sheet which may have helped absorb some of the oil but I don’t know that it would have completely solved the problem.