Homemade candy is such a treat to make with your kids. Try this recipe for fudge that evokes the taste of s’mores without all the smoke.
The first time I tried to make fudge, I was in first grade. I had a crush on a boy whose name I do not remember. I wanted to make him fudge. I read about it in a book somewhere, you know, girls making homemade candy for boys they liked.
My mom and my aunt indulged me. They hadn’t made fudge since they were girls. We used the recipe in my mom’s battered yellow Pillsbury cookbook. And it failed.
I just about cried.
My mom didn’t want to waste all that sugar and chocolate, so she quickly made our weird concoction into brownies. I felt like she was Wonder Woman in that moment. How could you turn a disaster into brownies?!
Of course we could never recreate those brownies again. And the boy whose name time has forgot? I don’t think he even thanked me for the brownies.
Anyway, that’s my tale of fudge. Since then my mom and I have both turned to no-fail methods of fudge making. She uses the kind with butter, sugar, evaporated milk, chocolate chips, and marshmallow cream. It’s pretty yummy.
I, on the other hand, have leaned toward the kind with just three ingredients: sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and vanilla. Its simplicity is part of its charm. And the fact that you need no candy thermometer. It also allows you to embellish all you want. Yay!
Ingredients to make this easy S’mores Fudge recipe
This easy fudge recipe has everything you love about fudge, but with the all the joys that is making S’mores, like our How to Make S’mores In The Oven.
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Miniature marshmallows
- Graham crackers
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Vanilla extract
How to make S’mores Fudge
Homemade candy, chocolate fudge in particular, is a very fun thing to make with your kids. Since fudge requires just a stovetop burner, you don’t heat up the kitchen. We embellished our recent batch with mini marshmallows and bits of graham crackers. It was like a smore, only without the smoke.
This recipe is really quite simple. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper or foil. I use binder clips to help me keep the paper in place.
Next cover the bottom of the pan with a handful of marshmallows and some broken up graham crackers. We didn’t leave very much space. I recommend that you use less than is pictured, so that the chocolate has spaces to sink into.
Pour a bag of chocolate chips and a can of sweetened, condensed milk into a small saucepan. Heat until the chocolate is smooth and melted. Stir well. Stir in a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Pour the fudge into the prepared pan. (If you were making plain fudge, just pour it onto the parchment lined pan. If you want to add nuts, do that now.)
But for smores fudge, just pour the chocolate mixture over the marshmallows and crackers in the pan. Allow it to set until completely cool. Cut into squares and serve. The crackers will not be crunchy, but my kids did not complain.
Smores Fudge
Ingredients
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 graham crackers broken
- 1 12-ounce package chocolate chips
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
- Sprinkle the marshmallows and crackers over the bottom of the pan.
- In a small saucepan, heat the chocolate chips and milk until the chocolate is completely melted. Stir until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the marshmallows and crackers.
- Allow to cool completely before cutting.
Notes
Nutrition
Got a story about fudge?
Do tell.
This post is part of the DIY on a Dime: Summer Fun series. For more ideas on how to enjoy the summer holidays on a budget, check out the list.
I know what we’re gonna do this summer.