How to make delicious Famous Carnation Fudge Recipe! This is the chocolate fudge dreams are made of! Soft, easy to make, and oh so delicious chocolate fudge!
Carnation Fudge Recipe
This recipe was the first fudge I had ever made! I had always wanted to make fudge but heard it took a lot of work, and stories about other bakers’ experiences didn’t give me much confidence going in.
I guessed some made theirs too loose, so they didn’t harden and made a spoon necessary for digging in. I made milk chocolate and peanut butter fudge. I am usually a chocolate lover but also enjoy this peanut butter take.
Ingredients
Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making epic Carnation Fudge! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.
- Sugar
- Carnation Evaporated Milk
- Salt
- Butter
- Mini Marshmallows
- Chocolate Chips
- Vanilla
Optional: Chopped Pecans, Almonds, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, or your favorite nuts; Peanut Butter Chips instead of Chocolate Chips
Equipment Needed
- Medium Saucepan
- 8-Inch Square Baking Pan: This is the perfect size for this fudge recipe.
- Parchment Paper: I like these 12x12 paper liners. They are easy to pull out, and you can easily cut them down to fit an 8-inch baking pan. You can also use greased aluminum foil, but we prefer parchment paper.
- Dough Scraper: While generally used for making bread, I love using this tool to cut fudge. It cuts clean lines, and you can easily cut them without trying to contort your wrist to a crazy angle to get a clean cut.
- Airtight container - for storing your fudge
Treat Boxes: If you're gifting your fudge, these treat boxes work great. They're not holiday-specific, so you can use them year-round. Wrap a ribbon around them or make a fun label, then you’re good. This fudge is the perfect gift.
How to Make Carnation Fudge
I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.
- Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper.
- Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and salt in a medium, heavy-duty saucepan.
- Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Boil, stirring constantly
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in marshmallows, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract.
- Stir vigorously .
- Pour into a prepared baking pan; place in fridge
- Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 36-48 pieces.
Preparation and Storage
Make Ahead + Storage: The best way to store your homemade fudge is in an airtight storage container at room temperature.
Keeping fudge in an airtight storage container will prevent your homemade fudge from drying out.
You do not want to store fudge in the refrigerator. The refrigerator will cause the fudge to dry out and pick up the scents and flavors of food near it. The last thing you want is for your famous fudge to start tasting like cucumbers or other veggies.
How long your fudge lasts depends on how you store it. If you keep it in an airtight storage container, the chocolate fudge can last 3-4 weeks, if not longer, making it a make-ahead-friendly recipe.
Freezing/How to Freeze: You can freeze fudge, but you want to make sure you protect the fudge from moisture.
The best way to freeze fudge is to cut it into pieces and wrap individual portions in Saran Wrap to protect them from moisture. Place all of the wrapped pieces in a Ziploc Bag or freezer-safe container.
Only place the amount of fudge in each bag you want to defrost together. You can use snack-size freezer bags if you only want to pull out a small amount of Carnation Fudge at a time. This tip is excellent for eating this yummy homemade fudge in moderation!
How to Reheat: When defrosting the fudge, leave it in the plastic freezer bag until defrosted to room temperature to prevent moisture from getting inside.
Recipe Variations + Tips for the Best Carnation Fudge
Substitutions: Here are some easy variations of the original Carnation Famous Fudge recipe!
Milk Chocolate Fudge: You will need milk chocolate chips.
Butterscotch Fudge: You will need butterscotch-flavored chips.
Peanutty Chocolate Fudge: You will need peanut butter, milk chocolate chips, and ½ cup chopped peanuts for some crunch.
Mint Chocolate Fudge: Substitute the semi-sweet chocolate chips for mint chocolate chips.
Additional mix ins - miniature marshmallows
Vegetarian + Vegan Options: Marshmallows are not vegetarian or vegan-friendly since they contain gelatin. Gelatin derives from animal skin and bone parts. Vegetarians will want to replace the marshmallows with a vegan variety, while vegans should also swap the evaporated milk, butter, and chocolate chips with plant-based alternatives.
Gluten-Free: This recipe is gluten-free. Check any labels you are not sure of to confirm their gluten-free status.
Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: This recipe yields 36 to 48 servings, depending on what size you cut your pieces. Scale the written recipe up or down based on your desired quantity.
Make it Spicy: We enjoy this recipe as-is. However, you can add cinnamon, cayenne, and chili powder to turn it into Mexican Chocolate Fudge.
Sugar-Free: This recipe contains 14 grams of sugar. We have not found sugar-free evaporated milk, so this recipe may not be suitable for those needing to eat sugar-free. However, you may lower the sugar content by replacing the white sugar, chocolate chips, and marshmallows with sugar-free substitutes.
What to Serve with Carnation Fudge
Carnation Fudge pairs well with fresh, light bites that let its chocolatey decadence shine. Here are some menu pairing suggestions.
Sides: Greek Goddess Appetizer, Super Easy Marinated Olives, Super Easy Bruschetta, Strawberry Bruschetta, Caprese Salad, Dried Apples in the Oven, Watermelon Salad, Pear Salad, Grape Salad, Bacon Candy
Desserts: 3 Ingredient Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip, Cherry Cheesecake Dip, Sugared Cranberries, Watergate Salad, Vodka Gummy Bears, Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding, Tropical No Bake Truffles, Lemon Meringue Cookies, Berry & Coconut Sorbet
When to Serve
- After-Dinner Dessert
- Coffee or Tea Snack
- Cocktail Night
- Holiday Parties
- DIY Gifts
- Best fudge for Christmas
- Easter
What is the best way to store fudge?
The best way to store your homemade fudge is in an airtight storage container at room temperature.
Keeping fudge in an airtight storage container will prevent your homemade fudge from drying out.
You do not want to store fudge in the refrigerator. The refrigerator will cause the fudge to dry out and it may also pick up the scents and flavors of food near it. The last thing you want is for your famous fudge to start tasting like cucumbers or other veggies.
How long does fudge last?
It really depends on how you store the fudge. If you store it in an airtight storage container the chocolate fudge can last 3-4 weeks if not longer.
Additional Dessert Recipes
Here are some of our favorite holiday sweet treats to make as gifts and for holiday parties:
White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.
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Carnation Fudge Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups White Sugar
- ⅔ cup Evaporated Milk 5 fl.-oz. can
- 2 Tablespoon Butter or margarine
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 2 cups Mini Marshmallows
- 1 ½ cups NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels 9 oz.
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Optional
- ½ cup pecans or walnuts - chopped
Instructions
- Line 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper
- Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan.
- Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Boil, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in marshmallows, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract.
- Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted.
- Pour into a prepared baking pan; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.
- Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 36-48 pieces.
Notes
SUBSTITUTE 1 ¾ cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels.
SUBSTITUTE 1 ⅔ cups (11-oz. pkg.) NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Butterscotch Flavored Morsels for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels.
SUBSTITUTE 1 ⅔ cups (11-oz. pkg.) NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels and ½ cup chopped peanuts for pecans or walnuts.
Nutrition
Recipe originally shared December 11, 2011, updated in 2020, September 2023
Peggy
I have been making this fudge for decades and it is the only recipe I use. I use semi sweet chocolate and milk chocolate, depending on who I am making it for.