Peanut Butter Fudge (No Bake)

Midwestern HomeLife
by Midwestern HomeLife
25 servings
7 min

Easy no bake Peanut Butter Fudge is a soft, smooth, creamy microwave fudge recipe you can make with 4 ingredients (plus optional toppings) in about 5 minutes. No candy thermometer needed!

squares of no bake peanut butter fudge on a white plate

This is it, the best peanut butter fudge recipe ever. You’re not going to believe how easy it is to make a no bake peanut butter fudge recipe in the microwave.

There's no need to stir your arm off, worry about it getting grainy, or wonder if it will set up.

This easy peanut butter fudge recipe with sweetened condensed milk is absolutely fool-proof.

With almost no effort and just a few ingredients, you can make fudgey sweet treats with the perfect consistency, a creamy texture, and tons of rich peanut butter flavor.

This is such an easy fudge recipe for the holiday season, Valentine’s Day, or anytime you’re craving peanut butter.

It also makes great holiday gifts for any peanut butter lover on your list!


More Microwave Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes



About this recipe


The inspiration for this recipe comes from a recipe for 4 ingredient microwave peanut butter fudge I found in my husband’s grandmother’s recipe box. It’s the same place I found this delicious recipe for old fashioned Coconut Dream Bars.

Hers was more of a chocolate peanut butter fudge recipe with peanut butter chips and milk chocolate chips.

I swapped the milk chocolate chips for creamy peanut butter and added peanut butter cups to the top to honor the spirit of the original recipe.

I never met her, but her recipe collection tells me she liked to experiment in the kitchen, so I think she’d approve.

squares of no bake peanut butter fudge on a white plate
Why You’ll Love This Recipe


Smooth and creamy peanut butter fudge recipe

No bake peanut butter fudge recipe you can make in about 5 minutes

Easy recipe you can customize with your favorite toppings

Delicious recipe with minimal ingredients. No marshmallow cream. No powdered sugar.


Ingredients


Simple recipe for homemade fudge with 4 ingredients.

no bake peanut butter fudge ingredients

Peanut butter chips. One 10 ounce bag of peanut butter chips adds peanut butter flavor and gives this fudge structure.

Creamy peanut butter. Smooth peanut butter brings a little saltiness, a little sweetness, a whole lot of creaminess, and rich peanut flavor. Use crunchy peanut butter if you want some texture.

Sweetened condensed milk. Sweetened condensed milk is a time saver in fudge recipes. It means no stirring and no sugary graininess. Just creamy sweetness.

Vanilla. Pure vanilla extract enhances the flavors of these simple ingredients.


Optional ingredients


Salt. If you like sweet and salty fudge, add a little salt to the peanut butter mixture.

Toppings. Dress up your fudge with salted peanuts, mini peanut butter cups, Reese’s Pieces, toffee bits, chopped candy bars, pretzels … you name it!


Step-by-step Instructions


Ready to see how fast and easy it is to make creamy fudge in the microwave? When I said this was a 5 minute peanut butter fudge recipe, I really meant it.

Step 1

Prepare an 8x8 or 9x9 square pan with parchment paper or foil. Leave an overhang so you can easily lift the fudge out of the pan. To keep parchment paper from slipping, smear a little butter on the sides of the pan first.

Step 2

Place peanut butter chips, peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla in a microwave-safe bowl. A 4-cup Pyrex cup with a handle works perfectly! Add a pinch of salt, if desired.

pouring sweetened condensed milk into a glass dish with peanut butter chocolate chips

Microwave and stir in 30-second increments until melted, but not boiling, 1 ½ to 2 minutes. Stir until the mixture is completely combined and smooth.

stirring the melted peanut butter fudge mixture

My microwave is 1000w, so you may need more or less time, depending on the power of your microwave.

Step 3

Immediately pour the fudge mixture into the prepared pan, smoothing out the top with a knife or spatula.

spreading peanut butter fudge mixture in square pan

Optional: lightly press your choice of toppings like peanut butter cups or salted peanuts on top of the fudge while it’s still soft.

peanut butter fudge in square pan topped with peanut butter cups and peanuts

Step 4

Chill in the refrigerator until firm, 1-2 hours. Lift the fudge out of the pan and place the slab on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into small squares, about 1 to 1 ½ inches.

squares of no bake peanut butter fudge on parchment paper
Storage


Store in an airtight container between layers of wax paper at room temperature in a cool dry place for about a week or two or in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.


Expert Tips


  • A 4-cup microwave-safe measuring cup with a handle makes it easy to transport the mixture between the microwave and counter.
  • Smear a little butter on the insides of the pan to hold the parchment paper in place.
  • Homemade peanut butter fudge needs to cool completely before slicing.


Recipe FAQs


Does peanut butter fudge with condensed milk need to be refrigerated?

No. Peanut butter fudge with sweetened condensed milk may seem like it needs to be refrigerated because it has dairy, but the high sugar content stabilizes it. You can store fudge at room temperature for about a week and in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

Can you freeze microwave peanut butter fudge?

Yes, 4 ingredient peanut butter fudge recipe freezes well, even if you add toppings. To freeze, tightly wrap it in wax paper, then foil, and pop it into a freezer bag.

How long do you boil a no bake recipe for peanut butter fudge?

This is one of the easiest recipes for fudge because you don't have to boil it. Just melt everything together in the microwave and spread it in the pan.


Recipe Essentials


This Pyrex 4-cup measuring cu p is perfect for this microwave peanut butter fudge recipe — and my microwave peanut brittle recipes!

Flat parchment sheets are handy in the kitchen — and so much easier to work with than rolls.


More Easy Microwave Candy Recipes

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls

Chocolate Coconut Balls

Chocolate Peanut Brittle (Microwave Recipe)

7 ½ Minute Microwave Peanut Brittle



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Peanut Butter Fudge (No Bake)
Recipe details
  • 25  servings
  • Prep time: 5 Minutes Cook time: 2 Minutes Total time: 7 min
Show Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

  • ▢ 10 ounces peanut butter chips
  • ▢ 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • ▢ 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • ▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Optional
  • ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • ▢ 3/4 to 1 cup mini peanut butter cups and salted peanuts
Instructions

Prepare an 8x8 or 9x9 square pan with parchment paper or foil. Leave an overhang so you can easily lift the fudge out of the pan
Place peanut butter chips, peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a pinch of salt, if desired. Microwave on high in 30-second increments until melted, not boiling, 1 ½ to 2 minutes. Stir until the mixture is completely combined and smooth.
Immediately pour the fudge mixture into the prepared pan, smoothing out the top with a knife or spatula.
Optional: lightly press your choice of toppings like peanut butter cups or salted peanuts on top of the fudge while it’s still soft.
Chill in the refrigerator until firm, 1-2 hours. Lift the fudge out of the pan and place the slab on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into 1 to 1 ½ inch squares.
Storage & Freezing
Store in an airtight container between layers of wax paper at room temperature in a cool dry place for about a week or two or in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
To freeze fudge, first tightly wrap it in waxed paper and again in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Place it in a freezer storage bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Tips
  • A 4-cup microwave-safe measuring cup with a handle makes it easy to transport the mixture between the microwave and counter and stir the mixture because the handle stays cool to the touch.
  • This recipe was tested in a 1000w microwave. You may need to adjust the time up or down depending on the power of your microwave.
  • Smear a little butter on the insides of the pan to hold the parchment paper in place.
  • Nutrition calculated without optional ingredients.
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Comments
  • Drema Cole Drema Cole on Nov 29, 2022

    Can I use extra peanut butter instead of the on chips? If so how much?

  • Love to quilt Love to quilt on Dec 20, 2022

    Can other flavor chips be used instead of Peanut Butter Chips?

    • Pamela Henn Pamela Henn on Dec 21, 2022

      Yes! Just be sure to adjust Optional Ingredients to coordinate and compliment flavor of choice.

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