Browned Butter Fudge

Browned butter fudge is a delectable and rich confection that combines the nutty, caramel-like flavor of browned butter with the traditional sweetness of fudge. With a unique blend of flavors and textures, it is a sweet treat that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! If you are ever intimidated by Browned Butter I have a great step-by-step recipe and tutorial that will turn you into a brown butter pro!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Browned Butter: Browned Butter is the process of cooking unsalted butter until the water has been cooked out and it has a nutty and toasty taste. It is delicious from everything sweet to savory! I’ve used it for sweet treats like Browned Butter Toffee Cookies and Pumpkin Sandwich Cookies with Browned Butter Buttercream. And then, it’s perfect for savory recipes like Ravioli with Garlic Browned Butter Garlic Sauce and Browned Butter Pork Chops, just to name a few.

Evaporated Milk: Evaporated milk is milk that has had 60% of the water removed. It can be called ‘unsweetened condensed milk’ (as opposed to sweetened condensed milk, which has added sugar). It is perfect for fudge recipes because it withstands the heat without curdling.

White Chocolate Chips: In this fudge recipe, you could use ‘real’ white chocolate (at least 20% cocoa butter), white chips, or morsels. 

Marshmallow Fluff: Marshmallow fluff, or marshmallow creme, is a sweet, ooey-gooey concoction that tastes like marshmallows. You can buy it at the store or make homemade marshmallow fluff.

Can I Substitute Sweetened Condensed Milk for Evaporated Milk?

No! Evaporated milk is unsweetened, so in this fudge recipe, it is combined with granulated sugar and other ingredients for the fudge. Do not substitute sweetened condensed milk for evaporated milk; they are not interchangeable. Keep in mind that there are fudge recipes that use sweetened condensed milk (like my Cookie Dough Fudge and Fluffernutter Fudge, just to name a few). But, in those recipes, the same rule applies–do not substitute evaporated milk for sweetened condensed milk.

How to Harden Fudge

Allowing browned butter fudge to come to room temperature will solidify it and make it easy to handle. This takes a couple of hours. You can also pop it into the refrigerator for a couple of hours or even the freezer for about 30 minutes. Fudge is best consumed at room temperature though, so be sure to take it out a few minutes before you want to eat it.

Can I Make Fudge Without a Candy Thermometer?

If you are going to be making more fudge or sugary recipes, a candy thermometer can really save you from your fudge failing. However, you can still get this recipe made without one. After you have browned the butter, here are some tips and tricks if you are planning to make browned butter fudge without a candy thermometer:

• Add the sugar and evaporated milk to the browned butter. While the mixture is coming to a boil, set a medium-sized bowl of ice water and a small metal spoon (your everyday silverware spoon) next to the stove. When the mixture has been bubbling for a few minutes, do your first test.
• Dip the spoon into the mixture and coat the tip. With one hand, dip the coated spoon immediately into the ice water and then grab the cooling sugar mixture with your other hand. Remove from the water and roll it around between your fingers and thumb and see what it feels like. If you’re looking for the “soft-ball” stage, it should form a ball that holds together but still feels a little squishy and can be flattened when you press on it (like a gooey caramel).

This process will take a few tries at least, but you can see (and feel!) it moving through the stages to give you an indicator of how close you are. This is just a really fun science experiment in your kitchen!

How To Store Browned Butter Fudge

If you are planning on eating it within a week or two, you can store the browned butter fudge in an airtight container. I like to separate the layers with parchment or wax paper. You can also store fudge in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Again, an airtight container with separated layers is best. But, before serving, let the fudge come to room temperature to soften it. If you need longer storage, like a few months, the freezer is the best option. First, tightly wrap the fudge with plastic wrap. Then, place it in an airtight container or freezer-safe plastic bag. Be sure to write the date on it!