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I’m not exaggerating when I say this Peanut Butter Fudge is one of the best fudges I’ve ever tasted. Rich, creamy, over-the-top fudge that is so easy to make, you might laugh.
Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge
My brother tasted this creamy fudge at my house years ago and called us the very next night for the recipe. He couldn’t stop thinking about it and needed to make it right away.
I gave him the recipe and he couldn’t believe this was all there is to it. With just four ingredients, this is one of the best peanut butter fudge recipes I’ve ever tasted, and it is also beyond simple to make.
I’ve been making this fudge recipe now for over 10 years now and it’s a solid keeper. Without fail, everyone who tastes it requests the recipe immediately.
Recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge
I was so excited to find Alton Brown’s recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge almost ten years ago and it’s become a family and friend favorite over the years.
It is an awesome way to impress someone with a gift that takes just minutes to put together. I can’t think of anyone who likes peanut butter and wouldn’t be excited to receive a box full of this during the holidays.
Put this recipe on your Christmas treat list now and skip the baking! It’s perfect to snack on while you’re wrapping gifts or for enjoying next to a crackling fireplace with the ones you love.
Peanut Butter Fudge
With all the attention we give chocolate fudge, I think the goodness of peanut butter fudge gets overlooked.
Don’t get me wrong, I love all kinds of chocolate fudge from Chocolate Almond Fudge to this Chocolate Covered Oreo Fudge and everything in between.
Peanut butter fudge brings images of childhood to mind, noses pressed up against confectionary cases, selecting the perfect square fudge to bring home.
The simple combination of sweet, creamy, and salty remains a favorite for kids and adults alike.
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
The secret to making peanut butter fudge with the right consistency is in the powdered sugar. It dissolves into the fudge smoothly without any grittiness at all.
You can melt everything in the microwave or on the stove-top. However you make it, it’s dangerously easy. Your kids are likely to start requesting this fudge regularly.
Thankfully, this is a recipe that’s easy enough for them to learn how to make on their own! Plus, with no stovetop cooking required, you can teach them to make this fudge without fear of burn accidents.
This fudge is delicious just as is but is also a great canvas for adding mix-ins and toppings as well. I layer it with my 5 Minute Chocolate Fudge recipe to create Buckeye Fudge–a treat all of us found irresistible!
Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
- Combine the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla in a glass bowl and melt in the microwave for 90 seconds.
- Stir to combine, it should come together very quickly and be smooth and creamy.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar a cup or so at a time. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Grease an 8-9″ pan with butter or line with parchment. Transfer the fudge mixture to the pan and press into the pan.
- Chill for at least 4 hours before cutting. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
PLEASE NOTE: The video for this recipe was made with a HALF recipe for this fudge. The recipe can easily be halved or doubled or multiplied however you like.
As pictured in the video, the fudge should be firm and almost crumbly when mixed together and pressed into the pan. It should not be liquid at all.
This simple four-ingredient recipe is made with real butter. The results can’t be guaranteed if you choose to substitute margarine or another butter alternative. The fudge might be greasy and might not even set up without the original ingredients.
How to Make Microwave Fudge
Kitchen Tip: I use these bowls and this spatula to make this recipe.
This recipe uses a microwave method for melting the ingredients together. While I’m not usually a fan of microwave cooking, nothing beats being able to melt baking ingredients to the perfect consistency in just moments.
It only takes 90 seconds of cook time to soften the peanut butter and butter to the right consistency, plus a few seconds of mixing. Add the powdered sugar to the other ingredients and mix well until the powdered sugar dissolves.
If you don’t happen to be a fan of the microwave, or don’t have one, you can easily melt the butter and peanut butter in a double boiler on the stove top.
It will just take a few minutes longer. Heat the mixture over low-medium heat and stir well to combine before adding the powdered sugar.
I love this fudge cut into 1-inch squares to make it easy to share. This fudge pairs beautifully with an ice-cold glass of milk, a hot cup of coffee or a mug of tea!
Easy Fudge Recipes
There are so many terrific fudge recipes that my family loves. The 5 Minute 5 Ingredient Chocolate Fudge I linked above has become everyone’s go-to recipe and it’s a favorite all year long.
I’ve used that basic recipe as the foundation for tons of different variations on chocolate fudge and it’s the one I find myself coming back to the most often.
White Chocolate Caramel Fudge has been a huge hit as well and I highly recommend you add it to your holiday baking list.
Give this Vanilla Walnut Fudge a try next time you’re in the mood for an easy fudge recipe that doesn’t use chocolate or peanut butter. Cranberry Macadamia Nut Fudge is another treat that’s perfect for the holiday season.
If you like this Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge, you might also enjoy this White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge from Real Housemoms.
I like to create gift bags or boxes with a few different kinds of fudge in them to give as gifts to friends and family throughout the holidays.
These fudge recipes are so easy to pull together that making two or three different kinds at once is a cinch. Fudge also makes a fantastic teacher or hostess gift!
Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Microwave Directions
- Combine the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla in a glass bowl and melt in the microwave for 90 seconds. Stir to combine, it should come together very quickly and be smooth and creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar a cup or so at a time. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Grease an 8-9" pan with butter or line with parchment. Transfer the fudge mixture to the pan and press into the pan. Chill for at least 4 hours before cutting. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Stovetop Directions
- Combine the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla in a medium-size saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir to combine, it should come together very quickly and be smooth and creamy. Remove the pan from the heat and slowly add the powdered sugar a cup or so at a time. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Grease an 8-9" pan with butter or line with parchment. Transfer the fudge mixture to the pan and press into the pan. Chill for at least 4 hours before cutting. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 12/10/13 – notes and photos updated 10/4/22}
would this recipe work using blue bonnet margarine sticks instead of butter?
I haven’t tried that myself, Bev. I honestly don’t know whether or not it would work.
Hi, I decided to make this fudge after so long.
Hmmm, why did I wait so long?
Thanks for sharing yummy taste.
I’m so glad you like it!
No I do not recommend margarine because it will separate and it will not taste good. This was from my own experience. I use real butter and it works much better and taste better. Margarine makes it too oily and taste bad.
I have made this recipe a handful of times now & it is always perfect!! It is absolutely the best peanut butter fudge I have ever had; even better than my local candy shops! Thank you for sharing!
I’m thrilled you like it so much, Kaitlyn!
This peanut butter fudge looks absolutely irresistible! I love how creamy and rich it seems — the perfect treat for anyone with a sweet tooth. Can’t wait to try making this at home; it looks like pure comfort in every bite.
I hope you love it as much as we do!
Disappointed that this tasted more butter forward than peanut butter. My mom made peanut butter fudge and I’m still looking for an old peanut butter fudge recipe that tastes like peanut butter, not butter. Sadly my mom never wrote down recipes, so they’re all lost. If you like a more buttery fudge, this is the one for you.
While personally, I love this exactly as written, I’m fairly certain that you could swap an additional half cup of peanut butter for half a cup of the listed butter in this recipe, if that’s your desire. It won’t be quite as smooth and creamy, but it will certainly be more peanut butter forward. I hope that helps. Best of luck with the search for something closer to your mama’s recipe.
Cut back a table spoon on the butter.. I did after making it the first time because I thought it had a little too much butter.. still creamy.. soooo delicious
Perfect recipe for starting..
It’s a preference thing..
Thank you for sharing
I’m glad you were able to make it work for you!
Have made it several times. Easy and delicious.
I’m so glad you like it!
This is addictive and so easy to make!
oh, it really really is!
Please may I ask. Can you use Chunky peanut butter in place of smooth peanut butter? Thank you. Sincerely, Debbie
That will work fine, Debbie. It won’t slice quite as cleanly, but it’s delicious.
I love your recipe thank you for your peanut butter
I’m thrilled the fudge is so loved.
This Peanutbutter fudge is the best!!! Quick and easy! The hard part is staying out of it until it’s ready!!!
I’m so glad it’s a hit!
hi Mary, we love your fudge, just wondering if it can be frozen? thanks for the recipe!
It freezes well!
I’m wondering if I could replace a cup of the powdered sugar for nest quick powder or cocoa powder
I’ve never tried that, Michelle. I’m not sure how it might turn out.
Can I use chunky peanut butter vs. creamy since I don’t have enough creamy on hand?
Yes, that will work. However, I’d add a couple of tablespoons extra, just to make sure it’s creamy enough.
This was the richest and easiest peanut butter fudge I have ever made!!! My husband loves it and I have had to make it several times since Thanksgiving. I made some for Christmas gifts also. Thanks so much for sharing.
I’m thrilled that you like it so much!
mine came out oily
I made 2 batches last night. It is perfect. Not too sweet and it’s very creamy. I refrigerated it over night because of my work schedule and it was very easy to cut. I followed the recipe exactly. My brother will love it for Christmas.
I’m so glad you love it!
Could it be a peanut butter problem? If you’re using all natural peanut butter that separates too easily?
very creamy fudge! ALMOST as good as my Nonna’s.
I’m so glad you like it!
I just made this! Used chunky peanut butter, and Swerve confectioners sugar to make it sugar free, I did notice that it would only accept 2 cups of the sugar as it got very dry and crumbly, I was able to heat it back up in the microwave enough for it to come together enough to drop and spread it in my dish and it seems to be ok! Taste test to come in 4 hrs!
That should work just fine, Dawn.
I am doubting my fudge will harden as right now it’s not looking good. No matter how much I stirred the mixture I could not get the tiny pieces of powdered sugar to completely dissolve. Is that a necessary step…dissolving every tiny piece of powdered sugar? I stirred til I could stir no more and followed directions to a T.
There’s a video and process photos in the post for this fudge recipe. The powdered sugar should have basically melted into the liquid butter and peanut butter mixture. I’m not sure why it wouldn’t have if it was measured as listed. Were you doubling the recipe by chance?
I am not sure if I did something wrong but somehow my fudge turned doughy even through I followed the recipe to the point. if it turns out okay then I will change my rating but I semi disappointed
I’m not sure how fudge can turn doughy. That’s an odd description. How long has it been chilling?
I made this for the first time today. The fudge is so creamy! It has a wonderful taste. Thank you for posting. Merry Christmas!
I’m glad you are enjoying the fudge!
I also made it for the first time today and had never made PB fudge before because I thought it would be too labor-intensive. It was the easiest thing I’ve ever made and that could be a problem because it’s SO good!! Took a spoonful out before putting into the dish and it’s perfect even without cooling/setting! Thank you!! This will be my new go-to for the holidays!
Awe! I’m so glad you love it.
I made this for the first time and use the triple recipe. It calls for 10 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and I was only able to get 8 cups stirred in because it was so dry! Anybody else had this experience? I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m afraid it’s not gonna be very creamy and the right consistency.
I don’t typically triple this, but it should’ve worked fine. Did you triple all of the ingredients as listed? I often find it easiest to double things or simply repeat things as needed for multiple batches.