The Finest Paula Deen’s 5-Minute Fudge: So Good, It Should Be Illegal!

The holidays are not the same unless there is fudge in the house. I admit that I had quit making fudge due to the time it takes to do it. However, there is now a fudge that can be made in very few minutes: the best Paula Deens 5minute fudge recipe!

We all know and love her, and this easy Paula Deens 5minute fudge for beginners is right up her alley! It’s one you’ll want to keep happy so you can make it at any time and have fudge when you want.

The best part about this recipe is that it can be easily customized to fit your mood. In fact, the best homemade Paula Deens 5minute fudge ideas will make your stomach growl in excitement. A quick Paula Deens 5minute fudge recipe is something just about anyone can do.

Even better, the fudge is absolutely delicious and is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. This quick Paula Deens 5minute fudge recipe is worth giving a try today! Heck, there’s even a healthy Paula Deens 5minute fudge version we think you’ll love.

So what are you waiting for? Try this simple Paula Deens 5minute fudge recipe today! You deserve a family friendly Paula Deens 5minute fudge that’s smooth, creamy, easy to make, and loved by everyone in the house!

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This is an easy-to-make fudge – even your youngest kids should get into it easily enough
• It tastes like Old Fashioned Fudge but doesn’t take forever to cook
• Most kids and even adults will love its smooth and sweet taste
• Surprisingly, you can make healthy versions for older folks
• When frozen or refrigerated, it can last a lot longer than you’d thinkThis is an easy-to-make fudge that tastes like it is Old Fashioned Fudge that takes forever to cook.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Chopped Pecans: Chopped pecans give the best Paula Deens 5minute fudge recipe a lot of taste. If you do not have pecans, substitute the nut of your choice. Try walnuts, macadamia, peanuts, or whichever you prefer. Healthier options leave them out entirely.
• Granulated Sugar: Any easy Paul Deens 5minute fudge for beginners needs granulated sugar to taste great. Not into it? Try brown sugar, honey, or even agave nectar to get a healthy Paula Deens 5minute fudge version kids will still love. 
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Honestly, you simply can’t have family friendly Paula Deens 5minute fudge without these! That said, you can try substitution unsweetened baking chocolate or cocoa powder to make a simple Paula Deens 5minute fudge meal your kids will love. 
• Large Marshmallows: Our homemade Paula Deens 5minute fudge ideas all need marshmallows or something similar to give it texture and heft. If you don’t like marsmallows, peanut butter, honey, or even marshmallow fluff can work well here. 
• Vanilla Extract: A little vanilla extract will make your quick Paula Deens 5minute fudge recipe a little more diverse in its flavors. Try to use almond extract, honey, or maple syrup if, for whatever reason, you don’t like this ingredient.

How to Make It

The best Paula Deens 5minute fudge recipe starts by adding a little evaporated milk, sugar, and butter into a boil in a saucepan. Here’s a tip: warm the saucepan first to make boiling easier.

Here’s where our recipe for easy Paula Deens 5minute fudge for beginners gets its name: waiting for everything to boil for five minutes. Suggestion: why not mix everything while it boils to keep busy?

Some fun homemade Paula Deens 5minute fudge ideas to try at this point: adding different chocolate intensities (dark, white, sweet, etc.) into your fudge right now. You’ll be adding it, your marshmallows, and vanilla extra now, so make your simple Paula Deens 5minute fudge meal a little more varied with these chocolate types.

No quick Paula Deens 5minute fudge recipe should skip this step (unless you’re allergic to or don’t like nuts): adding the pecans! Try crushing them up first to get a nice blend. Don’t make them a fine dust, mind you. Breaking them up in to 2-4 pieces should be enough.

If you want a healthy Paula Deens 5minute fudge version, you could also add blueberries, strawberries, and even mango slices into your fudge as you layer your mix into a baking dish. While not to all tastes, it’s a nice extra step to take.

Put your family friendly Paula Deens 5minute fudge in the freezer for a few hours to stiffen it up. Now, cut it up into as many slices as you want. Honestly, one- or two-inch squares are enough. Any bigger and a service is going to feel a bit filling.

Tips for Success

• Wait for your fudge to reach the softball stage of boiling or the point when, if you drop a drop of the fudge into a glass of cold water, it remains ball-shaped
• Cut your fudge into at least 36 pieces, which gives you a nice amount to give out to friends and family 
• Don’t forget the butter, as it adds a rich flavor to the fudge and keeps it tasty 
• Add a touch more milk or cream to the fudge (only a bit at a time) to make it softer without becoming too runny 
• Give it time to fully cool down (usually an hour or two) before serving to ensure it stays firm when you cut and eat it

Storage & Reheating

As long as it is placed in an airtight container, you can store your fudge in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. It can also be frozen. Just wrap it tightly in plastic or aluminum foil and keep it in the fridge almost indefinitely. You don’t even have to thaw it, as it should be quite easy to eat even if frozen. Tastes great with milk!

Serving Suggestions

• While often great when frozen, serving at room temperature gives it a nice softness 
• Add vanilla cream to your fudge for a luscious dish 
• Strawberries and other nuts give your fudge even more flavor 
• Milk is preferred with fudge, though coffee and tea are nice 
• Try some dessert wines to have an adult-friendly fudge

Notes

Honestly, this is almost as good as my mom’s fudge! Adding the pecans gives it a bit more texture and crunch, while the cream gives it a nice smoothness. I think it compares well to pumpkin spice easy fudge and other similar dishes. My kids are obsessed with it, honestly, and keep wanting to make it when I’m not around. I have to lock the cupboards to avoid coming home to a messy kitchen!

THANKS FOR PINING!

More peanut butter recipes Ideas:

If you’re looking for other delicious and easy recipes, check out these ideas:

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge – Make it right away!

Peanut Butter Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting – The resulting dessert is rich, decadent, and absolutely delicious.

Buckeye Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites – The sweet and salty combination of these bite-sized snacks is incredible.