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!
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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
- Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Balls
- Candy Corn Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
- Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Chocolate Balls (yes, you read that right!)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Optional: lightly press your choice of toppings like peanut butter cups or salted peanuts on top of the fudge while it’s still soft.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 cup 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
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4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge (No Bake)
Ingredients
- 10 ounces peanut butter chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Optional
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ 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.
Made this before seeing the tip about the 4 cup measuring cup. Tastes awesome. What if we used chocolate chips instead of peanut chips?
Oh good, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I haven't tried it with chocolate chips before but I imagine it would taste AWESOME, like a peanut butter cup! Let me know if you try it and how it goes :). Cara
The fudge didn’t emulsify. The fat content of an entire cup of PB was too high. I had a greasy mess. The flavor was good. I’m trying to figure out how to rescue it.
Oh, no. That's odd ... I've never experienced that and I just made another batch of it today. I wonder if you used natural peanut butter? If so, I would recommend using regular smooth peanut butter next time. As far as rescuing, perhaps you can try adding more peanut butter chips and reheat until melted.
Sounds and looks great going to make shortly. Tkd
Thank you so much, I hope you love it as much as we do :). Cara
Easy fast Great fudge recipe
With peanuts pecans awesome
Thanks 😊
You're welcome -- and pecans sound delicious! Enjoy your fudge :). Cara