• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Money
  • About

Midwestern HomeLife

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Peanut Butter Fudge (No Bake)

    Published: Oct 25, 2022 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Peanut Butter Fudge (No Bake)

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    squares of no bake peanut butter fudge on parchment paper
    squares of no bake peanut butter fudge on a white plate
    squares of no bake peanut butter fudge on parchment paper
    squares of no bake peanut butter fudge on a white plate

    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
    Jump to:
    • About this recipe
    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-step Instructions
    • Storage
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Recipe Essentials
    • More Easy Microwave Candy Recipes
    • Let's Stay in Touch
    • 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge (No Bake)

    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. 

    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 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

    • Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls
      Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls
    • Chocolate Coconut Balls
    • Chocolate Peanut Brittle
      Chocolate Peanut Brittle (Microwave Recipe)
    • Microwave peanut brittle with raw peanuts
      7 ½ Minute Microwave Peanut Brittle

    Let's Stay in Touch

    Follow Midwestern HomeLife on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe via email to receive all of the latest recipes!

    squares of no bake peanut butter fudge on parchment paper

    4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge (No Bake)

    Cara Lanz
    4 Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Fudge is a smooth and creamy microwave fudge recipe you can make in about 5 minutes. No candy thermometer needed!
    4.50 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 2 mins
    Total Time 7 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 25
    Calories 113 kcal

    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.

    Notes

    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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 113kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 88mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 42IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Paula Deen Sweet Potato Casserole
    Halloween Rice Krispie Treats »
    • Facebook

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joseph Tannenbaum says

      February 13, 2023 at 1:08 am

      5 stars
      Made this before seeing the tip about the 4 cup measuring cup. Tastes awesome. What if we used chocolate chips instead of peanut chips?

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 13, 2023 at 1:28 am

        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

        Reply
    2. Sif Galdr says

      December 22, 2022 at 8:41 pm

      3 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        December 22, 2022 at 11:59 pm

        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.

        Reply
    3. Barbara Bowersox says

      December 09, 2022 at 8:17 pm

      Sounds and looks great going to make shortly. Tkd

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        December 09, 2022 at 8:33 pm

        Thank you so much, I hope you love it as much as we do :). Cara

        Reply
    4. Aeil says

      October 29, 2022 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      Easy fast Great fudge recipe
      With peanuts pecans awesome
      Thanks 😊

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        October 29, 2022 at 5:07 pm

        You're welcome -- and pecans sound delicious! Enjoy your fudge :). Cara

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love dreaming up easier, and sometimes healthier twists on dishes from the heartland.

    This is where I share my recipes, tips, and inspiration for a happy home.

    Dig in!

    More about me →

    Easy Easter Recipes

    • Slow Cooker Chipotle Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham
    • Paula Deen Corn Casserole in a white casserole dish next to a plate of one serving of corn casserole
      Paula Deen Corn Casserole
    • English pea salad on a white plate on a white countertop
      English Pea Salad
    • Paula Deen green bean casserole in a white casserole dish
      Paula Deen's Southern Green Bean Casserole

    Spring Desserts

    • lemon bar with graham cracker crust on white plate with cutting board with bars in background
      Easy Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust
    • piece of lemon poke cake on white plate with bowl of lemons and plates of cake in background
      Lemon Poke Cake
    • piece of no-bake cheesecake with cherry topping
      No-Bake Cheesecake with Cool Whip
    • Carrot Cake Mix Bar Cookies

    Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Chicken Taco Hash Brown Casserole (Oven Recipe)
    • pot roast with onion soup mix, potatoes, and carrots on a white platter
      Pot Roast with Onion Soup Mix
    • baked thin sliced chicken with panko on white platter on black and white napkin
      Crispy Baked Thin Chicken Breasts
    • cream cheese chicken chili in a white bowl with cornbread and parsley on a white countertop
      Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit
    • About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 MIDWESTERNHOMELIFE Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme