Kids will go bonkers for this colorful, CRAZY-cute Easy Monster Fudge! This recipe is super simple to make for all those Halloween parties!
Bright, whimsical colors, a dollop of frosting, and fun googly eyes make Easy Monster Fudge the MOST adorable candy EVER! I mean, just look at these! This 3-ingredient fudge recipe (white chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, and powdered sugar, plus 3 decorating extras) is fast to make and feeds a classroom full of costumed kids! Enjoy the ultimate Happy Halloween sweet treat!
Fudge is Always a Favorite!
The story goes something like this: Back in the late 1800s, a baker was attempting to make chocolate caramels, but the recipe failed. When he realized the mistake, he replied, “Oh, fudge!”
Lucky for us, one person’s failure is another person’s favorite! Fudge has become one of the most decadent, delicious and versatile dessert tidbits of all time! From classic chocolate fudge to classy White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Fudge to wildly-colored rainbow monster fudge, this homemade candy is always a favorite!
Other Fudge Recipes to Serve at Halloween
- Chocolate Pumpkin Fudge combines two of your favorite flavors into one deliciously decadent dessert!
- Tiger Butter Fudge is marvelous, melt-in-your-mouth, swirled chocolate peanut butter fudge!
Ingredients
White Chocolate: I know, white chocolate isn’t REALLY chocolate, but it makes glorious fudge! You can use white chocolate chips, candy melts, baking bars or almond bark – it’s up to you!
Pantry Items: Sweetened Condensed Milk (like Bordens) makes the fudge creamy. Confectioner’s (powdered) sugar, sometimes called icing sugar, is soft and fine and helps to thicken the fudge.
Frosting: Any frosting – bought or homemade and colored as you like to match the fudge – will be piped onto the top of each bite for a decorative flourish that keeps the googly eyes in place.
Decoration: Food coloring (gel or paste works best, but liquid drops are fine too) to make the fudge any and all the colors you choose, plus a package of adorable, EDIBLE googly eyes to give this confection its personality!
How to Make Easy Monster Fudge
STEP ONE: Line an 8-inch x 8-inch square pan with parchment paper, spritz the paper with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside. Grab a small bowl for each color you’re dying the fudge and set them aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the white chocolate and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave for 1 minute, remove from the microwave and stir. Repeat this process, heating in 30-second intervals, for 1-2 minutes until the fudge is smooth, has a thick consistency, and is evenly combined. The most important rule in making fudge is not to overcook it, as it will become grainy.
STEP TWO: (Work quickly from here on to keep the fudge from setting up.) Divide the fudge base into the bowls, one for each color. (ex. 4 colors = 1/4 of the fudge base in each bowl. You can just eyeball it.) Add 3-4 drops of food coloring into each bowl and stir with a spoon. Add more food coloring as needed to reach your desired color.
STEP THREE: When the colors in each bowl are what you want, divide the powdered sugar equally between the bowls and stir into the fudge base until completely combined.
STEP FOUR: Randomly dollop the colored fudge mixtures into the pan, dropping colors here and there, and letting them layer on top of each other. There’s no rhyme or reason to this.
STEP FIVE: After all the fudge is in the pan, use the back of the spoon to spread the top into a smooth layer. Place the fudge in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to overnight.
STEP SIX: Remove the fudge pan from the fridge. Lift the whole block of fudge out of the pan by the edges of the parchment paper. Using a long knife or a large pizza cutter, slice the fudge into small squares.
STEP SEVEN: Put the frosting into a piping bag and pipe a small rosette on each square. Press googly eyes on each piece. (I use two together for the small eyes and one alone for the large eyes.) And now you have the cutest fudge ever!
Tips for Success
- Line your pan with parchment or foil and let it drape over the sides. This makes the fudge easy to lift out one it’s hardened.
- This recipe calls for 12 ounces of white chocolate which is equal to about 2 ½ cups of white chocolate baking chips.
- Don’t confuse evaporated milk for sweetened condensed milk – they are definitely NOT the same!
- A pinch of salt added to the melted ingredients can add a nice counterbalance to the sweetness of the fudge.
- You CAN make this fudge without the googly eyes…but why? I mean, I’m swooning over all the cuteness!!!
What’s the Difference between Chocolate and Fudge?
The word “fudge” is often used to describe chocolate things like fudgy brownies, but fudge is not the same thing as chocolate. Chocolate foods contain products made from the cacao bean, such as cocoa powder or cocoa butter. Fudge, on the other hand, doesn’t have to contain cocoa at all. Fudge is a creamy, very rich mixture of dairy, sugar, and flavorings that are melted into a smooth batter and then cooled to form a sweet confection. Fudge can be any flavor from almond to peppermint or filled with everything from nuts to cookie crumbles. Of course, you can always add chocolate TO fudge and make the most popular of all: Chocolate Fudge.
How Do You Make Fudge Last?
Homemade fudge will last best if kept completely airtight. It should last about 2 weeks if stored with a lid at room temperature. Commercial fudge usually contains preservatives, so it will keep a bit longer. Fudge can also be refrigerated (but it tends to dry out pretty fast) or sealed well and frozen for up to 3 months.
If fudge becomes hard or crumbly or develops a white, crystallized sugar coating, this suggests the fudge is past its prime and should not be eaten.
Fudge with frosting should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or left unfrosted until ready to eat.
Other Hauntingly Easy Sweet Halloween Recipes
- Monster Cookie Bars
- Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops
- Candy Corn Cake Bites
- Spooky Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Cupcakes
- Eyeball Oreo Bites
- Cake Mix Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
*This post originally posted on 10/25/2014.
Equipment
- Piping Tips (see note)
Ingredients
Fudge
- 3 cups white chocolate chips
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Food coloring (see note)
Decorations
- 1 package candy googly eyes
- Frosting (see note)
Instructions
Fudge
- Line an 8-inch x 8-inch square pan with parchment paper – a 9×9 pan would be fine too. Then coat the paper with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside. Grab one bowl for each food coloring color you've chosen and set them aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the white chocolate and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave for 1 minute, remove, and stir. Continue heating in 30-second intervals, stirring after each heating, for another 1-2 minutes. The mixture is ready when the mixture is evenly combined and has a thick texture. Do not overcook the fudge!
- Remove the bowl from the microwave and divide the fudge base evenly between the bowls based on the number of colors you're using. (Just eyeball it.) For 4 colors, you'll put about 1/4 of the fudge base into each bowl, and so on.
- Add 3-4 drops of on food color into each bowl. Use a spoon to mix until evenly combined. Add more food coloring as needed to reach your desired color. Divide the powdered sugar evenly between the colored fudge base bowls and stir to combine.
- Randomly drop each color of fudge into the prepared pan – add dollops here and there and keep layering them. Once layered, use the back of a spoon to smooth the top of the fudge into an even layer.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill the fudge in the fridge for 4 hours to overnight.
- Remove from fridge and use the parchment paper to lift the fudge from the pan. Slice the fudge into small squares – I usually cut 16 squares in a 4×4 grid.
Decorating
- Color the frosting as desired. Divide it into bowls based on the number of colors you choose to use and stir in the food coloring.
- Place each color of frosting into its own piping bag fitted with a tip. Pipe a small rosette or drape lines of frosting on top of each fudge square. Place googly eyes on each piece randomly.
Notes
- You can choose whichever colors you like for the fudge. Go with classic Halloween colors like green, black, purple, and orange. Make a rainbow fudge with green and blue monsters on top. Or even use red, pink, and white for Valentine’s Day cuddle monster fudge.
- You can use homemade or store-bought frosting to top the fudge squares. I really like the fudge paired with this cream cheese frosting, but if you want to keep things easy a tub of vanilla frosting from the baking aisle works too.
- If you don’t have piping bags and tips, don’t worry. You can use a ziploc bag with one corner cut off. The monsters can look anyway you want, so just have fun with it!
Nutrition
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
These are adorable. . and so easy!! love and pinned!!
Heather Swarthout says
I’m making these with my three year old this week. Thank you for such a fun and easy recipe!!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet says
These are SUPER cute!
Lisa | Sweet 2 Eat Baking says
Oh wow, love how colourful this is, Kim. I’m a huge fan of microwave (chocolate) fudge, have a few recipes using that on my blog.
Adding this to my make/bake list to make soon. Too cute.
Shared on Twitter too.