Easy Peanut Butter Fudge with Powdered Sugar

This Easy Peanut Butter Fudge is a simple recipe and the perfect balance of sweet and salty. It’s soft and creamy, great for the holidays and special occasions, or just because!

Peanut Butter Fudge with Powdered Sugar

One of my greatest indulgences when I was growing up was Peanut Butter Fudge. This homemade peanut butter fudge recipe is creamy, peanut buttery perfection. It’s soft and flavorful and just melts in your mouth!

This recipe is not only easy to follow but also consistently delivers delicious results that impress family and friends. The steps are straightforward, so even if it’s your first time making fudge, you’ll find the process stress-free. And the best part? No modifications needed—just simple ingredients and a foolproof method for a melt-in-your-mouth treat. Make it once, and don’t be surprised if requests for another batch keep rolling in!

I have tried several peanut butter fudge recipes that turned out gritty or hard … This was perfect, like fair fudge! It is my forever go-to now! – Anna Lee

Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe Ingredients & Tools

• Creamy Peanut Butter – You’ll want to use creamy for best results; I prefer Jif Creamy.
• Vanilla Extract – I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t use imitation vanilla; pure vanilla extract can add so much to a recipe!
• 8×8-inch Baking Pan – I recommend using one with straight sides to keep everything cohesive, but any 8×8-inch pan will do.
• Medium Saucepan – I personally like and recommend using a heavy non-stick pan for this recipe because it gets the job done and is a lot easier to clean.
• Hand Mixer – I love my KitchenAid hand mixer for quick recipes; my stand mixer is great but not always necessary, and this keeps things easy.

What is the secret to making creamy fudge?

My secret is the half-and-half! Most recipes use just milk, and some don’t use liquid dairy at all. But truly, if you want the most incredible, soft, creamy peanut butter fudge, use half-and-half!

Substitutions for this Easy Homemade Peanut Butter Fudge

Since fudge is a candy, it’s actually very dependent upon the ingredients and process to turn out properly.

I do not recommend substituting peanut butter for another nut butter in this recipe because they can have very different consistencies (almond butter is much thicker and Nutella is much stickier for example). I also don’t recommend using all natural peanut butter. I personally use Jif Creamy for this recipe.

However, you can use salted butter instead of unsalted, and you can also use granulated sugar instead of light brown sugar, if desired. Just note that you will lose some of that caramelly flavor.

How To Make Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Prepare your pan and the powdered sugar before you start cooking so you can move quickly through the recipe for the best results.

1. Melt the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan until it begins to boil. Boil for 1 minute and 45 seconds, then remove from heat.
2. Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla immediately until mostly smooth.
3. Pour the peanut butter mixture into a large bowl with the powdered sugar. Then, immediately whip them together with a hand mixer until smooth. Work fast because the fudge will want to start crusting.
4. Quickly transfer the creamy peanut butter fudge mixture to a parchment-lined baking pan and allow it to set fully before slicing. For best results, give it about 3 hours to set up on the counter—this helps ensure the fudge slices cleanly into squares and holds its shape perfectly when serving.

How Long Does It Take For Peanut Butter Fudge To Set?

Once you’ve poured your creamy mixture into the prepared pan, let it rest right on the counter for about 3 hours. Give it this time to fully cool and set up before you attempt slicing. Trying to cut it too soon means you might end up with a gooey mess instead of those perfect squares we’re after!

Can I Cool Peanut Butter Fudge in the Refrigerator?

Absolutely! You can pop your pan of peanut butter fudge into the refrigerator to speed up cooling and setting. Just make sure it’s covered or wrapped well to prevent it from picking up any fridge odors. Cooling in the fridge works great if you’re eager to enjoy your fudge a little sooner—just keep in mind that cutting is easiest once it’s fully set and back to room temperature.

What Causes Peanut Butter Fudge Not To Harden?

If you don’t let the mixture boil for the specified time, it may not set. It can also have a hard time settling when there is too much moisture in the air, such as on a humid or rainy day.

You should be able to tell if it’s going to harden during the mixing process, since once you mix in the powdered sugar, the top will almost start to crust. This is a good sign that your fudge will set. You can see this in the mixing bowl photo above: the ripples of fudge look extra wrinkly.

How Do You Fix Peanut Butter Fudge That Didn’t Set?

If your fudge hasn’t set after a couple of hours, you can add it back to the pot and reheat, then add some additional powdered sugar, which should help it set.

Using Unsalted Butter Instead of Salted

If you only have unsalted butter on hand, no worries! Simply add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the recipe. This will closely replicate the flavor you’d get with salted butter, ensuring your fudge turns out just as delicious and balanced.

How To Store Peanut Butter Fudge

Store any peanut butter fudge in an airtight container in a cool area for up to 2 weeks.

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

If you’re craving something a little extra, it’s easy to bring chocolate into the mix. Simply prepare a batch of this peanut butter fudge along with a separate batch of your favorite creamy chocolate fudge. To create a beautiful swirled effect or set layered squares, pour both fudges into a larger pan (a 9×13-inch works well). Here’s how:

• Pour one flavor into the pan, then gently add the other on top.
• Using a butter knife, swirl the two together to create a marbled look, or keep them in neat layers for distinct bites of each.
• Allow to chill and set as usual.

It’s a fun twist when you just can’t decide between chocolate and peanut butter!

How To Freeze Peanut Butter Fudge

Absolutely! Peanut butter fudge holds up great in the freezer if you want to stash some away for later (or keep it hidden from sneaky snackers). Here’s how to do it:

• Cut the fully set fudge into slices or squares.
• Wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap to keep out freezer burn and moisture.
• Pop the wrapped pieces into a zip-top freezer bag or an airtight container.
• Stash in the freezer for up to 2 months.

When the craving strikes, simply thaw the pieces in the refrigerator or on your counter until they’re soft enough to enjoy. The texture stays creamy, and you get that perfect, just-made taste—even weeks later!

More Delicious Peanut Butter Recipes!

• Peanut Butter Frosting – Made with only 5 ingredients in just 10 minutes!
• Best Peanut Butter Blossoms – Chocolate candy nestled in the center of a chewy cookie!
• Peanut Butter Buckeye Balls – A creamy peanut butter filling wrapped in a chocolate shell!
• Butterscotch Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies – A quick no bake treat everyone will love!

This post was originally published in December 2017 and has been updated with clearer instructions and new photos.