Easy Fudge

This Easy Fudge recipe shaped like a Christmas wreath makes a delicious holiday dessert. It also makes a perfect homemade Christmas gift.  

Fudge is something we always seem to make at Christmas. It just seems like one of those traditional things to do. Every year we have standard cookies that we make for Christmas, and this recipe is one of them.

This recipe makes a great holiday dessert that is quick and easy to make. It also is a nice homemade gift for someone.

Grocery Shopping List

• chocolate chips
• butterscotch chips
• sweetened condensed milk
• vanilla extract
• chopped walnuts
• marshmallows
• red, white and green gumdrops
• parchment paper or foil

I like to use butterscotch chips with the chocolate chips. However, if you cannot find butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips would be a good substitute in this recipe.

How to make the fudge:

Before you start, line your 9 inch cake pan with foil to help the fudge pop out easier when done. Cover the entire inner cake pan with foil.

Recipe Tip: You can also use parchment paper for this step. Just cut some parchment paper into a circle to fit the bottom of your cake pan. (It's stiffer than foil and will not fold over the sides of the pan as easy as foil so just place it on the bottom of the pan.)

Place the chocolate and butterscotch chips into a medium pot and pour in the sweetened condensed milk.  

Save the sweetened condensed milk can. This will help make the center of your wreath. Cover the milk can with foil or a plastic sandwich bag and set that aside.

Using low to medium heat, melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips and combine with the sweetened condensed milk. Stir often until chips are melted and combined well with the sweetened condensed milk.

Once it looks completely melted and smooth, stir in the vanilla and remove from the heat. Add in the nuts and marshmallows (adding in the nuts and marshmallows is optional).

Recipe Tip: If you like to have some marshmallow pieces in the fudge instead of it all melted, stir until you have just some of the marshmallows melted and leave some visible pieces of marshmallow in the pot.

How to assemble the wreath:

Place the milk can in the center of the covered cake pan.  Place it in there with the top facing up, just to make sure that any excess sweetened condensed milk doesn't spill out into your pan.

Spoon the fudge around the can, making sure the can stays in the center of the pan. If it shifts, just move it back to the center.

Recipe Tip: To make it look more like a wreath, place it in the pan without smoothing off the top. Do more of a coarse look with the fudge to resemble a wreath.

Adding the berries to the wreath:

The garnish for the berries needs to be added right after putting the fudge in the cake pan since the fudge will start to set within a short time.

We used red, white and green gumdrops to make the berries. The red can be used as is, but the green should be sliced in half or thirds to resemble the leaves.

In the past, I have used red, white and green candied cherries for the holly berries. I switched over to the gumdrop candy because I like the look of them a little more and they are cheaper in price.

Use whichever you prefer to decorate your wreath. Another option is to skip the berries and add a fabric bow to dress it up.

Place three red gumdrops for the berries and then add the sliced green gumdrops for the leaves. Gently press down on them and they will stick to the fudge as it sets in the refrigerator. Add as many as you like.

Chill the fudge in the refrigerator for a 3-4 hours or until it is set. Once it is set, remove the can. You might have to twist the can slightly to get it out.

If you used foil, the wreath should pop right out. If you used parchment paper on the bottom of the pan only, you might need to run a knife around the edge of the cake pan to loosen it up a little. Then it should pop right out for you.

Store the fudge covered either at room temperature or in the refrigerator.  It is not necessary to store the fudge in the refrigerator but some people like it chilled. 

Be sure to slice the pieces small as it is very sweet.  You can always go back for seconds!

Recipe Tips

• Make sure to line your cake pan before you start.  This helps the fudge come out of the pan easier and also makes for easy clean up.
• When melting the chocolate chips, make sure to use low to medium heat and stir often.  Overheating the chocolate chips will make it too thick.  The chocolate mixture should be smooth and creamy.
• If you like to have some marshmallow pieces in the fudge instead of it all melted, stir until you have just some of the marshmallows melted and leave some visible pieces of marshmallow in the pot.
• Save the sweetened condensed milk can to make the center of the wreath.  Cover it with foil or a plastic sandwich bag and place it in the center of the pan.  If it shifts a little while adding in the fudge, just move it back to the center.
• Make sure the can is facing up so any excess sweetened condensed milk does not drip out into the pan.
• To make it look more like a wreath, place the fudge into the pan without smoothing off the top. Give it more of a coarse look to resemble a wreath.
• If decorating the wreath with gumdrops, add them immediately after placing the fudge into the pan as the fudge will start to set quickly.  
• A bow made from fabric or ribbon can be added to make the wreath look more festive.
• Want to make the fudge and not the wreath? You can do that by using an 8x8 pan instead of the round cake pan.

Looking for more Christmas cookie recipes? 

Try my M&M Cookie Bars or Rice Krispie Treat Christmas Trees with red and green M&M's for a festive look.  

Did you make this recipe? If so, please leave a comment and rating below. I love hearing from you. 

Update Note: This recipe was originally posted earlier, but was published again in 2020 to include step by step directions and new photos.