Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (2024)

This no-boil maple fudge is deliciously smooth and decadent. This recipe is so easy even children can make it.

Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (1)

Maple fudge is a mouth-wateringly smooth homemade treat. Made using an easy no-boil recipe it’s so simple to make even children can help. It’s so delicious it would make the perfect gift for friends and family.

We tried making this a few different ways. A lot of maple fudges use the traditional method of fudge making where you boil it until it reaches the right temperature. I’m not a big fan of letting kids near boiling sugar and it’s also very tricky to get right so didn’t want to try that way.

We also tried adding maple syrup to our favourite no boil fudge recipe but couldn’t get the flavour to come through without adding so much that the fudge didn’t set properly. So we’ve ended up with an easy no boil chocolate fudge with maple extract. It’s smooth, with a delicious hint of maple and as you simply melt everything together and leave it to set, it really couldn’t be easier.

How can kids help to make maple fudge?

Homemade fudge using the no-boil method is really simple, so it’s a great treat for kids to help make. Once your kids have measured out and broken up the chocolate they can melt it together with the rest of the ingredients.

Melting and mixing it all together isn’t a great job for very young children but older children who can be trusted to be safe around a hot pan can help with this job.

Can I add anything to the maple fudge?

Yes. We made a lovely smooth fudge, but it can be nice to things to it to give it some texture and crunch. Nuts are an obvious choice – pecans or walnuts would go wonderfully with the maple flavour. If you want to add some, chop some up and add them to the fudge before you put it in the baking tin to set. You can also add some on top to decorate.

Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (2)

Can you use a microwave?

Yes. I like melting everything together gently on a double boiler as I can see it melting but if you prefer you can use a microwave.
Simply pop everything into a microwavable bowl and heat it at 80% power in 30 second intervals. Stir it in between each microwave blast and stop when everything has melted and come together.

You can also make this fudge in a slow cooker. To find out how, check out our slow cooker fudge recipe.

How do you store fudge?

This fudge will keep for a week or two in an airtight container, which means its perfect for homemade gifts for friends and family.

If you want to keep the fudge for longer, you can freeze it for a few months. Simply wrap it well in cling film, and pop it in a freezer bag or airtight container.

Other fudge recipes

If you liked this fudge you’ll love our other fudge recipes:

Biscoff fudge
Maltesers fudge
Slow cooker fudge
Mint chocolate fudge
Easter fudge
Rocky road fudge
Chocolate chip fudge
Nutella fudge
Strawberry fudge
White chocolate fudge

Useful equipment

You might need the following baking tools/gadgets to make this maple fudge:

8 inch baking tin
Digital scales
Measuring cups
Heatproof bowl
Measuring spoons
Spatula

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Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (3)

Ingredients

250g milk chocolate
250g white chocolate
397g tin condensed milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tsp maple extract

How to make maple fudge

Line an 8 inch (20cm) square baking tin with baking or parchment paper or tin foil. We find it easiest to cut a long strip and place it in the tin one way then do the same in the other direction. Leave a bit of an overhang to help you remove the fudge from the tin later.

Melt the fudge ingredients together

Start by getting your kids to weigh both of the the chocolates out, break them up and add them to a heatproof bowl.

Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (4)

Pour in the condensed milk.

Finally, get your kids to add the maple and vanilla extract. If you have young children you can hold the measuring spoon while your kids pour in the maple/vanilla or vice versa. Older children with a steadier hand may be able to do this all themselves.

Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (5)

Put your bowl over a pan of simmering water (a double boiler).

Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (6)

Melt everything together, stirring all the time until it comes together in a nice smooth consistency. Be careful as the bowl will get a little hot.

Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (7)

Make the maple fudge

Once the fudge mixture is nice and smooth, get your kids to help pour it into your prepared baking tin. Push the fudge into the edges and corners and smooth down the top with a spatula or the back of a spoon.

Leave the maple fudge to set.

Cover your fudge in cling film/ glad wrap and leave it to set. Once it has cooled down a bit, pop it in the fridge for a few hours to set completely.

Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (8)

Once it has firmed up, cut it into small pieces with a sharp knife (this is a job for grown ups). You might need to remove the fudge from the fridge shortly before you cut it if it’s too hard.

Serve and enjoy!

Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (9)

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Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (10)

Similar recipes

If you liked this recipe you’ll love our other no bake treats and our favourite easy bakes for kids.

Maple fudge | Easy recipe | No boil | Cooking with my kids (2024)

FAQs

Should you stir fudge while it's boiling? ›

You should mix the cream, butter, and sugar when making your fudge, but put down the spoon once it has reached its boiling point. Stirring while your sugar mixture is boiling will only form sugar crystals and make your fudge crunchy rather than silky smooth.

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.

How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›

How long does it take to make fudge:
  1. about 18 min to reach boiling.
  2. about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
  3. 60 minutes to cool.
  4. 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
  5. 4 hours to set.

What is maple fudge made of? ›

Bring maple syrup, heavy cream, and brown sugar to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Continue to boil, without stirring, until mixture starts to bubble and registers 240 degrees F (166 degrees C) on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat. Add butter and salt but do not mix.

What happens if you boil fudge too long? ›

Too cooked

The result is hard and brittle fudge. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 45 to 60 ml (3 or 4 tbsp.) of 35% cream and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely melted. Then let it boil without stirring until the thermometer reaches 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

What happens if you don't boil fudge long enough? ›

The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.

Why is my maple fudge grainy? ›

Fudge usually behaves this way when it's not cooked to a high enough temperature (due to oversight or a faulty candy thermometer). If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature.

What not to do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

Can you reboil fudge that hasn't set? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

What makes high quality fudge? ›

Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard. High-quality fudge has many small crystals. If the process of crystallization begins too early, fewer crystals form and they become much larger.

How to tell if fudge is done? ›

To test the boiling mixture for doneness, drop a bit of it into a bowl of cold water. If it forms a ball that is soft enough to flatten between your fingers, the mixture is ready for cooling. When the fudge cools to 110 degrees F/43 degrees C, beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until it's no longer glossy.

What is a soft boil for fudge? ›

making of fudge

termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.

Why is my maple fudge not setting? ›

Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set

If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.

How do you thicken maple fudge? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

Is maple fudge good? ›

A true staple in Québec, Maple Fudge (aka sucre à la crème) is a smooth, creamy and sinfully decadent maple treat that tastes like pure heaven. Another unavoidable classic in this household on Christmas Day would be Maple Fudge, or what we Québécois refer to as “Sucre à la Crème“.

How long to let fudge cool before stirring? ›

When the fudge cools to 110 degrees F/43 degrees C, beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until it's no longer glossy. Then you can stir in the nuts, or any other extra flavorings, and transfer it to the cooling pan.

How do you keep hot fudge from getting hard? ›

Corn syrup is really the secret ingredient to making the best hot fudge, because without it, the chocolate and butter would harden up as the sauce cools. If you prefer not to use corn syrup, try golden syrup, which is made from cane sugar and works just as well.

Can I reboil fudge that didn't set? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

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