Description
This stunning Christmas Peppermint Swirl Fudge transforms simple ingredients into a festive holiday masterpiece in just 10 minutes of active prep time! The white chocolate base provides a pristine canvas for beautiful red and green swirls, while a hint of peppermint extract evokes memories of candy canes and holiday cheer. Using high-quality white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk creates that perfect fudge consistency—smooth, firm yet melt-in-your-mouth tender. This recipe is 40% faster than traditional stovetop fudge methods, making it perfect for busy holiday baking.
Ingredients
- 3 cups (525g) white chocolate chips
- 1 can (14 oz/396g) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons (28g) butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- ½ teaspoon red food coloring (gel preferred)
- ½ teaspoon green food coloring (gel preferred)
- 2 tablespoons holiday sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Pan: Line an 8×8-inch square pan completely with parchment paper, ensuring it covers bottom and sides with overhang on two sides to create handles for easy lifting later.
- Create Fudge Base: In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine white chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and peppermint extract. Use a bowl larger than you think you need for easy stirring.
- Melt With Care: Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir thoroughly. Continue heating in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each, until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Be patient—white chocolate seizes easily when overheated.
- Create Colored Portions: Quickly place ½ cup fudge mixture in one small bowl and add 3-4 drops red food coloring, stirring vigorously. In another bowl, add ½ cup fudge mixture with 2-3 drops green coloring. Work fast as mixture thickens quickly.
- Create Christmas Swirl: Pour remaining white fudge into prepared pan. Drop dollops of red and green fudge randomly throughout the white base for good color distribution.
- Swirl and Decorate: Using a butter knife or skewer, gently create marbled swirls with 3-4 figure-eight motions. Don’t over-swirl or you’ll lose color separation. Sprinkle with holiday sprinkles while soft if desired.
- Chill and Set: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until completely firm. For best texture, chill overnight.
- Cut and Serve: Lift fudge using parchment handles. Cut into squares with a sharp knife, wiping blade with warm damp cloth between cuts for clean edges.
Notes
Essential Tips: Use high-quality white chocolate chips with real cocoa butter (not white baking chips) for smoothest texture. Never exceed 30-second heating intervals to prevent seizing. Work quickly once melted—fudge sets immediately. Pro Techniques: Warm small bowls slightly before adding colored portions for extra working time. Use gel food coloring for intense color without thinning mixture. Variations: Try chocolate peppermint version with dark chocolate chips, add crushed candy canes for extra crunch, or fold in toasted nuts for texture contrast. Storage: Keeps refrigerated in airtight container up to 1 week or frozen up to 3 months. Gift Idea: Layer chopped fudge in mason jars with cookies and nuts for last-minute holiday gifts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (1/16th of recipe)
- Calories: 274
- Sugar: 33g
- Sodium: 73mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 19mg
Keywords: christmas fudge, peppermint fudge, holiday candy, white chocolate fudge, microwave fudge