Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge Recipe (2024)

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This is totally not related to the recipe– but it’s all-consuming me at the moment, so we’re just going to have to take a moment to discuss it:

Do you get into books? Like realllllly into books?

I do. To the point it’s been a real problem for me in life. Like, I become so maniacally involved in a plot, so obsessed with the story and the characters, that I truly struggle to function outside of the fictional world. And when I force myself to take care of the daily tasks that I must take care of, I find myself feeling….. weird. Out of place, almost. And usually pretty dejected that I’m not lost in the story at that very moment.

Anyway. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, I usually try to stay away from books. It’s a forced lifestyle I practiced while I was in college and then again when I started to blog seriously. Otherwise, it’s impossible for me to focus on anything else! Honestly. It’s the only way I’ve found to be productive in life.

But lately, I’ve been on a real reading jag– almost like a binge. But with books instead of food. I don’t know what happened… I can’t remember why I started reading the book I did (I think it may have been a road trip?). It wasn’t even that good, to be honest.

But it was like stretching my legs or taking a breath of fresh air. And I haven’t been able to stop reading. I’m up until 1 or 2 or 3 every morning, finishing a book a day at this rate. It’s insane.

I mean insane.

I’m not proud of it. You’d really be afraid for my well-being if you saw me in real life.

But it’s too late. I’ve decided just to go ahead and feed the beast and hopefully let this thing run its course.

So– I’m looking for book suggestions! I’m crazy about happy endings and Austen-eque books. I know there are tons of spin-offs and Austen-related novels, and I’m kind of enjoying reading my way through some of that cheesiness. It’s just nice and easy and relaxing, and I know some of you are bound to have some good recommendations for me!!

So let me know in the comments– what’s your favorite happily-ever-after book?

Ok. So outside of Regency-era fictional romance and trendy, pop juvenile fiction, I’m also pretty obsessed with the peanut butter + butterscotch combo.

I’ve made Butterscotch Butterfinger Rice Krispie Treats, Scotcheroo Banana Bread, and Scotcheroo Muddy Buddies— all personal favorites of mine. And today, I’m adding this fudge to the mix!

It’s truly phenomenal. And ridiculously easy to make. I almost always make two-ingredient fudge using sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips (see: Pralines and Cream Fudge, Dark Chocolate Mint Truffle Fudge, Reese’s Fudge, and Chocolate Covered Cherry Fudge to name a few), because I love the simplicity of the recipe!

This recipe takes the simplicity of my favorite 2-ingredients fudge and tweaks it a bit (although it’s still simple and only 2 ingredients minus the optional chocolate drizzle!): I subbed peanut butter for the sweetened condensed milk in my fave recipe and used butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips.

I couldn’t believe how beautifully it worked! I half expected it to never set quite right or maybe to be dry and crumbly. But just the opposite! This fudge is completely creamy and rich, cuts smooth as butter, and stays firm enough that it holds its shape and stands up to packaging just fine.

It’s quick and easy to make– just a few minutes at the stove! After that it’s just hands-off waiting time while it cools and hardens. I’ve made two batches so far; both times in the evening, and I didn’t try to cut it until the following morning (although I noted that it’s pretty firm after about 4 hours).

The chocolate drizzle is option and just for fun really, but I LOVE Scotcheroos, so I knew I wanted a little chocolate on mine. But that’s totally up to you :). I’m also thinking these would be awesome with Reese’s Piece’s sprinkled on top before it firms up!

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge Recipe (3)

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge

Yield: approximately 25-30 pieces

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3 1/2 cups (2 packages) butterscotch morsels
  • optional: approximately 1/4 cup chocolate, melted for drizzling (I used chocolate candy melts, like Wilton's, so the drizzle would harden quickly)

Instructions

  1. Over low heat (must be LOW), melt the peanut butter in a medium sauce pan, stirring continuously.
  2. Add the butterscotch morsels and continue to stir until everything is melted and smooth.
  3. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper or wax paper, and pour the mixture into the prepared dish.
  4. Allow to cool for at least 4 hours or overnight before cutting into 2-inch squares. You can drizzle with chocolate, if desired, before they are cut or after-- up to you. I drizzled after.

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Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to perfect fudge? ›

Valuable tips for successful fudge
  • Don't stir during cooking. Fudge can be cooked on the stove or in the microwave. ...
  • Avoid crystallization. During cooking, sugar crystals can stick to the sides of the pan. ...
  • Let cool before beating. After being cooked, the sugar must crystallize again to create fudge. ...
  • Beat the mixture.

What causes peanut butter fudge not to harden? ›

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.

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.

What to do with failed fudge? ›

OPTION 1) Depending on how runny it is, you can either use it as a frosting for cakes, or a sauce for ice-cream. OPTION 2) Freeze it overnight. Cut it into squares. Cover each square thickly in melted chocolate, ensuring no part of the fudge is exposed.

Do you stir fudge when it's boiling? ›

Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer

Another key part of a successful fudge texture is when you stir the mixture. Stirring the sugar and milk during the initial stages of cooking allows the sugar to dissolve. However, once the mixture comes to a boil, it's time to put the spoon down.

What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›

Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

Why won't my peanut butter fudge set up? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

How do you fix peanut butter fudge that is too soft? ›

How do you fix fudge that is too soft? Bring the fudge back to a boil with 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of cream. If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream.

Why is my peanut butter fudge chewy? ›

If the fudge is very soft and slightly chewy then it is possible that it did not quite cook to soft ball stage and next time the mixture should be cooked to a slightly higher temperature (soft ball is 112-116c/235-240F and a sugar or candy thermometer can help).

How do you keep peanut butter fudge from getting grainy? ›

Here are the basic steps:
  1. Heat the mixture gently to ensure the sugar has melted;
  2. Wash down the sugar crystals on the side of the pan;
  3. Boil to the mixture until it reaches the soft ball stage (without stirring!);
  4. Let cool until the mixture reaches about 110 degrees; and.
  5. Beat with a wooden spoon until set.

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.

Why did my fudge turn out like taffy? ›

If the temperature is too low, the fudge will be too soft and sticky, and if it's too high, it will turn into a hard, crumbly mess. The ideal temperature to cook fudge is between 232-234 degrees F (111-112 degrees C).

How to rescue fudge that won't set? ›

It sounds like your fudge simply wasn't heated enough. ... If it's overcooked (resulting in grainy fudge) or undercooked (resulting in poor setting) all you really need to do is add a bit of cream, reheat the fudge to the target temperature, and let it set again.

Why didn't my fudge work? ›

– The most likely explanation is that your fudge didn't quite reach the full temperature it needed to be. If the mixture only ever reaches 110 or 112 degrees celcius it will always be soft. Our advice would be to buy a candy thermometer and take the guesswork out of the fudge making.

Why won't my 3 ingredient condensed milk fudge set? ›

Why won't my 3 ingredient fudge set? This often happens when the condensed milk and chocolate chip mixture isn't hot enough to start.

How do you cut fudge so it doesn't crumble? ›

Put both knives into a large measuring cup, add boiling water onto the knives, and before cutting the chocolate or the dessert into pieces, wipe the knife with a towel. The warm knife will easily cut through without cracking.

Why does my fudge crumble when I cut it? ›

The ingredients for fudge are combined and cooked to 234 degrees, cooled to 110 degrees without stirring, then beaten until creamy. Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard.

What is the best pan to make fudge in? ›

Secondly, the pot's material should allow for good heat distribution hence your top choice should be copper cookware or a pot with a copper core. Copper's exceptional heat conductivity offers unparalleled temperature control, an asset when working with finicky ingredients like sugar.

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