Fantasy Fudge Recipe (Marshmallow Creme)

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Fantasy Fudge isn’t just a dessert; it’s a time capsule of childhood joy and the warmth of kitchen camaraderie. Made with the creamy dreaminess of marshmallow creme, rich chocolate, and the optional crunch of nuts, this fudge is a dance of textures and flavors that has graced our family’s every celebration and soothed every heartache with its chocolaty embrace.

For decades, this scrumptious secret was hidden in the back of the marshmallow creme jar, serving as the starting point for many home cooks to create their confectionery masterpieces. Over the years, the recipe has been passed down and cherished, gathering tweaks and personal touches yet always remaining true to its decadent, melt-in-your-mouth roots.

How to make Fantasy Fudge with Marshmallow Creme

Fantasy Fudge with Marshmallow Creme is a creamy, rich, and decadent chocolate fudge made with marshmallow creme, which gives it a smooth, soft texture. It is a popular holiday treat or dessert, especially in the United States.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of sugar: The base of your fudge, providing sweetness and structure.
• 3/4 cup of butter (1 1/2 sticks): Adds richness and a velvety texture.
• 2/3 cup of evaporated milk: Contributes to the creamy consistency.
• 1 12-oz package of semi-sweet chocolate chips: The key to that deep chocolate flavor.
• 1 7-oz jar of marshmallow creme: For that wonderfully smooth and fluffy texture.
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional): These add a crunchy contrast to the soft fudge. Walnuts or pecans are great choices.
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract: Enhances the chocolate flavor and adds depth.

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Pan: Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil, extending the foil over the edges of the pan. Lightly grease the foil with butter or non-stick spray.
2. Combine Sugar, Butter, and Milk: In a heavy, medium-sized saucepan, bring the sugar, butter, and evaporated milk to a full rolling boil over medium heat, constantly stirring to dissolve the sugar. Keep the mixture moving to avoid scorching.
3. Boil: Once boiling, cook for approximately 4 to 5 minutes (or until you reach the soft-ball stage, 234°F on a candy thermometer), stirring constantly to prevent burning.
4. Add Chocolate and Marshmallow: Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the chocolate chips and marshmallow creme until fully melted and incorporated. This requires some elbow grease, so be ready for a bit of stirring.
5. Final Touches: Quickly stir in the vanilla and nuts (if using) until evenly distributed. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
6. Cool: Allow the fudge to cool at room temperature until firm. You can also refrigerate it to speed up the process.
7. Cut: Lift the fudge out of the pan using the foil overhangs. Peel away the foil and cut the fudge into small squares.

Tips for Perfect Fudge:

• Measure Ingredients Beforehand: Fudge making moves fast once you start cooking. Having everything measured and ready ensures you’re not scrambling while the sugar is boiling.
• Soft-Ball Stage: If you don’t have a candy thermometer, test the sugar mixture’s soft-ball stage by dropping a small amount into a bowl of cold water. It should form a soft ball that flattens when picked up.
• Stir, Stir, Stir: Constant stirring prevents the sugar from crystallizing and ensures an even texture.
• Cutting Fudge: Dip your knife into hot water between slices for clean cuts.
• Storage: The fudge can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, refrigerate.

What to serve with

Fantasy Fudge with Marshmallow Creme is a standout treat that can hold its own on any dessert table. However, pairing it with complementary flavors and textures can elevate your dessert experience, transforming it from a simple sweet indulgence into a well-rounded and sophisticated finale to any meal or gathering.

Beverages

• Coffee: A cup of hot, black coffee is the perfect counterbalance to the sweet, creamy richness of the Fantasy Fudge. The bitterness of the coffee enhances the chocolate flavors, making for a delightful pairing.
• Milk: It’s classic for a reason. Cold milk with chocolate is a match made in heaven, and it’s especially welcome if your fudge is particularly rich and sweet.
• Tea: A strong black tea or a chai latte with its spicy undertones can offer a warm, aromatic contrast to the sweetness of the fudge.
• Red Wine: For an adult twist, select a full-bodied red wine with fruity notes, such as a Zinfandel or a Shiraz, that can stand up to the intense flavors of the fudge. The wine’s fruitiness and the chocolate’s richness complement each other beautifully.

Savory Counterpoints

• Cheese: Serve a platter of sharp cheeses, such as aged cheddar or Gouda, alongside your fudge. The saltiness of the cheese and the sweetness of the fudge balance each other out in an unexpected, delightful way.
• Nuts: Offer a bowl of salted nuts—almonds, cashews, or walnuts—to cut through the sweetness while complementing the optional nuts in the fudge.
• Fruit: Fresh fruit can lighten the palate between bites of fudge. Think of acidic and tangy fruits like strawberries, raspberries, or even oranges. The acidity can cut through the richness while the sweetness complements it.

Ingredients Substitutes

Making Fantasy Fudge with Marshmallow Creme is a holiday tradition for many, but you might need to make ingredient substitutions due to allergies, dietary preferences, or simply because you’re missing an item from your pantry.

Chocolate Chips

• Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips Substitute: If the recipe calls for semi-sweet chocolate chips and you’re out, you can substitute a mixture of unsweetened chocolate and sugar. For every 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, use 3 ounces of unsweetened chocolate added with 1 cup of sugar to match the sweetness level.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: For those avoiding dairy, dairy-free chocolate chips are available made with cocoa butter, sugar, and various milk alternatives.

Marshmallow Creme

• Homemade Marshmallow Creme: If you can’t find marshmallow creme, you can make it at home with egg whites, sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla extract. There are many recipes online for homemade marshmallow fluff.
• Agar-agar: For a vegan option, agar-agar (a plant-based gelatin substitute made from seaweed) can be combined with sugar and water to create a homemade vegan marshmallow creme.

Sugar

• Coconut Sugar: For a less refined alternative, coconut sugar can replace granulated sugar in a 1:1 ratio, though it may change the fudge’s flavor slightly, giving it a deeper, caramel-like taste.
• Honey or Maple Syrup: If you prefer liquid sweeteners, honey or maple syrup can be used, though the liquid content in the recipe may need to be adjusted to accommodate.

Butter

• Margarine: Margarine can be substituted for butter in equal amounts for those who prefer not to use butter or are catering to dairy-free diets.
• Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is another excellent dairy-free replacement for butter. However, it has a lower melting point, which might slightly affect the texture of the fudge.

Evaporated Milk

• Coconut Milk: For a dairy-free alternative, full-fat coconut milk can replace evaporated milk in a 1:1 ratio. This will bring a slight coconut flavor to the fudge, which can be quite pleasant.
• Almond Milk: You can make a homemade evaporated almond milk by gently simmering almond milk until it reduces in volume by about 60%, mimicking the concentration of sugars and fats in evaporated milk.

Vanilla Extract

• Bourbon or Rum: If you’re out of vanilla extract, a splash of bourbon or rum can add an interesting depth of flavor to the fudge. Use a 1:1 replacement ratio.
• Almond Extract: For a different flavor profile, almond extract can be used. It’s much stronger than vanilla, so use it sparingly—about half of what’s called for vanilla extract.

Final Thoughts

By following these instructions and tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating delicious, creamy Fantasy Fudge that’s bound to become a family favorite. It will be heralded at gatherings and cherished as much for its taste as for the love baked into every batch. 

More Cream Recipes:

• Homemade Puck Cream Recipe
• Starbucks Sugar Cookie Creamer Recipe
• How to Make Butter From Heavy Cream