Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge - Best Dessert Ever!

Make easy Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge with just 3 basic ingredients. It takes about 5 minutes to prepare and you only need one bowl so clean up is easy!

Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge

My mother-in-law always makes homemade fudge around the Christmas holiday. I absolutely love it but I know she spends a lot of time making all of her holiday candy and I’ll admit that I like things to be easier!

This microwave fudge recipe is absolutely perfect if you’ve been hunting for an easy peanut butter fudge!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There are some great reasons to try this recipe the next time you’ve got a dessert craving!

• Basic Ingredients – There aren’t any fancy ingredients in this recipe! You might even have all of them in your kitchen right now!
• Quick & Easy Prep – You can prep this fudge recipe in about five minutes. Then the fudge goes in the refrigerator to chill and you just wait to enjoy it!
• Versatile Recipe – This recipe is extremely versatile. You can use different add-ins or toppings to change up the flavor a bit. It works great for the holidays whether you’re entertaining or looking for homemade gift ideas!

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Ingredients

This recipe only needs 3 main ingredients. For this variation, I also added mini chocolate chips but this peanut butter fudge is delicious without the chocolate pairing too!

You’ll need the following ingredients for this easy fudge recipe:

• Salted butter
• Creamy peanut butter
• Powdered sugar (Confectioners’ sugar)
• Mini chocolate chips (optional)

If I don’t add the chocolate, I will sometimes add a teaspoon of vanilla extract just to add a bit more depth to the peanut butter flavor.

You will also need a few items from your kitchen:

How to Make Microwave Fudge

This recipe only needs about 5 minutes of prep time including about a minute and thirty seconds of cooking time in the microwave. Then you need at least 2 hours of chilling time.

It makes approximately 36 pieces of fudge if cut evenly.

Heat the butter and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second intervals

Stir between each interval, until the butters are melted together. It took mine 1 minute 30 seconds to melt. Your cook time may be different depending on your microwave which is why I recommend cooking in 30 second intervals.

Add the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, stir between each addition. You want it to have a creamy texture. It will be on the thick side.

Spread the mixture in a parchment paper or aluminum foil lined 8×8 baking dish. Press into an even layer.

If desired, sprinkle the top with mini chocolate chips, pressing the chips lightly into the fudge.

Chill for at least two hours, then slice into one-inch pieces with a sharp knife before serving.

Leftovers & Storage

Be sure to cut your fudge before storing it.

You can store your fudge at room temperature for 1-2 weeks in an airtight container. It will last for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

If you want to freeze the fudge, place the pieces in a freezer zipper top storage bag. Then you can freeze it for about 2 months.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Type of Peanut Butter – I highly recommend using regular creamy peanut butter for the best results with this recipe. Natural peanut butters can be too liquid. Crunchy peanut butter works well too if you want those bits of peanuts in your fudge but I find it works best to add those after you mix everything together.
• Salted or Unsalted Butter ​​​​- I typically have salted butter in my kitchen. If you have unsalted, you can see if it has enough flavor for you. Or you can add in a 1/2 teaspoon of salt when you’re mixing the butter and peanut butter.
• Cutting the Fudge – Use a sharp knife to cut the fudge. It can help to run the knife under hot water before you cut into the fudge. It can make it easier to cut.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use a different type of nut butter?

You can use other butters like almond butter, cashew butter, or any other nut/seed butter. You want to substitute it equally for the peanut butter. The flavor will be different from the peanut butter but still delicious!

You want to use a nut butter that has a similar texture to regular peanut butter otherwise the texture and consistency of the fudge might not work well.

Can I add extra ingredients like nuts or chocolate chips?

Absolutely! I topped my peanut butter fudge with chocolate chips because it’s one of our favorite flavor pairings. One of the best things about fudge is that you can customize it!

You can either stir add-ins into the mixture before you pour it in the pan or you can use them as toppings. Trying some of these tasty ideas:

• Chopped peanuts
• Mini chocolate chips
• Peanut Butter Chips
• White chocolate chips
• Dried fruit (bananas and strawberries are good ones)
• Colored sprinkles (these work well if you want to give your fudge a holiday theme)
• Pretzel pieces

Can I use regular sugar instead of powdered sugar?

I do not recommend using granulated sugar. Powdered sugar is what helps hold this fudge recipe together. 

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, you can double the recipe. You’ll want to use a larger dish for the fudge and you may need to allow a bit of extra time for it to set.

Why is my fudge grainy?

Fudge can become grainy if the sugar isn’t fully dissolved during the melting process. Make sure that you add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time and stir it well between each addition. You want to make sure it is dissolving completely in the butter mixture.

Why is my peanut butter fudge hard?

If you overcook the fudge, it may end up hard. This is why I recommend microwaving in short time intervals to make sure you don’t overcook it.

Why won’t my microwave fudge set? 

Your fudge might not set if you don’t heat it to a high enough temperature. 

Can I use natural peanut butter?

You can use natural peanut butter but many of them have a more liquid consistency that you need to account for. You may need to use more powdered sugar to balance the different consistency.

Can I make the fudge in advance?

Fudge is a great make-ahead treat. It needs time to chill and set up so making it in advance is a great way to cross it off your to do list. This makes it a great recipe for entertaining and sharing during the holidays!

More Microwave Desserts

If you’re looking for more delicious desserts you can make in the microwave, try one of these easy recipes:

Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge

Whip up some magic in minutes with our Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge recipe! Perfect for holiday entertaining and gift giving!

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Chill Time2 hours hrs

Servings: 36

Instructions

• Heat the butter and peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted. It took mine 1 minute 30 seconds to melt.

• Add the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, stir between each addition.

• Spread the mixture in a parchment paper lined 8x8 baking dish. Press into an even layer.

• Top with mini chocolate chips, pressing the chips lightly into the fudge.

• Chill for at least two hours, then slice into one-inch pieces before serving.