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The Best Million Dollar Fudge Recipe

The best million dollar fudge recipe is decadent, chocolatey, and creamy.

Created by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, the fudge continues to be a favorite around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The recipe is perfect for last-minute gifts, holiday parties, and sharing with friends and family.

Mamie Eisenhower’s Fudge

pieces of Million dollar fudge stacked on a plate.

The fudge recipe, published in 1957, became one of the best family favorites among Americans. Mamie’s million dollar fudge was a hit and has stayed a hit!

And Mamie’s fudge makes a large pan that will melt in your mouth.

Is This The Most Expensive Fudge?

No, it is not expensive, and you will get a large amount of fudge for the few ingredients that you need.

Million dollar fudge in a baking dish

Ingredients For Million Dollar Fudge

  • Marshmallow creme
  • German sweet chocolate squares
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • White sugar
  • Salted butter
  • Evaporated milk
  • Chopped walnuts

Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions listed below in the recipe card.

Watch How To Make The Best Million Dollar Fudge

How To Make Million Dollar Fudge

  1. Add the marshmallow creme, sweet German chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and walnuts to a large mixing bowl. (Make sure the bowl is heat-safe as you will be pouring the boiling syrup mixture into this bowl in a later step).
  2. In a large saucepan, melt the butter on medium.
  3. Pour the evaporated milk and sugar into the pan and stir to combine.
  4. Turn the heat up to medium-high, bring to a boil, and boil for six minutes, stirring often.
  5. Pour the boiling mixture over the bowl with the chocolate and marshmallow and stir until combined.
  6. Pour the fudge into a prepared pan and sprinkle the top with a handful of chopped walnuts.
  7. Allow the fudge to set up for two to three hours.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Line a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.

Marshmallow creme in a clear glass bowl

Add the marshmallow creme to a heat-safe mixing bowl.

I used a large bowl because you will be adding the cooked sugar syrup to the bowl in a later step.

For this recipe, I used some generic marshmallow creme. You can use marshmallow fluff, a Jet Puffed jar of marshmallow cream, or your favorite kind.

German sweet chocolate pieces in a clear glass bowl with marshmallow.

Next, break up the pieces of German sweet chocolate and add it to the bowl.

I used Baker’s sweetened chocolate for this recipe. Make sure you get sweet and not unsweetened.

Semi-sweet chocolate chips in a clear glass bowl.

Add the semisweet chocolate chips to the bowl.

chopped walnuts in a clear glass bowl

Finally, add the chopped walnuts to the bowl and set it aside.

Melting butter in a saucepan.

Grab a large heavy saucepan and add the butter. Cook it on medium heat.

I used salted butter for the recipe to add a touch of salt flavor.

Pouring evaporated milk over butter in a saucepan.

Pour the evaporated milk into the saucepan.

Sugar, butter, and evaporated milk in a saucepan.

Add the sugar to the saucepan and stir until combined. Turn the burner up to medium-high heat.

Boiling ingredients for million dollar fudge in a saucepan.

Bring the mixture to a boil and boil for six minutes, stirring often.

The sugar dissolves as it cooks.

Pouring boiling fudge ingredients into a bowl with walnuts, chocolate, and marshmallow.

Once the six minutes are up, pour the sugar mixture over the walnuts.

Mixing ingredients for million dollar fudge in a large glass bowl.

Mix the chocolate mixture until combined.

Million dollar fudge in a baking dish

Pour fudge into the prepared pan.

Fudge with walnuts on top.

Sprinkle a handful of walnuts on top of the fudge and allow it to set up for two to three hours.

You can let it set up at room temperature or put it in the refrigerator.

Pieces of million dollar fudge stacked on top of each other on an off-white plate.

Once the fudge sets up, slice it into 1-inch squares and enjoy!

The fudge will still be a tad soft.

Pieces of million dollar fudge stacked on a plate.

What Is The Secret To Good Fudge That Is Not Gritty?

Be sure to cook it to the required temperature. If you don’t the sugar might stay gritty.

What Makes Fudge Hard Or Soft?

If you don’t cook the fudge enough, you will end up with soft fudge. If you cook it too long, it will dry out and harden. You want to retain the perfect amount of liquid in the fudge. When you cook it to the correct temperature, the fudge should come out perfect!

More Delicious Recipes For The Holiday Season

Questions about fudge?

Your questions are answered here.

How To Store Million Dollar Fudge

After the fudge cools and sets up you can store it in an airtight container or cover it with plastic wrap. The fudge can be left at room temperature or stored in the refrigerator.

The Best Million Dollar Fudge

Be sure to get the recipe for Mamie Eisenhower’s fudge and share it with friends and family this holiday season.

It’s one of those great recipes that is part of the history books. It’s some of the best fudge around.

It will become a favorite fudge recipe at your house, and it’s already one at the White House!

Pieces of million dollar fudge stacked on top of each other on an off-white plate.

The Best Million Dollar Fudge

4.42 from 56 votes
Julie Pollitt
Million dollar fudge is a rich and decadent dessert that is easy to make. It's perfect for holiday gifts and will become one of your favorite recipes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 25 minutes
Course Fudge
Cuisine American
Servings 25 pieces
Calories 352 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 13 ounces marshmallow cream
  • 12 ounces German sweet chocolate
  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 cups chopped walnuts
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 4-1/2 cups sugar
  • 12 ounces evaporated milk

Instructions
 


  • Line a 9-inch by 13-inch pan with parchment paper.
  • Add the marshmallow creme, German sweet chocolate, chocolate chips, and walnuts to a large heat-safe bowl. Set it aside.
  • In a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter on medium heat.
  • Pour the evaporated milk and sugar into the pan and mix until combined.
  • Cook on medium-high. Bring to a boil and boil for six minutes, stirring often.
  • After six minutes, pour the boiling syrup over the chocolate mixture and mix until combined.
  • Pour fudge into the pan and sprinkle a handful of walnuts on top.
  • Allow the fudge to set up for two to three hours at room temperature or one to two hours in the refrigerator.
  • Once it sets up you can lift fudge out with the parchment paper.

Video

Notes

The fudge will still be a little soft when it sets up.
Be sure to get the sweet baking chocolate. NOT the unsweetened.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 352kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 5gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 50mgFiber: 2gSugar: 42g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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4.42 from 56 votes (56 ratings without comment)

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6 Comments

  1. When do you add the vanilla extract to the mixture for Million Dollar Fudge?

    1. Julie Pollitt says:

      There’s not any vanilla extract in the recipe. Hope you enjoy it!

    2. @Julie Pollitt,
      In the list of ingredients at the beginning of the page, vanilla is listed; in the recipe, it isn’t. It isn’t needed anyway.
      Also 2 C of chopped nuts is too much..it’d be like nuts with some chocolate on it.

      1. Julie Pollitt says:

        Hi Sharon,

        Sorry for the mistake, thanks for bringing that to my attention! My husband will have to disagree with you on the nuts. He loves it like that! But, I like a few less. So, you can put in however much you’d like! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  2. Loved this fudge recipe so much I’ve made it twice! I made it originally for my oldest daughter because she likes fudge with nuts. Well, now I have a new favorite. Thank you for sharing this. By the way, it’s the perfect amount of nuts.

    1. Julie Pollitt says:

      So glad you love it! Nuts and all ๐Ÿ˜‰