This peanut butter fudge is so QUICK and EASY to make. Melt marshmallows with sugar and peanut butter, and you're done! This tastes like the inside of a peanut butter cup, and makes a great gift.

Photography Credit: Irvin Lin

My partner’s mom makes peanut butter fudge on what seems like a weekly basis. I’m not sure how she can consume so much of it. She has a dedicated baking pan just for this peanut butter fudge and there’s always a tub of it in the fridge.

But when I emailed her asking for the recipe, she didn’t know how to give it to me. Like most recipes of hers, she free-forms it, adding peanut butter until the batter “looks and feels” right.

It looked like I’d need to head into the kitchen and do some experimenting!

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The Trick to Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

The one thing she did casually mention was that she uses marshmallows in her peanut butter fudge, something I’d never thought about. When I make fudge, I often use the old-fashioned method, which requires cooking the sugar to a soft-ball stage of 238°F. It’s fussy and always put me off of making fudge.

But since the sugar in marshmallows has already been cooked and turned into a candy, using them to make the peanut butter fudge seemed like an easy and totally acceptable cheat.

And easy it was! This easy peanut butter fudge recipe is a snap to make and super smooth. So easy that I’m fearful I’ll end up like her, making this easy peanut butter fudge on a weekly basis. I can feel my waistline expanding already.

The Best Peanut Butter for Fudge

I use smooth peanut butter in this fudge, but if you prefer a little texture, feel free to use the same amount of chunky peanut butter in its place.

You’ll get the best results if you stick with commercial brands of peanut butter (Jif, Skippy, Peter Pan). Natural peanut butter has a tendency to separate, and it can sometimes interfere with how the fudge sets up. (If you do want to try using natural peanut butter, just make sure it’s very well-stirred and the oil is well incorporated.)

Easy Substitutions and Additions to PB Fudge

Substitute coconut milk for a non-dairy version of this fudge

for a non-dairy version of this fudge Make chocolate peanut butter fudge by drizzling melted chocolate over the top, or sprinkling chocolate chips on top right after smoothing out the fudge in the pan and gently pressing them in.

How to Store Peanut Butter Fudge

Store this fudge in an airtight container. The fudge keeps for about a week at room temperature or 2 to 3 weeks refrigerated.

To freeze, wrap the chilled fudge in plastic wrap and then transfer to a freezer storage bag. Freeze for up to a month and thaw in the fridge.

More Peanut Butter Treats!