With the holiday season upon us, it seems only fitting to indulge in some suitably seasonal fare. The best of both worlds, Christmas cookie fudge mixes the rich, creamy richness of fudge with the treasured tastes of classic Christmas cookies.
This is a wonderful recipe to make and bring to holiday parties with friends and family. Make a delectable dessert that will impress your guests with just a few basic ingredients and some festive spirit. Let’s make some Christmas cookie fudge, shall we?
Ingredients
- 3 cups white chocolate chips
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped Christmas cookies (such as sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, or chocolate chip cookies)
- Optional toppings: crushed candy canes, sprinkles, additional cookie crumbles
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the chocolate is fully melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and chopped cookies
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth out the top with a spatula.
- If desired, sprinkle toppings over the fudge.
- Chill the fudge in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until firm.
- Once the fudge has set, lift the parchment paper to remove it from the baking dish and cut it into squares.
Notes
10 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Christmas Cookie Fudge
- Crushed Candy Canes: Crushed candy canes add a festive touch and a sweet, minty flavour to your fudge.
- Colored Sugar: Create a rainbow on top of your fudge with the help of some coloured sugar. You can go for classic Christmas hues like red and green, or you can go for a more whimsical feel with pastels.
- Melted Chocolate: Pour melted chocolate over your fudge for an extra indulgent touch. Whether you choose white or dark chocolate is a matter of personal taste.
- Sprinkles: The fudge will be even more festive if you top it with some Christmas sprinkles. You can stick with traditional red and green, or experiment with other colours for Christmas.
- Edible Gold Leaf: For a classy touch, use edible gold leaf to adorn your fudge. This will give it a luxury look and add a bit of glitter.
- Crushed Nuts: If you want to add crunch and nuttiness to your fudge, try topping it with some crushed nuts. The choice of nut is up to you; walnuts, almonds, or pecans all work well.
- Dried Fruit: If you want to give your fudge a fruity flavour and a splash of colour, try adding some dried fruit. Cranberries, apricots, and cherries are all good options.
- Chocolate Chips: When making fudge, sprinkle some chocolate chips on top for more chocolate flavour. Chips made of any kind of chocolate will work, whether they are milk, dark, or white.
- Marshmallows: Fudge gets even more delicious when topped with toasted tiny marshmallows. The marshmallows can be toasted with a kitchen flame or briefly under the broiler.
- Coconut Flakes: Fudge gets a tropical makeover when coconut flakes are sprinkled on top. This will lend a subtle nuttiness and a chewy quality to the final product.
5 Healthier Alternatives to Classic Christmas Cookie Fudge
1. Dark Chocolate and Almond Butter Fudge
Dark chocolate and almond butter, both of which are high in healthful fats and antioxidants, are used to make this fudge. For extra texture, sprinkle on some sliced almonds or chopped dark chocolate and sweeten it with a touch of honey or maple syrup.
2. Peanut Butter and Jelly Fudge
Made with peanut butter, Greek yoghurt, and a variety of fresh berries, this fudge is one of a kind. It’s a tasty way to get some protein and fibre while still satisfying your sweet taste.
3. Vegan Chocolate Fudge
Coconut milk, cocoa powder, and a natural sweetener like dates or agave are the main ingredients in this dairy-free fudge. It has all the chocolaty goodness of fudge without any of the added sugar or dairy.
4. Chai Spice Fudge
Delicious spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom go into making this fudge. Dates or honey are used for flavouring, and chopped nuts or dried fruit can be thrown in for texture.
5. Pumpkin Spice Fudge
All-natural pumpkin puree, creamy coconut milk, and comforting spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger go into this holiday fudge. Maple syrup or honey are used as sweeteners, and optional toppings include almonds and cinnamon.
The Proper Way to Wrap and Present Your Chirstmas Cookie Fudge
- Mason Jars: Place your fudge in little mason jars, decorate with a festive ribbon, and add a gift tag. Such a container is ideal for single-serving use or as a thoughtful token of appreciation for friends and family.
- Clear Plastic Bags: Wrap your fudge in plastic and give it a little extra flair by adding a bow. Provide a gift tag with the recipient’s name if you’d like.
- Gift Boxes: Get some inexpensive little gift boxes and stuff them with some tissue or parchment. Put some fudge inside and tie a bow on top for a sophisticated gift.
- Decorative Tins: Package your fudge in pretty tins for the holidays. The recipient can reuse these tins over and over again, making them ideal for making larger batches of fudge.
- Holiday-themed Containers: Fudge can be packaged in holiday-themed containers like snowflake moulds, reindeer moulds, or Santa Claus moulds. Your present will seem even more holiday-ready when housed in one of these containers.
- Homemade Wrapping: Using wax paper or parchment paper and a bow or ribbon, package your fudge. You can add a special touch by using stickers or stamps to decorate the packaging.
- DIY Gift Basket: Make your own Christmas gift basket and include your fudge among the assortment of delicacies. Throw some tissue paper in a basket, drop in some fudge, and fill it up with other sweets like cookies, hot cocoa mix, and candy canes.
The History of Christmas Cookies and How Fudge Became a Holiday Favorite
Baking and sharing Christmas cookies is a longstanding custom with roots in Medieval Europe. Cookies like gingerbread, shortbread, and fruitcake were among the many varieties baked at the period. These sweet treats were frequently utilised in holiday celebrations, both as gifts and as ornaments for Christmas trees.
German immigrants in the 1800s contributed to the rise in popularity of Christmas cookies in the United States by bringing with them their expertise in the kitchen. Holiday cookies were soon being made and sent amongst households across the United States.
Fudge, on the other hand, shot to fame in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a go-to holiday treat. Fudge may have been invented in the United States, yet its precise origin remains a mystery. As one legend has it, fudge was first created when a batch of caramels was overcooked, transforming them into a smooth and sweet caramel-like substance.
Fudge shot to fame as a seasonal favourite. Because of its silky smoothness and decadent chocolate flavour, it was a great addition to holiday cookie trays and gift baskets.
Flavors like peppermint, eggnog, and pumpkin spice are just a few of the many that have been added to fudge over the years. Yet while the histories of Christmas cookies and fudge are distinct, both have become staples of the holiday season.