This easy peanut butter fudge recipe is smooth, creamy, salty-sweet, and melts in your mouth. It’s made in the microwave with a few simple ingredients and is seriously the most delicious peanut butter fudge I’ve ever tried! 
If you love peanut butter then you need to try this incredible peanut butter fudge. It salty and sweet in the best possible way and has the most delicious creamy peanut butter flavor. It reminds me of the inside of a peanut butter cup – only it’s a little sweeter, a little firmer, and even more addictive.
Better yet – it’s 1000x easier than making traditional fudge. You only need 5 ingredients – butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, & salt – and it’s made in the microwave. So there’s no need for a candy thermometer and no boiling sugar on the stove.
For years I’ve been making batches of fudge for holiday parties and my personal holiday snacking. And one of the main reasons I love making it – apart from being delicious – is because it’s so simple. Over the holidays you shouldn’t be stressing about potential kitchen failures. 
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
This peanut butter fudge recipe is actually one of the most stress free recipes I make.
- It comes together in minutes
- Uses only a few ingredients
- And is virtually fail-proof.
I know making candy can conjure up thoughts of scary bubbling sugar concoctions – but you can make fudge without being Willy Wonka. No candy thermometer required.
Yes – that’s correct. This peanut butter fudge is made in the microwave and takes under 10 minutes.
How to Make Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
For ingredients – all you need is:
- peanut butter
- butter
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- and a little salt
You could even skip the vanilla and salt if you want.
Then to make the fudge, here’s what to do:
- Place the peanut butter and butter in a large bowl in the microwave and melt it together.
- Once melted stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
- Then stir in the powdered sugar. It will be thick and quite difficult to stir once all the powdered sugar is added in.
- Then pour/ spoon the batter into your prepared pan.
- Wrap it tightly and refrigerate until firm.
You can also sprinkle the top with chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, Reese’s Pieces or chocolate peanut butter cups before placing it in the freezer. And if you’re feeling especially festive, cut your fudge into holiday shapes using cookie cutters.
Now for a few common questions:
Can I use natural peanut butter? I definitely don’t recommend it because it can separate and then the fudge won’t hold together.
Can I use crunchy peanut butter? Go for it – the fudge just won’t be super smooth because of the chopped peanuts. I recommend adding an extra ¼ cup of peanut butter if using crunchy
Can I freeze fudge? Absolutely – fudge actually freezes really well. Wrap it tightly then freeze for up to 2 months. Then thaw in the fridge.
This peanut butter fudge definitely fits the bill for an easy to make recipe that’s a total crowd pleaser. It has big peanut butter flavor, is incredibly creamy and has the ultimate fudgy consistency. The saltiness of the peanut butter means that while the fudge is obviously rich – the flavor isn’t too sweet like you can get with some fudge varieties.
For more delicious fudge recipes, try these other favorites:
- Easy Fudge Recipe – for creamy chocolate fudge every time
- Eggnog Fudge
- White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
- Chocolate Amaretto Fudge
Peanut Butter Fudge
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar , sifted
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan with parchment paper leaving an overhang on each side.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl add the butter and peanut butter.
- Microwave for 1-minute bursts, stirring between each until melted.
- Add in the salt and vanilla extract. Then stir in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.
- Pour/spoon the batter into your lined pan and smooth the top using the flat edge of a knife or a spatula.
- Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm. Once firm, cut into small squares.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from Joy of Baking
Microwave!! This looks dangerously easy 🙂 Your photos are gorgeous!
Thanks so much Karen! I don’t think you can get much better than easy & fudge. PS – I’m obsessed with your Nutella Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies – they’re genius!
What is icing sugar
Powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar 🙂
I made this last night and it is so delicious!! I only used 3 cups of Confectioners sugar because I am not a fan of super sweet fudge. Surprisingly it came out with a great texture, perfect peanut butter taste with a even blend of salt and sweet. So yummy!! Thank you for sharing your recipe. It’s a keeper for sure!
I don’t have I microwave can I do this on my stovetop?
Absolutely! Just melt together the butter and peanut butter in a large saucepan over low heat, then once they’re melted together remove the pan from the heat and start to mix in the rest of the ingredients. 🙂
I just discovered your blog and I think I put on ten pounds just LOOKING at your recipes. Your photos look SO delicious! I HAVE to make this Peanut Butter Fudge. Can I use chunky (or crunchy) peanut butter instead of creamy. The ingredients list doesn’t really SPECIFY creamy, but I assume that’s what you used. I like nuts in my fudge. Thanks! 🙂
Hahaha – you made me laugh out loud at my computer screen! You can use chunky peanut butter if you prefer – I’d just increase the amount by 1/4 cup so you’d end up with 1 1/4 cups of peanut butter total.
Will reduced fat peanut butter work?
I think that would be fine 🙂
Can salted butter be used?
Yup – I’d just remove the salt from the recipe
Made this recipe many a time and it’s always perfect. I started adding dark chocolate chuncks in at the end while the mixture is still warm to make a dark chocolate peanut butter swirl fudge, try it if your feeling fancy
My granddaughter made your PB fudge recipe this past weekend. It is absolutely the best PB fudge I have ever made. She bought some PB fudge at the Renaissance Festival this past November. Your recipe was just as good as the fudge she bought. She also used the crunchy honey roasted peanut butter. Delish….thank you for your recipe!
I never made fudge before but I wanted to give it a try and found your recipe.
It looked easy so I tried it and it was so good I made a batch to enter at the local county fair.
It won first place!
Now you can call it “blue ribbon peanut butter fudge” lol!
Thanks so much for sharing this great recipe!
Wow! Congrats on the win! I hope you still saved some for yourself, and not just the judges 😉