Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

This is totally not related to the recipe– but it’s all-consuming me at the moment, so we’re just going to have to take a moment to discuss it:

Do you get into books? Like realllllly into books?

I do. To the point it’s been a real problem for me in life. Like, I become so maniacally involved in a plot, so obsessed with the story and the characters, that I truly struggle to function outside of the fictional world. And when I force myself to take care of the daily tasks that I must take care of, I find myself feeling….. weird. Out of place, almost. And usually pretty dejected that I’m not lost in the story at that very moment.

Anyway. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, I usually try to stay away from books. It’s a forced lifestyle I practiced while I was in college and then again when I started to blog seriously. Otherwise, it’s impossible for me to focus on anything else! Honestly. It’s the only way I’ve found to be productive in life.

But lately, I’ve been on a real reading jag– almost like a binge. But with books instead of food. I don’t know what happened… I can’t remember why I started reading the book I did (I think it may have been a road trip?). It wasn’t even that good, to be honest.

But it was like stretching my legs or taking a breath of fresh air. And I haven’t been able to stop reading. I’m up until 1 or 2 or 3 every morning, finishing a book a day at this rate. It’s insane.

I mean insane.

I’m not proud of it. You’d really be afraid for my well-being if you saw me in real life.

But it’s too late. I’ve decided just to go ahead and feed the beast and hopefully let this thing run its course.

So– I’m looking for book suggestions! I’m crazy about happy endings and Austen-eque books. I know there are tons of spin-offs and Austen-related novels, and I’m kind of enjoying reading my way through some of that cheesiness. It’s just nice and easy and relaxing, and I know some of you are bound to have some good recommendations for me!!

So let me know in the comments– what’s your favorite happily-ever-after book?

Ok. So outside of Regency-era fictional romance and trendy, pop juvenile fiction, I’m also pretty obsessed with the peanut butter + butterscotch combo.

I’ve made Butterscotch Butterfinger Rice Krispie Treats, Scotcheroo Banana Bread, and Scotcheroo Muddy Buddies— all personal favorites of mine. And today, I’m adding this fudge to the mix!

It’s truly phenomenal. And ridiculously easy to make. I almost always make two-ingredient fudge using sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips (see: Pralines and Cream Fudge, Dark Chocolate Mint Truffle Fudge, Reese’s Fudge, and Chocolate Covered Cherry Fudge to name a few), because I love the simplicity of the recipe!

This recipe takes the simplicity of my favorite 2-ingredients fudge and tweaks it a bit (although it’s still simple and only 2 ingredients minus the optional chocolate drizzle!): I subbed peanut butter for the sweetened condensed milk in my fave recipe and used butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips.

I couldn’t believe how beautifully it worked! I half expected it to never set quite right or maybe to be dry and crumbly. But just the opposite! This fudge is completely creamy and rich, cuts smooth as butter, and stays firm enough that it holds its shape and stands up to packaging just fine.

It’s quick and easy to make– just a few minutes at the stove! After that it’s just hands-off waiting time while it cools and hardens. I’ve made two batches so far; both times in the evening, and I didn’t try to cut it until the following morning (although I noted that it’s pretty firm after about 4 hours).

The chocolate drizzle is option and just for fun really, but I LOVE Scotcheroos, so I knew I wanted a little chocolate on mine. But that’s totally up to you :). I’m also thinking these would be awesome with Reese’s Piece’s sprinkled on top before it firms up!

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge Recipe (3)

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge

Yield: approximately 25-30 pieces

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3 1/2 cups (2 packages) butterscotch morsels
  • optional: approximately 1/4 cup chocolate, melted for drizzling (I used chocolate candy melts, like Wilton's, so the drizzle would harden quickly)

Instructions

  1. Over low heat (must be LOW), melt the peanut butter in a medium sauce pan, stirring continuously.
  2. Add the butterscotch morsels and continue to stir until everything is melted and smooth.
  3. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper or wax paper, and pour the mixture into the prepared dish.
  4. Allow to cool for at least 4 hours or overnight before cutting into 2-inch squares. You can drizzle with chocolate, if desired, before they are cut or after-- up to you. I drizzled after.

Have you made a Something Swanky recipe? Post it on Instagram and tag me @somethingswanky or use the hashtag #somethingswankyrecipes. I’d love to re-post!

Be sure to also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, and in the Something Swanky Dessert Recipes Facebook group!

Recommended Pins:

Peanut Butter Lover’s Fudge

Banana Split Fudge

Gingerbread Oreo Fudge

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge

White Chocolate Cookie Dough Fudge

Salted Butterscotch Fudge

Salted Caramel Butterscotch Fudge

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge Recipe (4)

Salted Caramel Fudge

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge Recipe (5)

Caramel Potato Chip Fudge

  • Costco Cranberry Walnut Bread Recipe: No-Knead Nut Delight

  • Chocolate Coffee Creamer Recipe: Homemade Mocha Delight

  • Can You Use Frozen Bananas for Banana Bread?

  • Dessert Casserole Recipe: Delicious Smores Casserole Ideas

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Tips for Making Fudge
  • Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
  • Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
  • Beat Thoroughly.
Mar 8, 2023

What causes peanut butter fudge not to harden? ›

The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.

Why did my peanut butter fudge turn out crumbly? ›

Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard. High-quality fudge has many small crystals. If the process of crystallization begins too early, fewer crystals form and they become much larger.

What not to do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

What makes high quality fudge? ›

You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

Should I stir fudge while boiling? ›

Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.

Why is my peanut butter fudge gooey? ›

If the humidity was too high, it would come out sticky and gooey and there was nothing you could do about it.

How do you fix peanut butter fudge that is too soft? ›

To fix soft fudge or hard fudge, simply follow these easy steps: Scrape the fudge back into a large saucepan and add 1 1/2 cups of water. Stir the fudge over low heat until it dissolves. Carefully taste the mixture, as the water probably diluted the flavor.

Why does my peanut butter fudge taste grainy? ›

– There are a number of reasons why the fudge was grainy. It might be that you haven't dissolved all the sugar before boiling the fudge mixture. It could be that there just wasn't enough fluid or fat to enable the sugar to dissolve or it might even be that the fudge wasn't beaten long enough or hard enough.

Why did my fudge turn out like caramel? ›

Fudge can turn into caramel due to overcooking or undercooking, incorrect temperatures, or wrong ingredients.

Can you Recook fudge if it doesn't set? ›

If it's overcooked (resulting in grainy fudge) or undercooked (resulting in poor setting) all you really need to do is add a bit of cream, reheat the fudge to the target temperature, and let it set again.

Can you fix peanut butter fudge that didn't set? ›

To fix it, you can reheat the fudge mixture over low heat and continue cooking until it reaches the proper temperature. Be sure to use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature accurately. Alternatively, you can try to salvage chewy fudge by mixing it into ice cream or using it as a topping for desserts.

How do you fix grainy peanut butter fudge? ›

If you discover that your mixture is grainy, some quick thinking will save the entire batch. Pour the fudge back into your pan, and add about a cup of water to it, along with a tablespoon or two of evaporated milk, whipping cream, or whatever cream you're using.

Why does my fudge crack when I cut it? ›

There are 2 reasons that fudge will crumble: overcooking & having an undissolved sugar crystal in the mixture. That undissolved crystal will cause the dissolved sugar to recrystalize (think rock candy).

Should you stir fudge constantly? ›

It is important to stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to thicken and its surface starts to look dull or matte. Now is the time to stop beating and pour the fudge into a mould. Another tip: Do not scrape the sides of the pan or the spoon used for stirring.

What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›

Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

What does soft ball mean when making fudge? ›

making of fudge

termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.

Should fudge be soft or crumbly? ›

The best fudge is smooth and firm. If it's crumbly, it's been over cooked.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Barbera Armstrong

Last Updated:

Views: 6277

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Barbera Armstrong

Birthday: 1992-09-12

Address: Suite 993 99852 Daugherty Causeway, Ritchiehaven, VT 49630

Phone: +5026838435397

Job: National Engineer

Hobby: Listening to music, Board games, Photography, Ice skating, LARPing, Kite flying, Rugby

Introduction: My name is Barbera Armstrong, I am a lovely, delightful, cooperative, funny, enchanting, vivacious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.