Two Ingredient Caramel Fudge Recipe - What the Redhead said (2024)

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All of our famous fudge recipes so far have used a combination of sweetened condensed milk or a milk free alternative and chocolate. I wanted to make an easy caramel fudge and was looking at using Cadbury Caramel bars or a caramel sauce when I discovered tinned Carnation Caramel and thought that could be just the thing to use – and it worked perfectly, creating a Carnation Caramel Fudge.

Two Ingredient Caramel Fudge Recipe - What the Redhead said (1)

Can you really make this slow cooker caramel fudge recipe without condensed milk?

The Carnation Caramel 397g tins are the perfect answer to making fudge without Carnation sweetened condensed milk. This 2 ingredient fudge is so simple to make, tastes fantastic and has been enjoyed by everyone who has tried it. It’s different – but it works. You just need tinned caramel and chocolate. Easy!

How do you make slow cooker fudge?

This simple two ingredient chocolate fudge is made in just 40 minutes in the slow cooker. Stirring in ten minute intervals, you can get on with other kitchen jobs happily whilst it’s cooking. It’s so easy and something the children love helping with too.

Many people also create microwave fudge but I prefer using the slow cooker or crock pot as I feel like I have more control over the cooking process. It’s also pretty foolproof. As long as you stir the condensed milk fudge regularly and use the right quantities of ingredients not much can go wrong. Make sure you fully line your tin with baking paper for the best results and a nice clean finish too.

If you want to make this into a microwave caramel fudge recipe, heat the caramel and chocolate on short bursts in the microwave using a microwave safe bowl, stirring in between. When the mixture is thick and well combined, continue with the recipe. But, for us the best homemade caramel fudge is made in the slow cooker!

Two Ingredient Caramel Fudge Recipe - What the Redhead said (2)

Can you make this into a salt caramel fudge slow cooker recipe?

We’ve also created an easy salted caramel fudge and you basically follow this recipe but add a little salt into the mix and sprinkle with some salt flakes on top. It’s delicious!

Can you make slow cooker fudge with evaporated milk?

Our slow cooker fudge works because Carnation condensed milk or caramel has a really high sugar content, needed to create that beautifully rich fudge. Evaporated milk isn’t the same, doesn’t have that sugar content and isn’t thick enough to help the fudge thicken and set. You can’t use evaporated milk in these recipes – so get some condensed milk instead.

Do you cook slow cooker fudge high or low temperature?

We always cook fudge on a high slow cooker temperature setting and it takes around 40 minutes in total. You could make it on the low setting but it would take longer and would still need to be stirred regularly. You may as well keep the slow cooker on high and be done in under an hour!

When cooking, is the slow cooker fudge lid on or off?

When making slow cooker fudge, you need to remove the slow cooker lid otherwise excess moisture would be retained in the slow cooker pot and the fudge wouldn’t thicken as it needs to.

How long does this homemade slow cooker fudge keep for?

Slow Cooker fudge keeps well in an airtight container for weeks in the fridge. It never lasts very long in our house but it’s good to know that you can savour it over an extended period rather than eat it all in one go like us!

Home made fudge is such a great gift to make – presented simply in individual clear gift bags tied with a ribbon. It’s so nice to give at Christmas, as an end of term gift or pretty much any other time through the year.

What other slow cooker fudge recipes can we make?

If you’re looking for other easy fudge flavours to try you can see all our slow cooker recipes to date here and we’d have to recommend our Slow Cooker Malteser Fudge, Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, After Eight Fudge, Terry’s Chocolate Orange Fudge and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge too. We’ve also made an easy Chocolate Salted Caramel Fudge too – you really can’t beat slow cooker salted caramel!

If you’re looking for other things to make with Nestle Carnation Caramel I’d suggest banoffee pie or a nice caramel slice with a crumbly shortbread base. You could also drizzle it over ice cream or make a caramel apple tart! You can seeall our Carnation Caramel recipes and ideas here.

Two Ingredient Caramel Fudge Recipe - What the Redhead said (3)

What equipment do you need to make this slow cooker chocolate caramel fudge?

Slow cooker fudge doesn’t need anything special to make it, and you probably already have everything you need at home, but this is the equipment we use:

Once you’ve got everything you need to make the fudge you can just keep making it again and again – in so many different flavours too!

So here’s our ultimate fudge recipe – the super easy Slow Cooker Two Ingredient Caramel Fudge:

Ingredients

  • A 397 ml tinCarnation Caramel
  • 500g chocolate – milk chocolate or white chocolate. Can be bars or chocolate chips at room temperature.

Instructions

  • Break the chocolate up and add to the slow cooker bowl with the caramel.
  • Turn the slow cooker on to high and leave to cook for 40 minutes with the lid off, stirring constantly, every ten minutes or so.
  • When melted, thick and well combined, remove from the heat
  • Pour the fudge mixture into a baking tin lined with parchment paper or silicone baking tray
  • Put in the fridge to set for 4 hours

If you’d like to pin or print this Slow Cooker Two Ingredient Caramel Fudgerecipe for later you can do so at the bottom of the page. Happy baking!

Slow Cooker Two Ingredient Caramel Fudge Recipe

Making fudge doesn't get much easier than this. Two ingredients and just 40 minutes to get wonderful caramel fudge. Perfect for sharing!

Course Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American, British

Keyword fudge, slow cooker

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 40 Pieces

Calories 93kcal

Ingredients

  • 397 ml Carnation Caramel
  • 500 g chocolate – milk chocolate or white chocolate. Can be bars or chocolate chips at room temperature.

Instructions

  • Break the chocolate up and add to the slow cooker bowl with the caramel.

  • Turn the slow cooker on to high and leave to cook for 40 minutes with the lid off, stirring every ten minutes.

  • When melted, thick and well combined, remove from the heat

  • Pour the mixture into a tin lined with parchment paper or silicone baking tray

  • Put in the fridge to set for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight

*Note: Nutritional information is estimated, based on publicly available data. Nutrient values may vary from those published.

Two Ingredient Caramel Fudge Recipe - What the Redhead said (5)
Two Ingredient Caramel Fudge Recipe - What the Redhead said (2024)

FAQs

Why won't my 2 ingredient fudge set? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

What is the secret to good 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).

What's the difference between caramel and caramel fudge? ›

What is fudge? While caramel usually contains just one key ingredient, fudge is made from a perfectly balanced mixture of sugar, butter, and milk. Plus, it's not heated as high — around 115 degrees Celsius.

Can I use Carnation caramel instead of condensed milk? ›

For my filling, I simply swap the condensed milk for tinned carnation caramel (a.k.a. dulce de leche) instead. This tinned caramel is actually made from sweetened condensed milk so it's essentially the same thing but it's pre-caramelised for you!

Can I fix fudge that didn't set? ›

OPTION 3) Sieve together some powdered sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually work this into your unset fudge until it reaches the consistency of dough, then roll out and cut into squares, or shape into balls and then roll in powdered sugar (roll the balls in icing sugar, not yourself).

Why didn't my caramel fudge set? ›

If your fudge fails to harden in the fridge, it means that you probably didn't cook it to the right temperature. Fudge is a candy, and that means it is extremely picky about temperature - fudge must be cooked to precisely 237–239 degrees Fahrenheit so that sugar forms the desired consistency when cooled.

Is evaporated milk or condensed milk better for fudge? ›

Tips For Making Dad's Old Fashioned Fudge

Choose Pure Vanilla Extract- For a wonderfully rich and robust flavor, pure vanilla extract is recommended over imitation vanilla. Use Evaporated Milk- Make sure to use evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk.

Do you stir fudge while it is boiling? ›

Brush the sides of the pan with a wet brush at the beginning of cooking to dissolve sugar crystals stuck to the sides. Never stir the mixture during cooking or sugar could crystallize again. The mixture may seize and become grainy. Use a candy thermometer or conduct a cold water test to check if the fudge is done.

Why is my caramel fudge 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. All of these factors could be the cause of grainy fudge.

Why did my fudge turn out like caramel? ›

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

What happens when you use evaporated milk instead of condensed? ›

For the most part, if you find yourself without condensed milk on hand, you can substitute an equal amount of evaporated milk. The consistency will be the same, but since evaporated milk is unsweetened, you'll need to add sweetener to match the recipe's intended flavor profile or to suit your personal preference.

Will condensed milk turn into caramel? ›

Bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, simmer for one-and-a-half to two hours, until the milk becomes thick and reaches the desired caramel color. Use aluminum foil to create a lid if you are using a saucepan and glass bowl.

What is the closest thing to sweetened condensed milk? ›

Because sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk are very similar, evaporated milk can serve as a substitute for condensed milk.

Why is my homemade fudge not hardening? ›

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 to do if fudge won't thicken? ›

If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream. Stir the fudge as it heats, but only until the sugar in the chocolate is completely melted again.

What causes fudge to be too soft? ›

Conversely, if the cooking time is too brief and there is not enough evaporation, too much water will remain and the fudge will be too soft. A temperature of 112°C to 114°C (234°F to 237°F) must be maintained. This will ensure the fudge has the ideal concentration of water and sugar. Fudge is difficult to make.

How do you fix fudge that is too hard? ›

Grab the saucepan that you initially used to cook the fudge and toss the fudge back in along with 1 ½ cups of water and a splash of cream. Adding some cream of tartar is a helpful way to keep the sugar crystals at bay as well — it's not essential, but if you have some, definitely pour a little in.

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