Preparing a platter of fudge to eat or share is always a treat. But using a versatile kitchen appliance like a slow cooker to prepare your favorite chocolate fudge recipe, will help you turn out a big batch of chocolatey goodness in a surprisingly simple way.
Making a delicious treat like fudge is a fantastic way to use your trusty slow cooker. Slow cookers are an excellent time-saver, but using them to make slow cooker fudge is a simple and easy twist on creating your favorite fudge recipe and can still be whipped up in less than two hours.
Most people think of using a slow cooker to prepare a savory stew or hearty soup on their countertop safely and reliably during the day to save time prepping the evening meal after a busy day. But these handy kitchen cooking devices are also great for creating delicious desserts and flavorsome fudge.
If you want to know how to make chocolate fudge in your crock pot, read on as we tell you all the secrets to making a successful batch of this popular candy with this great recipe…
What is a slow cooker?
A slow cooker is a countertop electrical kitchen appliance, made up of a base unit that houses a removable, lidded cooking pot.
Slow cookers earned their moniker because of the “low and slow” method of preparing a recipe, although higher cooking settings are available on most appliances and enable you to prepare food at a quicker pace.
Typically the inner pot is made of a crockery material while the lid may be made of glass to allow for easier visibility while food is cooking.
What is the difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot?
Just like the brand name “Hoover” has become the common name for a vacuum cleaner, in many places the name “Crock Pot” actually began as a brand name for a slow cooker appliance. Introduced in the 1970s, the Crock Pot was originally marketed as being a bean cooker.
The main difference between a slow cooker and a Crock Pot is that a Crock Pot has a ceramic or porcelain pot, whilst slow cookers use their own crock pots that are generally made of metal.
Nowadays, many people use the terms slow cooker and Crock Pot interchangeably, since they both refer to the hand countertop appliance that allows cooks to prepare food in a reliable way without using an oven or stovetop burners.
How can you make fudge in a slow cooker?
Making slow cooker chocolate fudge is easier than you might think. One of the best benefits of using a Crock Pot or slow cooker to make fudge is that the electrical heating element, found in the bottom of the rock pot base, heats the chocolate and other ingredients safely for many hours.
This means that while you still have to attend to the slow cooker, you don’t have to utilize a pot on the stovetop and worry about it burning or melting in the same way. This is because the slow cooker’s controls keep the appliance heating evenly.
One of the first things you need to do to make slow cooker chocolate fudge, is to make sure that your crock pot is in good working condition. Some people also like to use a baking paper liner when they use their crock pot or cooker, but it is not mandatory unless you like to have a quick clean-up after making your fudge.
Top Tip: If you choose to use a liner, you will need to be able to scoop or pour out the hot chocolate mixture into your cooling pan. This can be tricky with wax paper and there is always the possibility that you may not be able to scrape out all of the fudge mixture, since some of the fudge may stick to it or become caught up in the liner folds. We personally don’t recommend using a liner, but feel free to use one if that is how you like to use your slow cooker.
Let’s look at what ingredients are required to make crock pot fudge in your slow cooker, and a step by step guide on how to make it.
What ingredients do you need for slow cooker fudge?
You will use most of the same ingredients for slow cooker chocolate fudge as you would when making fudge in a more traditional way. These include:
- 4 Cups milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chips
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (if you want a more exotic taste why not try sweetened condensed coconut milk?)
- 3 TBSP butter
- 2 TBSP powdered sugar
- 2 TBSP corn syrup
What equipment and tools do you need for slow cooker fudge?
To cook the fudge you will require:
- Slow cooker
- Measuring cups
- Silicone spatula
- 8x8inch baking tray lined with parchment paper
- Airtight container
Do you need a candy thermometer for slow cooker fudge?
One of the big benefits of using a consistent cooker like a crock pot is that you will not need to use a candy thermometer to make fudge in it.
Step by step guide to making slow cooker chocolate fudge
- Turn on your slow cooker to the high setting (for 1 hour) or low (for 90 minutes) and secure a liner (if using).
- Measure out your semi sweet chocolate chips, condensed milk, butter, and icing sugar or corn syrup and pour all the ingredients into your slow cooker.
- Set a timer so that you gently stir your chocolate chips or white chocolate chips with the spatula every 15 minutes until smooth and incorporated with the butter and condensed milk.
- When cooking time is complete, transfer the fudge mixture into the prepared baking tray to cool using the spatula to smooth the surface. Since chocolate fudge made in a crock pot does not require a lot of prep time or watching (other than the occasional stirring), consider using that free time to rustle up some delicious toppings to make your sweet treat extra special.
- If you want to add in a topping, once the mixture is poured into the prepared pan you can add on whatever you like. Some of our suggested pairings are:
- For white chocolate fudge, consider adding white chocolate shavings or chips for a beautiful contrast.
- For another white chocolate fudge recipe, a sprinkle of chocolate chips is a perfect chocolatey addition.
- For fudge that is really indulgent, add some dark chocolate chips and a handful of chopped nuts on top.
- Consider adding chocolate-coated candies on the top for a bright pop of color.
- White chocolate and chocolate fudge both taste delicious with chopped dried fruits sprinkled lightly across the top.
- Once cooled and set for at least 4 hours or overnight, slice the fudge into squares with a sharp knife and place it in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to enjoy your delicious chocolate fudge treat. Refrigerated fudge should last up to 2 weeks when stored correctly.
FAQs
Will the fudge stick to the slow cooker?
No, the chocolate fudge should not stick to the appliance. Be sure to use the spatula to completely remove the fudge, scraping down the fudge from the sides and bottom of the container when moving the mixture from the baking dish.
If you are concerned about your fudge sticking, then you can use slow cooker liners to prevent this from happening.
How do you make fudge set?
This fudge can be set quickly if you place it in the fridge for a few hours. Or you can let it set by leaving it overnight.
Will freezing fudge make it set?
Freezing chocolate fudge is not a good idea to make it set. The main reason you do not want to freeze fudge to make it set, is that you will not be able to slice it into serving pieces from frozen.
Let your fudge set naturally at room temperature, then slice into smaller pieces and layer with wax paper before freezing your chocolate fudge. As long as it is thoroughly thawed before eating it will taste an absolute joy.
Does fudge stick to tin foil?
Your fudge should not stick to tin foil, but it does sometimes if the fudge is very wet or the surface is not prepared properly.
If you use tin foil, then applying a thin coat of butter can help prevent the fudge from sticking. This way, you can enjoy it without worrying about eating a bit of foil or losing some of the tasty fudge due to it getting stuck to the foil.
To find out more, we’ve written about this in detail here: Does Fudge Stick To Tin Foil?
In Summary
We hope you will love our easy slow cooker chocolate fudge recipe as much as we do. Whether you make yours with milk chocolate chips or just love classic chocolate fudge, using your crock pot can be a perfect swap to make this timeless fudge treat in an effortless way.
Simply pouring in your white chocolate or chocolate chips to your countertop cooker along with the other usual fudge ingredients allows you to whip up a tasty fudge treat in no time at all.
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