This quick and easy Cookie Dough Fudge comes together on the stove in just 15 minutes. It’s practically foolproof, perfectly sweetened, and uses no eggs or raw flour so it’s safe to eat! Recipe includes a how-to video.
We are officially in the final few days before Christmas. If you’re celebrating, are you ready? Have you finished all of your shopping? Decorated your tree? Baked all of your desserts? I hope you said “no” to that last question, because I’ve got one final (super easy!) dessert for you that you don’t want to overlook. It’s the *perfect* mashup of my edible cookie dough and easy fudge recipe: my cookie dough fudge!
Cookie dough fudge has all the classic cookie dough flavors (butter, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, chocolate chips) and the deliciously decadent texture of fudge. It’s the ideal recipe for a quick last-minute dessert, especially since there’s no actual baking required.
This recipe takes just 15 minutes to prepare on the stove and only a few hours to set up, so you can have firm, flavorful fudge in no time, any time of year.
Let’s get cooking!
What You Need
Most of these ingredients are pretty basic, but there’s one you really need to pay attention to. Here’s what you need:
- Flour. Any all-purpose flour will work well here. You will need to heat treat it (only takes a few seconds, I’ll show you how to do this quickly in the microwave!) and sift it before you use it to avoid the risk of any illness from raw flour.
- White chocolate chips. Use a good quality white chocolate chip, I like Ghirardelli.
- Sweetened condensed milk. One of the biggest mistakes people make with this fudge is using evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk (a big problem I’ve seen people run into with my cake batter fudge). Evaporated milk is sold right beside sweetened condensed milk, and while they look similar, your fudge will not set up properly if this is used.
- Butter. This adds to the creaminess of the fudge as well as to the classic cookie dough taste. Use unsalted butter, or your fudge will turn out too salty.
- Brown sugar. You can use either light or dark brown sugar; I generally prefer dark brown sugar, which makes the fudge slightly sweeter, richer and darker in color (so closer in line with what cookie dough actually looks like!).
- Vanilla extract. Like brown sugar, vanilla extract is a key cookie dough flavor. We’ll add a good amount here to make sure the flavor really shines.
- Salt. To balance the sweetness of this fudge, we’ll add some salt. Table salt works fine here!
- Semisweet chocolate chips. I like to use a blend of mini and regular semisweet chips. I like to use semisweet because not only is this what is most commonly used in chocolate chip cookies, but the semi-sweet part helps counter some of the sweetness of the fudge.
SAM’S TIP: Since some flours have been found to be contaminated with E.coli, I recommend you heat treat your flour. Heat treating the flour may seem like an unnecessary step since we are cooking the fudge, but it doesn’t get quite hot enough to kill bacteria while it’s on the stovetop. To eradicate any risk, I like to first heat treat my flour in the microwave, which takes seconds. You can also heat it in the oven, which is what I do with my cookie dough bites and cookie dough buttercream. Flour can be prone to clumping after heat-treating, so I always sift it into the fudge to remove any lumps.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Cookie Dough Fudge
- Microwave your flour in 10 second increments until it exceeds 160F. Set aside.
- Combine your white chocolate chips, condensed milk, butter, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat this over medium-low heat until everything is melted and smooth.
- Reduce your heat to low and sift the flour into the pan. Stir to combine.
- Quickly add ½ cup of your semisweet chocolate chips and stir briefly, but not too much. You don’t want to melt your chips!
- Pour the fudge into your prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Top the fudge with more semisweet chocolate chips. Let it sit at room temperature until it is set, usually 2-4 hours, but it could take longer. Slice and enjoy!
SAM’S TIP: For beautiful chocolate swirls and fudge that actually looks like cookie dough, don’t over-mix the fudge after adding your chocolate chips! The chocolate chips begin to melt instantly, and if you over-mix, you will have a fudge that just looks like chocolate. While there’s nothing wrong with chocolate cookie dough, we want distinct pops of chocolate chips! If you’re worried about doing this, you can always pour half of your fudge into the pan, add ½ cup of chocolate chips over the half, then add the remaining fudge and gently swirl the layers together, then top with remaining chocolate chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve waited more than a few hours and your fudge is still liquidy, there’s a good chance an ingredient was mis-measured or a substitute was made (you didn’t accidentally use evaporated milk instead of condensed, did you?).
When you add your semisweet chocolate chips, you need to be very quick and deliberate so they don’t melt into your fudge. This will happen fast, so you need to mix and get the fudge in the pan before everything blends together.
I mean, I’m not your mother, but I highly recommend you take the extra few seconds for this important step. Raw flour can transmit foodborne illness, so if you don’t want to risk getting sick, take the few seconds to microwave your flour before using it!
Enjoy!
More Cookie Dough Recipes You Might Like
Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
Cookie Dough Fudge
Ingredients
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (340 g) white chocolate chips (I like to use Ghirardelli brand)
- 14 oz (396 g) can sweetened condensed milk
- 6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter cut into 6 pieces
- ½ cup (100 g) light or dark brown sugar firmly packed (I like to use dark brown sugar)
- ¾ teaspoons table salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (125 g) semisweet chocolate chips divided (I like to use a blend of mini and regular-sized chocolate chips)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Line an 8×8” (20x20cm) square pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. If using aluminum foil, lightly butter the surface to prevent sticking. Set aside. Measure out your chocolate chips at this point, too, dividing them into ½ cup (85g) and ¼ cup (40g) measurements.
- Heat-treat flour by placing in a microwave-safe dish and heat in 10-second increments until it reaches a temperature above 160F (71C). Set aside.1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- In a medium-sized saucepan, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, butter, sugar, and salt. Turn stovetop heat to medium low and stir frequently until butter and chocolate chips are completely melted and mixture is smooth.2 cups (340 g) white chocolate chips, 14 oz (396 g) can sweetened condensed milk, 6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter, ½ cup (100 g) light or dark brown sugar, ¾ teaspoons table salt
- Reduce heat to low and sift flour into the pan, then stir until completely combined.
- Remove from heat, add vanilla extract, and stir well.2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Working quickly, add ½ cup (85g) chocolate chips and stir until *just* combined (don’t overmix or your cookie dough fudge will become very chocolatey!). Immediately pour into prepared baking pan and smooth with a spatula if needed. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips evenly over the surface.¾ cup (125 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- Allow fudge to set completely at room temperature, this usually takes 2-4 hours, then slice and serve!
Notes
Storing
Cookie dough fudge will keep in an airtight container for at least one week. It will keep longer in the refrigerator (about 3 weeks) but will become very firm when chilled.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Anonymous
Does the cream have to be heavy?
Sam
If you have half and half or something like that it should be fine, but you may need to add a bit more flour or powdered sugar to thicken it (I’d think a tbsp or so). I haven’t made it without heavy cream so I’m not certain exactly how much.
Marsha @ Marsha's Baking Addiction
Mmmm I’d love a few of these right now. They look so tasty!
Jennifer Z
Hello there!! I am in the process of making these =) They taste AMAZING, but the fudge isn’t hardening up at all. I put them in the freezer to hopefully speed the process so that I can at least cut them. Could I maybe roll them into balls and dip in chocolate?
Sam
Hi Jennifer! Hmmm, sorry to hear you are having trouble with the fudge. A few reasons that it might not be hardening could be if 1) it hasn’t been allowed to set for at least two hours in the fridge 2) If the butter was melted or microwaved as opposed to softening by sitting out of the fridge, 3) if margarine was used (some people have had problems using margarine and having it not harden. If none of those apply to you, I’m at a loss as to why it might be giving you problems, but I do have a suggestion to salvage what you have.
I think if it’s not hardening at all rolling them into balls might be quite messy, so if possible I would probably return it to the mixing bowl and gradually add powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until the “batter” seems to be more firm (you could also add another Tbsp of flour).
I sincerely hope this helps, but please feel free to leave another comment if you continue to have problems with it.
Jo
THANK YOU!!!! THIS is the recipe I found on Imgur that brought me to your amazing site to read your bio and then sign up for your emails and then got me into cooking and baking again -which I freaking love and got sidetracked with life and lost my focus- and I am making bread for my family now instead of buying it because your recipes inspired me to get back in the kitchen more but I’ve been mad-craving this recipe and forgot where I saw it and I wanted to make it as a surprise for my kid but couldn’t remember where I saw it and now I see it in my email and this is the best day ever, hey do you think this sentence is too long?
Sam
😀 Thank you so much Jo, I love your enthusiasm and your kind words, the sentence is just perfect 🙂
Elaine
Absolutely loved this recipe. My husband and I couldn’t believe how simple but delicious it was. I was just describing it to a friend who is missing cookie dough during her pregnancy. She is ecstatic to find a cookie dough treat that is safe for her to enjoy. So thanks from all of us!
Sam
I don’t know how I missed this comment, but thank you so much for the kind words and feedback! So glad you liked it! 🙂
Patricia
Hey, I’d like to know if you think greek yogurt would be a good substitute for butter. Need to keep low cholesterol.. haha
Sam
Hmm, I haven’t tried it but if you aren’t eliminating the condensed milk and heavy cream it might work and the flavor could still be alright (alternatively you may wish to substitute the condensed milk or heavy cream with greek yogurt instead, that may work better, but I’m a little clueless on whether that would help with cholesterol levels). I’d be a little worried about it setting properly in the fridge if you do substitute the butter but I think the other ingredients help with that.
Ultimately it’s a gamble and I wish I could give you a more clear answer rather than this big fat “I don’t know”, but if you do try it out please comment back here as I’m sure there are others who would like to try that substitution as well (I would like to get around to it myself eventually).
Jen
I don’t have a Kitchenaid mixer, would a handmixer do the job?
Sam
Hi Jen, a handmixer should be just fine (I’d just make sure the butter is softened, that will make it easier).
Andi
HI, would this recipe still work if i mixed everything by hand? Thank you, Andi
Sam
Yes, definitely. Just be sure to mix it well. Hope you love it, Andi!
Elaine
I made this recipe using a hand mixer and it came out perfect! So don’t let that stop you. Definitely let the butter soften up a bit, but I had no issues. It was amazing.
pls
pls respond
Sam
How can I help you?
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat
Oh my gosh I think I’ve just died and gone to heaven. This looks amazing! It is making my mouth water the more and more I look at it!
Sam
Haha, they are pretty heavenly 😉
Thanks Shelby!
Anne
Who are you??? Some kind of genius eh? I mean cookie dough fudge? It sounds like absolute heaven!!!!!!
Sam
Thanks Anne! 🙂
Amy @ Fearless Homemaker
Oh man, this looks AMAZING! Sometimes the simple recipes are the most delicious, and extra fuss and complexity doesn’t always guarantee deliciousness, you know? I would LOVE a piece of this right now. YUM!
Sam
Thanks Amy! It is nice when a delicious recipe is easy!
Rachel @ Bakerita
This is my kind of fudge! It looks too good. I would be scared of how quickly it would disappear. Yum!
Sam
I had to get it out of my house ASAP or I would’ve eaten all of it. My sisters are enjoying it now at my parent’s house. Thanks Rachel!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
This looks decadent and delicious! I love your photography 🙂
Sam
Thank you so much Medha!! 🙂
Katalina@ Peas and Peonies
oh my do these look good, I am so in love with them even without tasting one, I like condensed milk, in our house we eat it by spoon and I am not even kidding, so these would be a big hit!
Sam
You would definitely love these then! Thanks Katalina! 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Wow this fudge is just calling my name! I am such a fan of anything cookie dough flavored, so this is perfect for me. Love your creativity!
Sam
Thanks Gayle! Glad you like it 🙂