Maple Pecan Fudge | The BEST Maple Fudge Recipe! (2024)

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Are you a fudge lover? This delicious 5-ingredient Maple Pecan Fudge recipe will be right up your alley! Loaded with rich maple flavor and tender, brown sugar pecans, this maple fudge recipe is perfect for holiday candy making!

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What’s your favorite holiday candy? Hands down, without question, mine is fudge! I absolutely love all of the flavor combinations, along with the crunchy textures like pecans, walnuts and almonds in every little bite. This rich, decadent maple fudge recipe is definitely the perfect match for the brown sugar pecans that are mixed into the fudge and garnished on top of every little square.

This Maple Pecan Fudge was actually inspired by my maple frosting that goes with my Banana Sheet Cake recipe. While making the frosting for the cake I came to the conclusion that that frosting, along with its delicious maple flavors must be made into a fudge!

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Here’s the ingredients you’ll need to make this delicious maple fudge recipe:

  • Butter
  • Brown Sugar (light or dark)
  • Heavy Cream
  • Maple Extract
  • Pecan Halves

(For exact amounts, be sure to reference the recipe below.)

Start by Toasting the Brown Sugar Pecans:

This fudge recipe is made in a saucepan, but don’t let that deter you – it’s simple to make, and comes together in moments. You’ll actually want to start this maple fudge recipe by first preparing those delicious brown sugar pecans. These are made by melting together butter and brown sugar, and lightly coating and toasting directly in a skillet. Once toasted, place on a piece of parchment or waxed paper to cool to room temperature.

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How to make this maple fudge recipe:

While the pecans are cooling, you can then prepare the fudge. In a medium saucepan, melt together the butter, brown sugar and cream and bring to a simmer.

Once cooled you’ll then add the maple extract. This is where the maple fudge gets its delicious, buttery flavor! Next, you’ll chop up some of the pecans (reserving about half for the top of the fudge), stirring into the fudge mixture.

Then, gradually stir in one cup of powdered sugar at a time. The fudge will begin to get rather thick and stiff. It’s ready to go into the pan.

In a 9×9″ pan lined with foil, press the fudge mixture evenly into the pan. A rubber scraper works well here. Lastly, add the rest of the brown sugar pecan halves to the top of the fudge. You can line them up in rows, or simply sprinkle them over the top – however you wish.

Chill the fudge for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator before cutting into squares.

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Maple Pecan Fudge – Perfect for Gifting!

This maple fudge recipe is perfect for all of your Christmas cookie and candy exchanges. Package up the fudge (like I did here with my Almond Joy Brownie Bites) and bring to your friends, neighbors and coworkers for a sweet holiday treat. The holidays are the perfect time to enjoy fudge – I hope this recipe inspires you to indulge your sweet tooth this season! ~Erin

If you loved this delicious maple fudge recipe, check out some of my other fudge and candy recipes:

Layered Peanut Butter Fudge

Peppermint Red Velvet Fudge

Coconut Fudge with Macadamia Nuts

Cranberry Bliss Fudge

Salted Caramel Fudge Cups

Chocolate Caramel Cashew Clusters

Peppermint Crunch Fudge at Real Housemoms

Maple Pecan Fudge | The BEST Maple Fudge Recipe! (5)

Here’s the easy, delicious recipe for my Maple Pecan Fudge recipe:

Maple Pecan Fudge | The BEST Maple Fudge Recipe! (6)

Maple Pecan Fudge

Yield: 20 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

Love the buttery, delicious maple pecan flavors? This wonderfully simple Maple Pecan Fudge recipe will be right up your alley! Loaded with rich maple flavor and tender, crisp pecans, this maple fudge recipe is perfect for holiday candy making!

Ingredients

Brown Sugar Pecans:

  • 2 c. pecan halves
  • 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. butter

Fudge:

  • 1/2 c. butter (1 stick)
  • 1 c. brown sugar
  • 1/3 c. heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 tsp. maple extract
  • 3 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Begin by making the brown sugar pecans. In a medium skillet, melt the 3 Tbsp. butter and 3 Tbsp. brown sugar together over medium heat. Once melted, add in the pecans and reduce heat to medium-low, stirring continually while coating the pecans in the sugar/butter mixture. Continue to stir the pecans as they toast, approximately 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat, and transfer nuts to a piece of waxed paper. Let the nuts cool to room temperature.
  2. For the fudge: In a medium saucepan, melt together the 1/2 c. butter, 1 c. brown sugar and heavy cream over medium-low heat. Bring to a low boil, and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes, then stir in the maple extract.
  3. Roughly chop 1 cup of the pecans, reserving the remaining pecans for the top of the fudge. Add in the chopped pecans to the fudge mixture. Gradually stir in the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Fudge will start to get thick, and slightly stiff. Transfer the fudge to a foil-lined 9x9" pan, and evenly press into the pan. Top the fudge with the remaining brown sugar pecan halves, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting.
  4. Store in a airtight container. Can be frozen.
Maple Pecan Fudge | The BEST Maple Fudge Recipe! (7)

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  • Easy Peach and Cherry Sangria
Maple Pecan Fudge | The BEST Maple Fudge Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

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 is maple fudge made of? ›

Bring maple syrup, heavy cream, and brown sugar to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Continue to boil, without stirring, until mixture starts to bubble and registers 240 degrees F (166 degrees C) on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat. Add butter and salt but do not mix.

Is Penuche fudge maple? ›

What distinguishes penuche is the use of brown sugar rather than white. In recent years, it has become common in New England to add maple syrup to the recipe for penuche fudge. Some confectioners will call this "maple syrup penuche fudge", and others do not make any distinction at all.

Should you whip fudge? ›

Experience has shown that you should beat the mixture when its temperature ranges from 43°C to 45°C (110°F to 113°F), which normally occurs 15 minutes after the pan is removed from heat. The fudge is warm, but not burning hot.

How do you make fudge creamy and not grainy? ›

Grainy Fudge

The sugars probably crystallized, a common mistake when making candy like fudge or caramel. If the melting sugar splashes onto the sides of the pan, it turns back into crystals and causes the fudge to seize up. To avoid this issue, swirl the pan instead of stirring it with a spoon.

Why is my maple fudge grainy? ›

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. Stirring would help sucrose molecules "find" one another and start forming crystals.

Why is my maple fudge not setting? ›

Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set

If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.

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).

How do you thicken maple fudge? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

Does maple fudge go bad? ›

But how long does fudge last? Depending on the storage method, you can keep fudge fresh for one week to several months. It's all about packaging fudge properly to keep any air from drying it out and avoiding changes in temperature. Those factors can change the flavor and texture of fudge.

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

If the sugar crystals are not properly dissolved before cooling, they can create a gritty texture. To avoid this, ensure that you stir the fudge mixture consistently and remove any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan using a wet pastry brush.

Do you stir fudge while it is 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.

What is the purpose of adding cream of tartar? ›

Cream of tartar stabilizes the tiny bubbles in the egg whites, by precluding the egg proteins from sticking together. It thus speeds up the egg white whipping process and contributes to a stable, billowy, glossy meringue, perfect for cookies, topping pies, and folding into cake.

How does cream of tartar affect a recipe? ›

Cream of tartar is a white powder sold in the baking aisle that's commonly used to stabilize whipped egg whites in meringues and cakes, prevent sugar crystallization in candies and caramel, and act as the activating ingredient in baking powder.

What is the purpose of cream of tartar in this recipe? ›

The most common recipes that call for cream of tartar are those that call for egg whites to be whipped, like angel food cake, genoise cake, meringue, and macarons. Jampel says that is because cream of tartar works as an egg white stabilizer that increases both the volume and shelf life of the meringue.

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