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Caramelized Pecan and Sea Salt Fudge

December 10, 2022 by Emily Leave a Comment

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This caramelized pecan and sea salt fudge is the perfect holiday treat. It comes together super easy and it’s sweet and savory flavors will explode in your mouth.

Fudge on white plate with red dish towel

F-U-D-G-E!!!!! Who doesn’t just love this little bite size snack treat? Honestly, I struggle with just having only one. I’m also a huge fan of this peanut butter fudge too. Fudge is an excellent holiday treat! This caramelized pecan and sea salt fudge makes the perfect dessert to take to grandma’s, a work potluck or gift to neighbors/friends. I made this for my family at Thanksgiving and it was a hit! It is so easy to make and this variation is a perfect twist with exploding flavors.

Ingredients needed to make

  • Dark Chocolate Chips– can be any type of chocolate chips. I prefer the dark but you can use mini’s, semi-sweet or milk chocolate to switch up the flavor. I’m using the Enjoy Life brand.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk– this is a MUST ingredient. You can not use fat free sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk or heavy whipping cream because the consistency will not be the same, will not set well and it will taste different.
  • Pecans– you can use any type of nut you like but the pecan gives it a sweet/savory flavor.
  • Water– this is essential to combine with sugar.
  • Sugar– can use a sugar substitute such as swerve or monk fruit if you’d prefer. I’m using cane sugar for this recipe.
  • Sea Salt– helps with flavor.

How to make

Over medium heat, combine water, sugar and half a teaspoon of sea salt. Without stirring, let syrup cook until golden color, then remove from heat.

Pot with water, sugar and salt on medium heat turning golden in color

Transfer syrup mixture to bowl and toss pecan halves in. Mix together coating each pecan.

Pecans coated in caramel mixture in bowl

Place on a cookie sheet until hardened. At this time, you want to line a baking dish with parchment paper.

Pecans drizzled in caramel hardening on parchment paper

On low heat, pour chocolate chips into pan and continually stirring until melted. You must continually stir so chocolate does not burn.

Chocolate melted in bowl

Take off heat, then combine, sweetened condensed milk and remaining sea salt stirring until all is combined.

Condensed milk and sea salt combined with chocolate in a bowl

Pour into lined baking dish and smooth it out so it is all even.

Fudge mixture poured into baking dish being smoothed out with spatula

Place pecan halves in columns and rows.

Fudge with pecans on top in baking dish

Chill in refrigerator for an hour, add additional sea salt if you’d like then slice and serve.

Fudge on white plate with pecans sprinkled around and red dish towel in background

Why I love this recipe

  • Super easy to whip up and put together (great last minute gift or dessert idea)
  • Taste amazing
  • Minimal ingredients
  • Easy to customize if need too
  • Sweet and savory flavor
Fudge displayed on table and white plate

FAQ’s

Does fudge need to be refrigerated? No, it does not. It can be kept on the counter at room temperature for 2-3 weeks. It will last a good few weeks refrigerated. In either place, it needs to be kept in an airtight container to ensure it doesn’t spoil or grow mold. If it does, throw it out.

Can you freeze fudge? Yes!!! This is a great way to preserve and enjoy throughout the year. It will need to be stored in an airtight container or freezer friendly bag. It can last up to 3 months.

How do you unthaw fudge? Let it sit out on the counter for an hour to soften, then enjoy!

Can you make this recipe using the microwave? You can heat the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk at 30 second intervals. You want to take out and stir before putting back in for another 30 seconds until all combined and melted.

Can I use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk? No, it will not turn out the same. It has to be sweetened condensed for this recipe. it also needs to be regular or coconut sweetened condensed milk not fat free.

Can this fudge be made dairy free? Vegan? Yes and Yes! You can replace the sweetened condensed milk with sweetened coconut condensed milk. You can also use Enjoy Life chocolate chips that are dairy free. This recipe is made with them.

Pecan fudge stacked on white plate with red dish towel in background

Variations to the fudge

For the topping, if you are not using pecans you can use:

Walnuts

Almonds

Peanuts

For the chocolate chips, you can use:

Milk chocolate chips

Semi sweet chocolate chips

Mini chocolate chips

More Christmas time recipes:

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Sunflower Butter Buckeye Balls

Peppermint Christmas Bark

Print
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Fudge on white plate with red dish towel

Caramelized Pecan and Sea Salt Fudge


  • Author: Emily
  • Total Time: 75 minutes
  • Yield: 20 pieces 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe
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Description

This caramelized pecan and sea salt fudge is the perfect holiday treat. It comes together super easy and it’s sweet and savory flavors will explode in your mouth.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp sea salt, divided
  • 3 cups chocolate chips (dark, semi-sweet, milk, or minis)
  • 1 (14 oz) can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 20 pecan halves

Instructions

  1. Over medium heat, combine water, sugar and half a teaspoon of sea salt.
  2. Let syrup cook until golden brown, then remove from heat. Do not stir.
  3. Transfer syrup mixture to bowl and toss pecan halves in.
  4. Mix together coating each pecan and place on a cookie sheet to harden.
  5. Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with parchment paper.
  6. On low heat, melt chocolate chips. You must continually stir so chocolate doesn’t burn. You can also do this step in the microwave on 30 second intervals until combined.
  7. Take melted chocolate from heat and combine condensed milk and sea salt together.
  8. Pour into lined baking pan and smooth out the mixture.
  9. Place pecan halves in columns or rows.
  10. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, then slice and serve with a sprinkle of additional sea salt.

Notes

  • Can use more pecans to make smaller slices of fudge.
  • Can use dairy free chocolate chips and coconut sweetened condensed milk to make it dairy free and vegan.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 60 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: caramelized pecan fudge, candied fudge, easy fudge

Did you make this recipe?

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Filed Under: Dessert, Gluten-Free Tagged With: caramel pecan, dessert, easy fudge, pecan and sea salt fudge, pecan fudge

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Howdy ya’ll!

I'm so happy you are here! I'm Emily the photographer, recipe developer and content creator behind Emily's Wholesome Kitchen. Here you will find healthy, simple real food based recipes that are wholesome, nourishing and flavorful. I also share tips and ways to live a more natural lifestyle when it comes to wellness from inside the kitchen. Let's get cookin'. Learn more about me here

Emily: View My Blog Posts

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