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This buttery melt-in-your-mouth delicious old-fashioned Brown Sugar Fudge has the warm flavor of caramel and reminds me of a fabulous New Orleans praline.
It’s perfect on a Christmas dessert tray or included in a cookie exchange. You’ll want to keep this recipe handy, as gift giving season approaches.
Fudge
This isn’t your typical rich chocolaty fudge either. There’s no chocolate to be found in this fairly easy recipe.
And, the texture of this sweet confection is so velvety and amazing; you may not be able to stop eating it.
If you’re looking for a more traditional, easy to make fudge, be sure to check out my 2 Ingredient Caramel Fudge Recipe.
We appreciate your support
Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.
Penuche
This creamy brown sugar fudge is also called penuche (“puh-noo-chee”). Which is derived from panocha, a Mexican raw sugar.
This is a recipe I found years ago (back in 2005 to be exact) when I was doing some testing of candy recipes, and learning all I could about how to make candy.
I think candy making is really my favorite. More than baking cookies or cakes, I truly love making candy.
And, I think it’s so special when you make candy for people. It’s so unusual that people simply love it.
So, keep it in mind for those holiday cookie and gift exchanges. This recipe is fairly easy and will be a big hit!
Candy thermometer
I love having a candy thermometer for making all kinds of fudge and candy.
You can also make lemon curd and preserves more easily when using a candy thermometer.
Yes, you can make this fudge without a candy thermometer. It wouldn’t be my recommendation.
But, if you simply can’t buy a candy thermometer, here’s how you can test the fudge for the right temperature.
Take a teaspoon of the cooked fudge mixture, and drop it into a small bowl of cold water. If it holds a soft ball when pressed between your fingers, it has reached the correct temperature.
Want more tips and tricks about making fudge?
I have a great post chock full of information to get you the perfect fudge! Read more here on my Mocha Fudge Recipe.
Other recipes to use your candy thermometer
I use the candy thermometer fairly regularly. It makes things nice and easy to measure. Savory recipes to sweet recipes. Here are some of my recipes that use the kitchen tool: Chocolate S’more Pie, Coconut Gumdrops, Zucchini Jam, Caramel Ice Cream with Beer Brittle, and Eggnog Cake.
Do I need to use evaporated milk?
Yes, the evaporated milk helps this recipe to cook properly.
Please do not substitute regular milk in this candy.
Evaporated milk has been cooked to reduce the water content of the milk.
It’s called the cooking milk for this very reason: It’s more stable than regular milk, and it can used for cooking at high temperatures, because it will not curdle like regular milk will.
Also, be sure you do not confuse evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk.
Sweetened condensed milk is sugary sweet and is not what you want for this recipe.
Can I add nuts to this recipe?
Yes, of course you can.
I prefer my fudge to be smooth throughout, and contain no nuts.
But, if you love the crunchy chunky addition that nuts bring to the confection, by all means, please feel free to add them.
You’ll want ¾ cup of nuts. I’d recommend walnuts, pecans, or salted peanuts for this fudge.
Simply toast the nuts by placing them on a flat baking sheet (I love those air insulted ones), and bake in a 350° F oven for about 10 minutes, or until the nuts are fragrant and golden brown.
Allow the nuts to cool, and chop them coarsely. Stir the nuts into the fudge before spreading it into the pan.
What kind of brown sugar can I use?
This recipe is traditionally made with light brown sugar, so that’s what I recommend for this.
However, I have heard from readers that half light and half dark brown sugar has worked well for them.
Also, I’m typically a fan of dark brown sugar, and think it would work really well in this fudge, though I haven’t tried it. I usually swap dark brown for light in any cookie recipe and it works great. If you try dark or even a mixture, let me know how it goes.
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Recipe
Brown Sugar Fudge
Equipment
- Candy thermometer
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons canned evaporated milk 5 fluid ounces
- 2 cups packed light brown sugar
- ¾ cup unsalted butter cut into tablespoons (1 & ½ sticks)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square glass baking dish with aluminum foil, overlapping sides.
- Combine evaporated milk, brown sugar, butter, and salt in a 3-quart heavy saucepan, and bring just to a boil over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture registers 238° F on a candy thermometer, about 30 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked fudge mixture to a heatproof bowl. Beat in vanilla with an electric mixer at medium speed. Add the confectioners’ sugar a little at a time, beating until fudge is thick and smooth, about 5 minutes.
- Spread evenly in the prepared 8-inch square baking pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula. Refrigerate, uncovered, until firm enough to cut, about 30 minutes.
- Using aluminum foil as aid, lift fudge from pan. Cut fudge into 64 1-inch squares with a sharp knife.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Lois Christensen
I made this for my Christmas cookie boxes that I give to all the neighbors. It’s amazing! I had to stop myself from eating it. Sweet. Delicious!
Mary E
I never knew the difference between evaporated and condensed milk – thanks for the explanation.
Amanda L.
I have never tasted a fudge made without chocolate so I’m not sure how I would like it, but I also liked how you explained how to tell when it’s done without using a candy thermometer because I don’t have one at home.
Christy Caldwell
I can almost taste this. Brown sugar fudge?? Oh my goodness this looks and sounds amazing!
Eileen Kelly
I m so excited to make this fudge. You have made the instructions so easy to follow. I will be giving the fudge to my family and friends in my treat baskets.
Lauren M Hecker
I love that the recipe focuses on brown sugar! I’ve never had brown sugar fudge before but it sounds absolutely heavenly! I will definitely be trying this recipe sometime soon!
Sheryl Jensen
I cant wait to try this!
Becca
I like that you explained the difference between milk, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk.
Lauren Bakka
I like that it includes evaporated milk that will make the cook time faster.
Julie Murphy
I wonder if you add Chocolate chips it would taste like cookie dough.
Kelly Rouse
I always thought making fudge was so complicated! Thanks for posting this recipe, I think I’ll add the nuts for Christmas batches.
Jason Cullum
I like that it’s creamy, velvety and made with brown sugar. I love sweets and trying something new especially with a good texture.
Patricia Cucina
I have always enjoyed pralines and caramel. Thanks for a great recipe to remind me of New Orleans!
joy f
No chocolate and velvety.
Susan Climan
I’ve never made fudge before and didn’t know that you needed to use evaporated milk!
rstevens
I love peanut butter fudge and chocolate fudge and have ate it my whole life. I have not had a brown sugar fudge and would like to try it out. I have always eaten other people’s fudge but would love to try to make it myself just one time to see how it turns out.
Julieh
The baked eggnog donut recipe looks so good.
Julie Boudreau
This actually seems like even I could make it
Carla Sue Thompson
Of it tastes like caramel, I would love it. I only make peanut butter and chocolate fudge, but made pumpkin once. I have never put powdered sugar in mine, but I know a woman who uses it in her, and won’t make it without it.
Ndidi Johnson
This look so good! I didn’t know there was a such thing as a candy thermometer, lol. You learn something new everyday!