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Looking for the perfect chocolate fudge recipe but with a little twist? You are going to love this rich, smooth German chocolate fudge topped with a chewy coconut topping!
Featured with this recipe
- Ingredients for Homemade German Chocolate Fudge
- German Chocolate Topping
- Best Chocolate Chips to use for Homemade Fudge
- How to Make the Best Chocolate Fudge
- Making Easy German Chocolate Topping
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Store German Chocolate Fudge
- More Favorite Fudge Recipes
- How to Make German Chocolate Fudge
- German Chocolate Fudge Recipe Recipe
This German chocolate fudge is sweet, creamy, and melts in your mouth! If you are a fan of German chocolate cake, then you have to try this German chocolate fudge recipe. The German chocolate frosting makes it over-the-top good. Sink your teeth into the best fudge ever!
This delicious recipe has a creamy texture from the fudge, plus the overwhelmingly amazing coconut pecan frosting to top it off. This fudge is perfect for neighborhood gifts, taking to your next party, or just indulging in a delicious Christmas treat while watching a movie. It is simple to make and always a favorite!
Ingredients for Homemade German Chocolate Fudge
Fudge is always a decadent treat to enjoy! This German chocolate fudge is a step above the rest. You will love the texture combination, how sweet and savory the flavors are, and how smooth and creamy each bite is. Melt-in-your-mouth fudge is just what you need!
- Sugar – Every good fudge has sugar! This will add sweetness, but also balance out the chocolate textures and flavor.
- Butter – You will want real butter. I used unsalted butter, but either will work for this fudge recipe.
- Evaporated milk – This helps make the fudge smooth and creamy, giving it that added boost of sweetness too!
- Chocolate mixture – Normally, you melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips together either in the microwave or a double boiler. This time, the chips are being melted in a large bowl by the heat of the milk. You can even try dark chocolate and white chocolate to complement each other!
- Vanilla extract – Just a hint of vanilla for a flavor combination!
German Chocolate Topping
German chocolate dessert stands out with this famous coconut and pecan topping. This icing is simple to make and comes together in a matter of minutes. If you are ever unsure of what type of cake, treat, or chocolate dessert flavor, just look for the pecan and coconut mixture to know you have the very best!
- Sugar – Melts together to add sweetness.
- Evaporated milk – Brings in the creamy texture.
- Butter – Again, use real butter. This will hold together the frosting and help it set properly on top of the fudge.
- Egg yolks – This is a thickener for the icing. It will help make the topping look and taste thicker with the coconut and pecan mixture.
- Vanilla extract – Just a hint will help bind the ingredients together.
- Coconut – Flaked coconut is best. You can find a bag of coconut flakes down the baking aisle.
- Pecans – Chop your pecans in a food processor or purchase them already chopped in a bag. If needed to try other types of nuts walnuts are a great substitution!
Best Chocolate Chips to use for Homemade Fudge
I would definitely recommend getting quality chocolate chips for this easy fudge recipe! I use Guittard or Ghiradelli chocolate chips. Trust me, the taste is worth the extra cost. If you use a less expensive brand, you will risk the fudge getting grainy. Milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate blend well together.
If you want your fudge to be more of a dark chocolate fudge, make the substitution of high quality dark chocolate chips. This will give a rich dark chocolate flavor to this fudge recipe.
How to Make the Best Chocolate Fudge
This is an easy chocolate fudge recipe that is so simple to make and comes together in minutes! It is one that you do need to stand over the stovetop and make sure that it all melts together properly and perfectly. In no time you will be enjoying all the chocolate fudge with German chocolate topping! The perfect combination!
- Prepare – Place butter slices and chocolate chips in a large mixer bowl. Use the butter wrapper to grease the bottom of a 9×13 pan that you will be pouring fudge into.
- Boil – In a large saucepan on the stovetop, bring sugar and milk to a boil, stirring constantly. You do not want to scorch. Boil for 10 minutes, while constantly stirring.
- Mix – Remove from heat and pour into the mixer bowl with the butter and chocolate chips. Add 1 Tablespoon vanilla and mix thoroughly.
- Assemble – Spread warm fudge into the buttered 9×13 prepared pan. Let cool completely before adding the topping. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Making Easy German Chocolate Topping
This German chocolate topping is everything you dreamed of! It is warm, comforting, and savory with all the creamy coconut flavor. This German chocolate fudge combination will melt in your mouth leaving your tastebuds cheering!
- Combine – Sugar, milk, butter, and egg yolks in a large saucepan before setting on the stove.
- Boil – Bring the mix to a boil over medium heat until it thickens. Remove from heat and add vanilla, coconut, and pecans.
- Let cool and store – Let mixture cool completely before applying to fudge. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
“What an INCREDIBLE holiday recipe! Love how rich it is and it’s just perfect as an edible gift. Thanks for sharing!”
Jeanette
Frequently Asked Questions
German chocolate is known to be sweeter with a chocolate liquor, sugar, and cocoa butter mixture. There is also an added fattening from the egg yolks. Other chocolates are usually semi-sweet chocolate.
The famous secret is to cook the fudge ingredients to the right temperature. With the sugary syrup, you do not want to overheat the mixture, and cooling it is even more important. This will determine how your fudge will hold.
Fudge is a confection made with cocoa and other chocolate elements, whereas chocolate is made from the cacao bean and can have white or other chocolate variations of flavors.
Fudge is a bit tricky to perfect the stability and firmness of it. Cooking it for too little time will leave it so the water won’t evaporate, causing the fudge to become soft. The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won’t evaporate, causing the fudge to be runny.
Placing the fudge in the refrigerator for at least six to eight hours will help the fudge to thicken and set properly.
Yes! If your batch of fudge is not holding or is not creamy enough, simply melt the fudge again and remake it. This will help if your fudge is too hard, brittle, or overly grainy.
How to Store German Chocolate Fudge
You can store this German chocolate fudge in an airtight container with the fudge separated by using parchment paper or wax paper in between each layer. If you are worried about the coconut layer sticking, you can lightly spray the paper with cooking spray and then place it over the layers.
- Refrigerator – Store fudge in the fridge, this will help it last longer and harden up better than it would at room temperature. However, fudge can become dry and crumbly if refrigerated too long.
- Room temperature – Fudge does best sitting out on the counter at room temperature. If your home is normally a warmer temperature, then place it back in the refrigerator for an hour.
- Freezer – The freezer is not recommended.
More Favorite Fudge Recipes
Do you love fudge as much as we do?! Then you know that one type of fudge just isn’t enough. Try some of our best fudge recipes. They are all homemade and super easy to make!
How to Make German Chocolate Fudge
German Chocolate Fudge Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Fudge
- 4 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup REAL BUTTER cut into 4 slices
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the German Chocolate Icing
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup real butter
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- Let cool before applying to fudge. Keep in fridge!
Instructions
For the Fudge
- Place butter slices and chocolate chips in a large mixer bowl.
- Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper. Use the butter wrapper to grease the parchment paper.
- In a 2 quart (or larger) saucepan, bring sugar and milk to a rolling boil on the stove top. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon — do not scorch. Boil for 10 minutes, while constantly stirring.
- Remove from heat and pour into the mixer bowl with the butter and chocolate chips. Beat for 3 minutes with the mixer. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla and mix thoroughly.
- Spread warm fudge into the buttered 9×13 pan. Let cool completely before adding the topping.
For the German Chocolate Icing
- Combine sugar, milk, butter, and egg yolks in a large saucepan before setting on the stove.
- Bring the mix to a boil over medium heat until it thickens or about 6-8 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla, coconut, and pecans.
- Let mixture cool completely before applying to fudge.
- Cut fudge into pieces and serve.
Are we using sweetened or unsweetened coconut? Are we using salted or unsalted pecans?
Sweetened coconut flakes and unsalted pecans. Thanks for asking!
This is so delicious! It’s in my favorite recipes. Thank you!
Is there a tablespoon of vanilla in the fudge. It is not listed in the ingredients and was not shown on the video but it is in the instructions??
Thank you for catching that! The instructions are correct. I added the vanilla to the ingredient list.
Do you have a recipe for Amaretto fudge?
We don’t, sorry!
Can I freeze this ?
I haven’t tried freezing it before so I’m not sure!