There’s something irresistibly festive about the creamy texture and vibrant colors of this Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe. It’s a dazzling treat that not only tastes like pure holiday magic but also makes your kitchen smell like a winter wonderland. Trust me, once you try it, this fudge will become your go-to for Christmas gifting and cookie exchanges.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Making this Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe brings me such joy every year. It’s simple enough for even last-minute bakers but elegant enough to wow any crowd. Plus, the festive swirls of red and green make it impossible not to smile while you enjoy it.
- Easy to Make: No complicated candy thermometers here—just melting, swirling, and chilling.
- Beautiful Presentation: The colorful swirls make it look professional, even if you’re a first-time fudge maker.
- Rich, Creamy Texture: Thanks to sweetened condensed milk and premium white chocolate chips, every bite is silky smooth.
- Perfect for Gifting: This fudge cuts into neat little squares that fit perfectly in gift boxes or festive tins.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic behind the Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe lies in the simplicity of its ingredients. Each one plays a key role in creating that classic creamy fudge you’ll crave every holiday season. A tip? Invest in good quality white chocolate chips — they really make a difference.
- White chocolate chips: I swear by Ghirardelli for their rich flavor and smooth melting properties. Avoid “baking chips” that won’t melt as nicely.
- Sweetened condensed milk: This adds just the right amount of sweetness and keeps the fudge soft and luscious.
- Unsalted butter: Cold butter cut into cubes helps regulate temperature as you melt the mixture, preventing burning.
- Red and green gel food coloring: Gel colors work best because they don’t thin the fudge mixture like liquid colors might. Start slow — it’s easier to add more than fix too much color!
Make It Your Way
I love playing around with the colors and sometimes adding a bit of peppermint extract for a minty twist. You can easily swap the green for blue if you want a wintery theme rather than traditional Christmas colors. The point is—you can make this fudge your own with a few fun tweaks!
- Variation: Adding a teaspoon of peppermint extract gave my fudge a refreshing lift last Christmas, a total crowd-pleaser.
- Dietary tweak: If you want to make it dairy-free, try using vegan white chocolate and a dairy-free condensed milk alternative—but keep a close eye on melting times!
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Pan Like a Pro
Line an 8×8-inch straight-sided baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides for easy lifting later. I like to lightly spray the parchment with cooking spray so the fudge doesn’t stick — it’s a small step that saves a lot of headaches!
Step 2: Melt and Blend the Base
In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the white chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and cold cubed butter. Stir constantly for 4-6 minutes. You’re looking for a smooth, velvety mixture with no lumps—be patient and don’t rush, or you might end up with grainy fudge.
Step 3: Divide & Color
Remove the pan from heat and transfer about a third of the mixture into a small bowl for red coloring and another third for green. Stir in gel food coloring slowly, making sure each colored batch is uniform without any streaks.
Step 4: Swirl & Smooth
Dollop the red, green, and remaining white fudge mixture randomly into your prepared pan. Then grab a wooden skewer or butter knife and gently swirl the colors into a beautiful marbled pattern. For a silky finish, place a small piece of parchment on top and press gently. Just be careful not to overmix and lose your lovely swirls!
Step 5: Chill and Slice
Pop the pan into the fridge for 2-3 hours until the fudge is fully set. When it’s ready, use the parchment overhang to lift it out of the pan, then slice into bite-size squares. I like making mine about 1-inch so each piece feels like a perfect little gift for my taste buds.
Top Tip
I learned a few tricks from trial and error that’ll help you nail this fudge every single time.
- Temperature Control: Melting low and slow prevents scorching. Stir constantly and remove from heat as soon as it’s smooth.
- Fast Coloring: Work quickly when adding gel color because the fudge firms up fast once off the heat. If it gets stiff, just warm the bowl gently for a few seconds.
- Swirl Gently: Use a light touch so your beautiful marbling stays intact and doesn’t blend into a muddy color.
- Cut Cleanly: Warm your knife under hot water and dry it before slicing—this keeps your edges crisp and neat.
How to Serve Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe
Garnishes
I love sprinkling crushed candy canes on top right before chilling – it adds a delightful crunch and festive look. Mini edible stars or silver dragees also make it sparkle on the holiday platter.
Side Dishes
This fudge pairs wonderfully with a hot cup of spiced cocoa or mulled wine. If you’re hosting a dessert buffet, a plate of fresh berries balances the richness perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For gifting, I like to layer pieces in festive tins separated by parchment paper, tied off with a red ribbon. You can also cut smaller bite-sized pieces and serve them in mini candy cups for a cute party favor.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your fudge in an airtight container in the fridge, and it’ll stay fresh for about a week. I usually separate layers with parchment paper to keep pieces from sticking together.
Freezing
This fudge freezes beautifully—wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container for up to two months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
Reheating
I rarely reheat fudge, but if you want softer pieces, let them come to room temperature for about 15 minutes. Avoid microwaving since the texture will change and might become grainy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can, but gel food coloring is the better choice because it won’t thin out your fudge mixture. Regular liquid coloring can make the fudge too soft or affect the texture, so if you use it, add very sparingly.
Grainy fudge often results from overheating or not stirring constantly while melting. Make sure to melt on medium-low heat and keep stirring until smooth. Also, avoid overheating after adding the butter and milk, as the chocolate can seize.
Absolutely! Adding about 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract or orange zest can add a nice holiday twist. Just be sure not to add extra liquid so you don’t affect the fudge’s texture.
The fudge needs at least 2 to 3 hours in the refrigerator to set properly. Rushing this step can make slicing messy and less uniform. For best results, chill until firm to the touch.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe holds a special place in my holiday traditions. There's something magical about swirling those vibrant colors and knowing you’re about to make someone’s day a little sweeter. Give it a try—you’ll be amazed at how easy and impressive this fudge is, and I guarantee it’ll become a beloved staple in your festive celebrations.
Print
Christmas Swirl White Chocolate Fudge Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 21 minutes
- Yield: 64 pieces
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This festive Christmas fudge recipe features a creamy white chocolate base swirled with vibrant red and green gel food coloring for a holiday-inspired treat. Smooth, rich, and perfect for gifting or sharing, this fudge sets in the refrigerator and is cut into bite-sized squares.
Ingredients
Fudge Base
- 22 oz white chocolate chips (2 11-oz bags, Ghirardelli recommended)
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
Coloring
- ¼-½ teaspoon red gel food coloring (Americolor brand recommended)
- ¼-½ teaspoon green gel food coloring (Americolor brand recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare Pan: Line an 8×8 inch straight sided baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring an overhang on the sides for easy fudge removal after setting.
- Melt Ingredients: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine white chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and cold butter cubes. Stir constantly for 6 minutes until the chips are fully melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
- Divide Mixture: Transfer one-third of the melted mixture to a small bowl, add red gel food coloring starting with ¼ teaspoon, stirring until fully incorporated and color is uniform.
- Color Second Portion: Transfer another one-third of the mixture to a second small bowl, add green gel food coloring starting with ¼ teaspoon, stirring until fully combined and uniform in color.
- Assemble Fudge: Spoon dollops of white, red, and green fudge mixtures randomly into the prepared pan until all fudge is used.
- Swirl Colors: Use a wooden skewer or butter knife to gently swirl the three colors together on the fudge’s surface creating a decorative pattern.
- Smooth Top: Press a small piece of parchment paper gently on top of the fudge to smooth the surface without disturbing the swirl pattern.
- Chill: Refrigerate the fudge for 2 to 3 hours until fully set.
- Slice and Serve: Remove fudge from pan using parchment overhang, place on a cutting board, and slice into 64 squares of 1×1 inch size. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Store fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freeze fudge up to 2 months; thaw in refrigerator before serving.
- Line the pan with parchment or waxed paper sprayed with cooking spray for easy removal.
- Work quickly when adding gel food coloring as the mixture firms up fast once cooled.
- If fudge thickens too much, gently warm small bowls for 15-20 seconds to loosen before swirling.
- Do not overheat chocolate mixture to avoid burning or seizing; stir constantly while melting.
- Use a warm, dry knife to slice fudge cleanly into pieces.
- This fudge is very rich; smaller portion sizes are recommended.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (1x1 inch)
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 35 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
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