An easy Halloween fudge recipe for a fun naturally black Halloween treat; made without artificial food colouring.
Looking for an easy Halloween fudge recipe? This Halloween fudge is a fun treat to make when you want something homemade without spending hours in the kitchen. It has a rich chocolate flavour, seasonally colourful M&Ms throughout and a naturally black colour that makes it perfect for Halloween. Whether you are making treats for a Halloween party, a gathering with friends or simply want something fun to enjoy at home, this is a simple recipe to add to your Halloween baking list.
This is a cheat’s fudge recipe, which means you can make it without the traditional fudge-making process. There is no sugar thermometer to worry about and no need to fear about getting spat by boiling sugar while stirring. Instead, the ingredients are simply melted together before the M&Ms are mixed through. Once chilled and set, the fudge can be cut into small squares and is ready to serve.
I’ve used black cocoa to give this Halloween fudge its naturally black colour, rather than relying on black food colouring. It gives the fudge a deep, dark chocolate appearance while keeping the recipe simple. The colourful M&Ms stand out against the black fudge, making each piece look suitably spooky and fun. It is an easy Halloween treat that looks like you have put in much more effort than you actually have!
Star Ingredient
Condensed milk is what makes this a cheat’s fudge recipe. Instead of cooking sugar and checking its temperature to get the right fudge consistency, sweetened condensed milk does much of the work for you.
Combined with chocolate, it creates a rich and creamy fudge that sets once chilled. It also means this recipe is much simpler than traditional fudge, making it a good choice if you have never made fudge before.
I like using condensed milk for quick fudge recipes because you can also change the flavour quite easily. Here, black cocoa gives the fudge its dark colour and chocolate flavour, while M&Ms add some extra texture and colour for Halloween.
How to Purchase Ingredients to be Conscious to the Planet
This cheat fudge is super easy to make and only requires a few base ingredients that are easy to pick up plastic free.
Condensed milk comes in a tin. These are easily recyclable if you wash them out once you have scrapped out the contents for your recipes. They are also a good size to be repurposed. If you completely remove the lid, the tins can be used to bake individual fruit cakes in when lined.
Chocolate I enjoy picking up from zero waste shops. Depending on the store you shop from will determine the form you can pick up. Some will have chips, while others may do buttons. Generally, I have found it they stock either of these, they will tend to be bars in paper packaging so still a plastic free option. I tend to order my chocolate chips from Zero Store.
This recipe does have 2 ingredients that potentially less easy to find without plastic. Black cocoa I am still trying to find stocked in a refill shop. Therefore, I buy in bulk. This improves the product to packaging ratio which is the better way to consider purchasing items that can only be found in plastic. If you know a refill shop that stocks it, please come and let me know, as I do enjoy using it in my Halloween baking.
The second ingredient is the M&Ms. I use the Halloween colour ones – purple, green and orange. I tend to again buy in bulk when I visit M&M world when in London. I do reuse my bags from previous trips to pick up my next lot. Another brand, Smarties, do sugar coated sweets as well as these are purchasable in cardboard tubes. These are more easily recyclable. Around this time of year, you can find tubes just with orange ones in. However, this easy Halloween fudge can be made with any type of sugar-coated sweets. These are stocked in some refill shops.
Ingredients you can buy Plastic Free
- Chocolate
- Condensed Milk
- Vanilla Extract
- Halloween coloured sugar-coated sweets
Ingredients you can Make
- Vanilla Extract – homemade recipe here
Equipment You Will Need
- 8 Inch Square Cake Tin / Baking Dish
- Baking Parchment Paper
- Saucepan
- Heatproof Bowl (that sits on the top of the saucepan)
- Spatula
- Rolling Pin
- Reusable Food Bag
- Sharp Knife
Tips and Tricks when Making Easy Halloween Fudge
What Chocolate to Use for your Easy Halloween Fudge
As this fudge gets some natural colouring from the black cocoa you can use any type of chocolate if you want. I lean towards dark chocolate as it is itself darker in colour.
You can also mix chocolate if you need to make up the amount required. Milk and dark chocolate make a good combination.
For ease of melting, I recommend using chocolate chips. This increases the surface area that the heat can make to the chocolate and increase the time for melting. However, you can use bars or buttons as well. I would just recommend chopping these up into smaller pieces.
Cutting your Easy Halloween Fudge
You can adjust the yield of this fudge very easily, depending on the size you cut your fudge. If you cut into 3 by 3cm squares you will have 36 pieces. If you want these in smaller pieces perhaps for small mouths (or to feed more at a party), you can do 2 by 2cm squares. This would result in 72 pieces. On the other hand, if you want a bit more indulgence, you can do 5 by 5cm squares and get 25 pieces.
Something to be mindful of to aid the cutting of your fudge is the placement of the M&Ms on the top. You can literally scatter them, but you may find you end up having to cut through them (talking from experience), which can shatter them and impact on the visual. You can evenly place your M&M topping thereby making cutting easier and ensure that every piece has an M&M on top.
When cutting you fudge, utilise a jug of hot water. Dipping your knife into some hot water regularly, will help it slide through the fudge easily. I would dip and then gently wipe the knife dry so that you are not making your fudge wet.
Storing your Easy Halloween Fudge
As this easy Halloween fudge contains chocolate and condensed milk, it will melt. Therefore, I recommend storing it in the fudge in an airtight container. Be mindful that the colour of the M&Ms can fade in the fudge. I would therefore recommend making the fudge the day before you want it. That way it can set over night. And then you are cutting it on the day you need it for most. It will minimise the time it will be stored and therefore keep the colours as best as possible.
Halloween Fudge with M&Ms
Equipment
- 8 Inch Square Cake Tin / Baking Dish
- Baking Parchment Paper
- Saucepan
- Heatproof Bowl (that sits on the top of the saucepan)
- Spatula
- Rolling Pin
- Reusable Food Bag
- Sharp Knife
Ingredients
- 500 g Dark Chocolate Chips
- 1 Tin Condensed Milk 397g
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 3 Tablespoons Black Cocoa
- 150 g M&Ms / Sugar Coated Candies
Instructions
- Line your cake tin / baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a bag, gently crush 105g of the M&Ms.
- In your heatproof bowl, add the chocolate, condensed milk and vanilla.
- Pop the bowl onto the saucepan that has some simmering water in it.
- Stir regularly until melted together.
- Stir in the black cocoa to fully combine,
- Remove the bowl from the saucepan, and stir through the crushed M&Ms, to evenly distribute.
- Pour the fudge mixing into the prepared tin, and smooth over the top.
- Top the fudge with the remaining M&Ms.
- Pop into the fridge to set over night.
- Cut into 3cm by 3cm pieces to give 36 pieces.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Other Fudge Recipes you may be Interested in
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