Quick Peanut Butter Fudge

Although my wife loves nearly everything chocolate, she finds chocolate fudge to be too rich.  I agree with her, plus the process of making fudge just seems like too much work to me.  Additionally, there are so many things that can go wrong that the whole idea just doesn't seem worth it.  So for a long time, fudge was just something we had at other people's house or purchased near the holiday season.

Then I found this recipe.  I can't take credit for it, but man do I wish I could.  We both love peanut butter, so peanut butter fudge is right up our alley.  And considering it only uses four ingredients and can be put together in about 5 minutes total.  All this, and it is made in the microwave.  No double boiler, no candy thermometers, and no dropping hot syrup into water looking for the perfect consistency.  Just microwave, stir, pour into pan, and refrigerate.  It is literally foolproof.  I like to use creamy peanut butter, but crunchy works as well.

A quick tip about measuring peanut butter.  If you spray the measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray, you can remove the peanut butter from the measuring cup much easier.


Quick Peanut Butter Fudge

2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lb (by weight) powdered sugar

Place butter and peanut butter in large microwave safe bowl.  Microwave on high for 2 minutes.  Stir mixture.

Return butter mixture to microwave.  Microwave on high another 2 minutes (CAUTION:  it will be like hot lava at this point.  Use pot holders).  Remove from microwave and quickly stir in vanilla.  Add powdered sugar and stir until well mixed.

Spread mixture into parchment lined 8x8 inch or 7x11 inch baking pan.  Refrigerate at least two hours.  Cut into 1-inch pieces.  Keep tightly covered at room temperature.