Spicy Mexican Chocolate Fudge (Easy Recipe) (2024)

We originally got the idea for a spicy chocolate fudge when a friend gifted us a delicious tin of spicy chocolates one year. There is something magical that happens when chocolate and spice come together.

If you’ve ever had Mexican hot chocolate, you know exactly what I’m talking about. And, it’s no secret that we love the sweet and spicy combo.

Spicy Mexican Chocolate Fudge (Easy Recipe) (1)

We have a lot of delicious hot sauce recipes on this site, as well as some tasty dinner recipes that incorporate our favorite spices and peppers. But, we really wanted to bring a spicy dessert to the table.

This recipe for spicy Mexican chocolate fudge is the perfect melt-in-your-mouth sweet treat for any lover of spicy food.

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Why you’ll love this recipe

  • It marries the flavors of chocolate and peppers together for a sweet treat that’s unique and tasty.
  • We use allspice instead of cinnamon, which works really well with the cayenne pepper and adds a different level of flavor to this fudge.
  • It can easily be packed into a tin or given as a gift for any spice-loving friend or family member.
  • It’s very easy to make and doesn’t require any baking. The majority of time is spent allowing the fudge to set.
  • You can really level up the spice by using habanero or ghost pepper powder instead of cayenne, if you dare.
  • If you want to make chocolate fudge without the kick of heat, simply leave out the cayenne pepper.
  • The recipe can easily be doubled for a holiday or gathering. Just make sure you tell everyone it’s spicy fudge!
  • You can freeze this recipe for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge for one day before cutting and serving.
Spicy Mexican Chocolate Fudge (Easy Recipe) (2)

Ingredients needed

This is a simple fudge recipe that uses easy-to-find ingredients. You may even have most of them in the pantry!

  • 4cupsof semi sweet baking chips – Using a high-quality chip is essential for a good fudge. I like using Ghirardelli.
  • 1cansweetened condensed milk– Be sure to use condensed milk and not evaporated milk for this recipe. These two items are commonly mixed up, and evaporated milk will not yield a good fudge.
  • 3tbsp.butter – You can use either salted or unsalted butter in this recipe. If using salted butter, you may want to use less sea salt for garnish on top.
  • ¼tspcayenne pepper – Use a hotter pepper if you’d like to kick up the heat. Or, leave it out altogether for a simple (non-spicy) fudge.
  • 1tspallspice or cinnamon – This recipe is traditionally made with cinnamon. But, I find allspice adds a unique flavor that sets this recipe apart from the rest.
  • 1tspvanilla extract
  • Sea salt(coarse), for garnish

How to make homemade spicy chocolate fudge

This recipe for spicy Mexican chocolate fudge is very easy to make. It only takes about 15 minutes of prep work, and then most of the time is spent waiting for the fudge to set in the fridge. And, it feels like it takes forever when you just want to dig in!

Spicy Mexican Chocolate Fudge (Easy Recipe) (3)

Before you begin: Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.

  1. Start by adding your baking chips, butter, and condensed milk to a microwave safe bowl.
  2. Microwave at 30-second internals, stirring continuously until the mixture is well combined.
  3. Add in your vanilla, cayenne pepper, and allspice.
  4. Mix until well combined and immediately pour into the lined baking dish.
  5. Spread out evenly and sprinkle with salt.
  6. Place in the fridge and allow it to set for up to 4 hours.
  7. Cut into even squares and serve. Enjoy!

Tip: Do not refrigerate this fudge, as it can dry out. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature and consume within a week (if it lasts that long).

Variations and substitutions

We like this recipe just as it is. But, there are a few substitutions you can make if you want to mix it up. Here are some ideas:

  • Use cinnamon instead of allspice for a different flavor.
  • Use your own fresh cayenne pepper, or substitute the cayenne for ghost pepper powder for an even spicier fudge.
  • Sprinkle a bit of homemade habanero sugar on top along with the sea salt before setting.
  • Mix in chopped walnuts for a bit of crunch and a nutty flavor, or some shredded coconut.
  • Use white chocolate chips instead of traditional cocoa chips for a different variation that’s just as tasty.
Spicy Mexican Chocolate Fudge (Easy Recipe) (4)

Spicy Mexican Chocolate Fudge (Easy Recipe) (5)

Spicy Chocolate Mexican Fudge

This spicy chocolate fudge is the perfect sweet treat with just a kick of heat.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Keyword: Dessert, Fudge, spicy

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Setting time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 squares

Equipment

  • 1 8×8 or Larger Baking Dish

  • Parchment paper

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of semi sweet baking chips
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk NOT evaporated milk
  • 3 tbsp. butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp allspice or cinnamon
  • sea salt coarse, for garnish

Instructions

  • Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.

  • Start by adding your baking chips, butter, and condensed milk to a microwave safe bowl.

  • Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring continuously until well combined. Make sure the chocolate chips are completely melted and smooth.

  • Add in your vanilla, cayenne pepper, and allspice.

  • Mix until well combined and immediately pour into your baking dish lined with parchment paper.

  • Spread the fudge mixture out evenly and sprinkle with sea salt.

  • Place in the fridge and allow to set for at least 4 hours.

  • Cut into even squares and serve! Enjoy!

Notes

Do not refrigerate this fudge. Store it in an airtight container and consume within a week. If it lasts that long.

Spicy Mexican Chocolate Fudge (Easy Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between hot fudge and fudge? ›

Hot fudge is made by boiling together cream, sugar, chocolate, and sometimes butter—the traditional ingredients for fudge—into what is essentially just an undercooked, unset version of the confection.

How do you know when fudge is beaten enough? ›

After letting the fudge cool, it's time to beat it. It is important to stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to thicken and its surface starts to look dull or matte. Now is the time to stop beating and pour the fudge into a mould.

What happens if you boil fudge too long? ›

Too cooked

The result is hard and brittle fudge. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 45 to 60 ml (3 or 4 tbsp.) of 35% cream and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely melted. Then let it boil without stirring until the thermometer reaches 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

What not to do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

How do you make fudge creamy and not grainy? ›

Grainy Fudge

The sugars probably crystallized, a common mistake when making candy like fudge or caramel. If the melting sugar splashes onto the sides of the pan, it turns back into crystals and causes the fudge to seize up. To avoid this issue, swirl the pan instead of stirring it with a spoon.

What is McDonald's hot fudge made of? ›

Hot Fudge Topping

Ingredients: Sugar, Water, Nonfat Milk, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa (processed With Alkali), Corn Syrup, Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Polyglycerol Esters Of Fatty Acids. Contains: Milk, Soy.

What makes fudge taste like fudge? ›

Fudge typically contains sugar, butter or cream, milk or condensed milk, cocoa powder (or melted chocolate), flavoring such as vanilla extract or peppermint oil, and sometimes nuts or marshmallows for added texture.

Why does hot fudge taste so good? ›

Cream or milk, sugar, and butter are slowly boiled down until slightly thickened and light caramel-colored. This boiling-down process not only gives the sauce it's great gooey texture, but also contributes that special “fudgey” taste to the chocolate.

Do you stir fudge when it's boiling? ›

Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.

What makes high quality fudge? ›

Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard. High-quality fudge has many small crystals. If the process of crystallization begins too early, fewer crystals form and they become much larger.

What happens if you don't beat fudge long enough? ›

However, if you don't beat it at all, the crystals won't form properly, so your fudge won't set. If you forget to beat the fudge, try heating it back up over low heat, then beat it once it's slightly softened. If you beat the fudge too soon, the crystals will be too large, and the fudge will be grainy.

Why did my fudge turn out like taffy? ›

If the fudge is very soft and slightly chewy then it is possible that it did not quite cook to soft ball stage and next time the mixture should be cooked to a slightly higher temperature (soft ball is 112-116c/235-240F and a sugar or candy thermometer can help).

How to fix fudge that won't set? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

What is the softball test when making fudge? ›

making of fudge

termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.

Do you stir fudge while it is boiling? ›

Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.

How to prevent fudge from being grainy? ›

While you ultimately want crystals to form, it's important that they don't form too early. The key to successful, nongrainy fudge is in the cooling, not the cooking. The recipe calls for heating the ingredients to the soft-ball stage, or 234° F, then allowing it to cool undisturbed to approximately 110° F.

Can you beat fudge in a stand mixer? ›

Pour the mixture over the chocolate, being sure to shake, not scrape, the mixture from the pot. Set aside to cool for 10 to 12 minutes. (This prevents a grainy consistency.) Using the clean wooden spoon or a standing mixer on low speed, stir or beat the mixture until the chocolate is completely melted and incorporated.

What would cause fudge not to harden? ›

Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set

If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.

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