Easy South African Microwave Fudge

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If you are in South Africa, it is very easy to get your hands on fudge – many stores sell them. It’s a sweet treat most people love. However, if you’re not in South Africa with easy access to these sweets, you’ll have to make them yourself. Microwave fudge is an excellent option!

You would often assume that the microwave version of any recipe might not be as good as its alternate. With South African microwave fudge, however, this is not the case. It is as delicious, if not better than traditional fudge recipes.

I personally try to stay away from sugary treats. In general, I’m very disciplined… but not if there is fudge in the house. The children ask for it often and I’m happy to make it because it truly is an easy recipe. As soon as it is set, however, I share it with friends and neighbors. Otherwise, I’d end up eating most of it.

I consider readers of this blog as friends, and as friends, I should say that this is not diet food, obviously. But it gets worse! It’s addictive. Once you start eating it, it is really hard to stop. Personally, I recommend you make the batch and start sharing immediately. Otherwise, you’ll eat the entire batch and since it’s such an easy recipe, you’ll make yet another… Or perhaps that’s just me.

Easy South African Microwave Fudge Recipe

Prep Time: 5mins | Cook Time: 8mins | Servings: 15 | Difficulty: Easy

4 cups Powdered sugar (Sifted)
1 can Condensed milk
1 stick butter (1 stick of butter is ½ cup, 4 ounces, or 113 grams)
1 tsp Vanilla extract

Sift your powdered sugar to avoid clumps. (This is an important step – see this and other important notes below.)
Add powdered sugar, butter and the condense milk to a large, microwave safe dish. Do not stir.
Microwave for 2 minutes at 100%.
Remove the bowl from the microwave and mix thoroughly with a rubber spatula or whisk.

Microwave again and stir every 2 minutes for 8 minutes total, or until your fudge turns golden brown.
Remove from the microwave and immediately stir in your vanilla extracts.
Once thoroughly mixed, immediately add the fudge into a baking dish.
Allow the fudge the cool down before you cut it.

For variations, you could also chop up maraschino cherries or nuts and add it to the mixture. Mix it in just after you stir in the vanilla extract.

So sift the powdered sugar before you start. This is an extra step that I’ve tried to avoid at times, and I always regret it afterwards. Take a minute to sift, otherwise you end up with little sugar clumps.
Use a deep, transparent glass bowl. Use the largest one you have in the house. The large size is important because the fudge will need room to boil. A transparent glass bowl is important so that you can see if it is treatening to boil over.
As per my above point, the fudge could boil over. This is why you have to stir it every two minutes. Despite following the instructions to the T, it could boil over. This is why I strongly suggest that you stand in front of the microwave and watch it while it cooks. (I usually put one of the children on a stool to watch it).

Do not undercook or overcook. You want to wait until you get a golden brown color. That’s usually your cue that it’s about ready. The longer you cook it, the deeper brown and harder your fudge will be. For a smooth, creamy, delicious fudge, 8 minutes is a good cooking time and has not failed me yet. Having said that, microwaves are different so keep an eye on your mixture – you may need to cook it up to 10 minutes to get that golden brown color.
Once you remove the mixture, stir in the vanilla immediately.
Be careful. The mixture is extremely hot. My children are always very excited and they like to get under me to see if the fudge is ready, but this is not safe. Therefore, I always make sure they are not in the kitchen when I have to pour the fudge into the baking dish.
Don’t wait to pour your fudge into the baking dish – this should happen immediately after the vanilla is added because it starts to set quickly.