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If you have ever made fudge, you know that it can be a little tricky. Sometimes it turns out perfectly, and other times it is too runny. If unfortunately, you have runny fudge, you may be wondering how to thicken it.
As a general rule, the best way to thicken runny fudge is using cornstarch or powdered sugar. Add a teaspoon of cornstarch or powdered sugar to your runny fudge and mix well. If your fudge is still too runny after a few minutes, add another teaspoon and repeat until you have the consistency you need.
Runny fudge is quite frustrating but stick around to find out the best ways to thicken your fudge so that you can fix any problems that you may have encountered!
Why Is My Fudge Runny?
Generally speaking, the main reason for fudge turning out runny is not heating it to the right temperature. When fudge does not reach the correct temperature, it can cause the sugars to separate from the cocoa butter which will result in a runny consistency.
*By the way, if you’re looking for a good mold to make your fudge in, I’ve recently come across the perfect Silicone Fudge Mold made from small rectangles. This Silicone Mold was perfect for my fudge bites dessert! You can check out this Fudge Mold on Amazon!
The right temperature for heating fudge is between 235-245 degrees F. Use a candy thermometer to make sure that your fudge reaches this temperature and do not take it off the heat until it does.
Other reasons why your fudge turns out runny include:
You Didn’t Use The Right Ingredients
I have seen this happen a lot when people don’t use the right type of chocolate. Be sure to use good quality chocolate that is made for candy making.
Some chocolate doesn’t solidify as well because of the many chemicals that are used in them.
You Added Too Much Liquid
When adding milk or cream to your fudge, be sure not to add too much. Too much liquid will make the fudge runny.
Excess moisture is never good when baking or cooking anything, so you’ll need to strictly follow your recipe’s instructions!
You Didn’t Stir Enough
Stirring is key when making fudge. Be sure to stir the fudge until it becomes thick and starts to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Under-steering the fudge will prevent the ingredients in the recipe from fully solidifying and sticking together!
Improper Measurements
When you measure your ingredients, you want to make sure you strictly follow the recipe. Too much or too little of an ingredient can make the fudge runny.
I always use measuring cups to perfectly achieve my measurements correctly!
Not Setting The Fudge Well
You want to allow the fudge to set in a cool place for at least a few hours. Overnight is even better. If you try to cut the fudge too soon, it will be runny.
All the Best Ways to Thicken Runny Fudge
The best way to thicken runny fudge is by using powdered sugar. Add about a teaspoon of the powdered sugar and mix it in well. Let the fudge sit for a few minutes so that the powdered sugar can absorb some of the excess moisture. Repeat this process as needed if the fudge is still runny.
If your fudge is still too runny, add another teaspoon and repeat the process until you have reached the desired consistency.
Another way to thicken runny fudge is by using cornstarch. Simply add a teaspoon of cornstarch and mix it in well. You also want to let the fudge sit for a few minutes to allow the cornstarch to absorb some of the excess moisture.
Keep adding the cornstarch one teaspoon at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.
You can also thicken the fudge by reheating it up to the right temperature. Place the fudge back on the stove over low heat and stir until it reaches 235-245 degrees F. Once it reaches this temperature, take it off the heat and allow it to cool and set.
To do this, I prefer using a thermometer. I recently came across a Candy Thermometer with a Hanging Hook that works perfectly for this! I use this thermometer for pretty much anything I make in the kitchen that requires knowing the temperature. You can check out this thermometer on Amazon!
How Do You Thicken Fudge That Didn’t Set Properly?
You can try to thicken the fudge by adding some evaporated milk and slowly reheating it. Place the fudge in a saucepan over low heat and add evaporated milk, one tablespoon at a time. Stir until the fudge has thickened and reached the desired consistency for it to set properly.
Another way to thicken fudge that didn’t set properly is by adding some chocolate chips.
Add about ¼ cup of chocolate chips and mix until they are completely melted. This will help to thicken the fudge and give it a more chocolatey flavor.
I recently came across an 80-Cavity Square Candy Silicone Molds on Amazon. This candy mold works perfectly for hardening Leftover Melted Chocolate while giving you 80 potential chocolate candies to enjoy.
Why Did My Fudge Not Harden?
Generally speaking, your fudge didn’t harden because it was undercooked. The fudge needs to get hot enough to be able to properly set and harden. When making fudge, you want to make sure you follow the recipe’s cooking time and temperature setting precisely to achieve fudge that is properly set.
If you find that your fudge is not hardening, it could also be because:
You didn’t heat it to the right temperature
The fudge needs to be heated up to between 235-245 degrees F for it to harden properly. If the fudge is not heated enough, it won’t evaporate the liquids and concentrate the sugar.
This step is essential to making sure the texture comes out perfectly.
You didn’t let it cool long enough
Once you take the fudge off the heat, you need to let it cool completely before trying to cut it. If you try to cut it too soon, it will be runny.
Fudge is very precise when it comes to temperature so make sure you have a candy thermometer handy.
Wrong ingredients
Be sure to use good quality chocolate that is made for candy making. Using the wrong type of chocolate can result in fudge that doesn’t harden.
Also, other chocolates can be difficult to melt because of special additives. These chocolates are meant to prevent melting when you’re holding them in your hands.
Can You Use Cornstarch To Thicken Fudge?
As a general rule, you can use cornstarch to thicken fudge. Add a teaspoon of cornstarch to the runny fudge and mix it well. Then continue to cook it for a few more minutes to fully thicken the fudge. Cornstarch is among the best ways to thicken runny fudge.
Keep adding the cornstarch one teaspoon at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.
Allow the fudge to sit for a few minutes so that it completely absorbs the cornstarch. Since cornstarch is thick in nature, it will create the viscosity that is needed for the runny cornstarch to solidify.
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Make Fudge Without Condensed Milk. I recently wrote an article talking about what you must know when Making Fudge Without Condensed Milk, which you can check out here!
How To Make Fudge Smoother?
Generally speaking, you can make fudge smoother by allowing it to cool down before the agitation step. If you start beating the fudge while it’s still too hot, not enough crystals will form which causes a grainy texture. Allow to cool down first before beating the fudge, around 120°F.
*By the way, the Double Boiler works great when you’re trying to melt something like chocolate while heating up other ingredients. I recently wrote an article that gives a breakdown of the 3 Best Double Boilers that people use in each stage of their baking journey.
After reviewing these double boilers, the Best Overall Double Boiler was the Stainless Series 2-Quart Covered Double Boiler which worked great for the dessert needs in my kitchen. You can check out this Double Boiler on Amazon!
How Long Do You Boil Fudge?
As a general rule, if you don’t have a candy thermometer to know when the fudge reaches the right temperature, boil it for about 7-8 minutes. Do not go over 9 minutes or you will risk the fudge becoming grainy. With a candy thermometer, make sure to aim for a temperature of 235-245°F.
Fudge is boiled to the soft-ball stage, which is when it reaches 235-245 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer.
Once it reaches this temperature, it needs to be taken off the heat and allowed to cool completely.
*By the way, I recently wrote an article about Why Did Your Fudge Get So Hard? This article talks about all the reasons why your fudge gets hard as well as how to fix and prevent it so that it never happens again. You can check out this article here!
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, I have given you some helpful tips on how to fix runny fudge. Be sure to follow the recipe to a T, stirring frequently, and let the fudge set before cutting into it. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to fix runny fudge and enjoy delicious, thick fudge every time.
