Ghirardelli Fudge Recipe ~ Easy

Every year I make this decadent fudge, which tastes like I spent hours in the kitchen whipping up. It is the best gift to bring to a gathering and you can literally throw it together in less than 15 minutes.

• 1 package of Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

• 2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Line a small shallow baking pan (8 x 8 x 2) with wax paper. 


Stir the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk together in a medium glass mixing bowl. Microwave/stir for 30 sec intervals, until just melted -- usually takes about 1 minute. Stir in the vanilla extract. 


At this point, you can add chopped dried cherries or mini marshmallows or white chocolate chips or nuts ~ or nothing at all!  The cherries are always a hit and taste like chocolate covered cherries.


Pour into lined baking pan ~ for a sweet and salty treat, you can sprinkle some slightly crushed coarse sea salt and colored sugar crystals on the top, prior to refrigerating.


Refrigerate (or freeze for 5-10 minutes if in a hurry). 


Pop the fudge out of the wax paper and cut into small bite sized pieces. Arrange on a festive Holiday plate and you have a fabulous hostess gift! To make it extra special, I like to make sure that the recipient knows that the plate is theirs to keep as well.


I recently gifted this to my sons Middle School Teachers on a large platter surrounded by grapes and pears and wrapped up in a large cellophane gift bag ~ healthy and decadent are always a good pairing!


Enjoy!