Rate this post

If you’ve ever made fudge, you know how difficult it can be. It is sometimes great, and other times it is too runny. If you have runny fudge, you may be wondering how to thicken it.

In general, cornstarch or powdered sugar are the best ways to thicken runny fudge. Mix in a teaspoon of cornstarch or powdered sugar to your runny fudge. If your fudge remains too runny after a few minutes, add another teaspoon and continue until you get the desired consistency.

Runny fudge is really aggravating, but keep reading to learn the best techniques to thicken your fudge and solve any difficulties you may have had!

What’s the Deal With My Runny Fudge?

In general, the major cause of runny fudge is not cooking it to the proper temperature. When fudge does not reach the proper temperature, the sugars separate from the cocoa butter, resulting in a liquid consistency.

*By the way, if you need a nice mold to create your fudge in, I just discovered the idealSilicone Fudge Mold constructed from little rectangles. This silicone mold was ideal for making my fudge bites dessert! This Fudge Mold is available on Amazon!

The ideal temperature for heating fudge is 235-245 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure your fudge reaches this temperature using a candy thermometer, and don’t take it off the heat until it does.

Additional factors that contribute to runny fudge include:

You did not use the proper ingredients.

This happens often when individuals do not utilize the proper sort of chocolate. Be sure you use high-quality chocolate designed for candy-making.

Because of the several chemicals employed in it, some chocolate does not solidify as well.

You Used Far Too Much Liquid

Be cautious not to add too much milk or cream to your fudge. If you add too much liquid, the fudge will become runny.

Extra moisture is never helpful when baking or preparing anything, so stick to the recipe’s directions!

You Didn’t Do Enough Stirring

While creating fudge, stirring is essential. Stir the fudge until it thickens and begins to pull away from the edges of the pan.

Under-steering the fudge will result in the ingredients not entirely hardening and staying together!

Incorrect measurements

While measuring your ingredients, make sure you exactly adhere to the instructions. Too much or too little of an ingredient might result in watery fudge.

I always use measuring cups to ensure that my measurements are exact!

Not Setting The Fudge Correctly

Let the fudge to set for at least a couple hours in a cool area. Overnight is preferable. The fudge will be runny if you cut it too soon.

All of the Greatest Methods for Thickening Runny Fudge

Powdered sugar is the finest technique to thicken watery fudge. Add approximately a teaspoon of powdered sugar and thoroughly mix it in. Let the fudge to settle for a few minutes to absorb some of the excess moisture from the powdered sugar. If the fudge is still runny, repeat the procedure.

If your fudge is still too fluid, add another teaspoon and continue the procedure until the required consistency is obtained.

Cornstarch may also be used to thicken runny fudge. Just add a spoonful of cornstarch and thoroughly mix it in. Allowing the fudge to remain for a few minutes will also help the cornstarch to absorb some of the extra liquid.

Continue to add the cornstarch one teaspoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

Reheating the fudge to the proper temperature will help thicken it. Return the fudge to the burner and stir until it reaches 235-245 degrees F. When it reaches this temperature, remove it from the stove and lay it aside to cool and set.

I like to use a thermometer for this. I have discovered a Candy Thermometer with a Hanging Hook that is ideal for this! This thermometer is used for almost anything I cook in the kitchen that needs knowing the temperature. This thermometer is available on Amazon!

What is the best way to thicken fudge that hasn’t set properly?

You may thicken the fudge by gradually warming it with evaporated milk. In a saucepan over low heat, add the evaporated milk one tablespoon at a time. Stir the fudge until it has thickened and achieved the necessary consistency in order for it to set correctly.

Adding chocolate chips is another approach to thicken fudge that hasn’t set correctly.

Mix in roughly a cup of chocolate chunks until totally melted. This will thicken the fudge and provide a more chocolaty taste.

On Amazon, I just discovered this 80-Cavity Square Candy Silicone Molds. This candy mold is ideal for hardening leftover melted chocolate and yields 80 potential chocolate chocolates.

Why didn’t my fudge harden?

In general, your fudge did not solidify because it was undercooked. The fudge must get hot enough to fully set and solidify. While preparing fudge, be careful to exactly follow the recipe’s cooking time and temperature setting to get properly set fudge.

If your fudge isn’t hardening, it might be due to one of the following reasons:

You failed to heat it to the proper temperature.

To harden correctly, the fudge must be heated at about 235-245 degrees F. If the fudge is not sufficiently cooked, the liquids will not evaporate and the sugar will not be concentrated.

This stage is critical to ensuring that the texture is right.

You did not allow it to cool enough.

When you remove the fudge from the heat, allow it to cool fully before attempting to cut it. It will be runny if you cut it too soon.

Fudge is very temperature sensitive, so make sure you have a candy thermometer on hand.

Incorrect ingredients

Be sure you use high-quality chocolate designed for candy-making. If you use the incorrect sort of chocolate, your fudge will not solidify.

Some chocolates may also be difficult to melt due to unique ingredients. These chocolates are designed to avoid melting while in your hands.

Can Cornstarch Be Used to Thicken Fudge?

Cornstarch may be used to thicken fudge in general. Mix in a teaspoon of cornstarch into the runny fudge. Cook it for a few more minutes to thicken the fudge completely. Cornstarch is one of the greatest thickening agents for runny fudge.

Continue to add the cornstarch one teaspoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

Let the fudge to settle for a few minutes to absorb the cornstarch entirely. Since cornstarch is naturally thick, it will generate the viscosity required for the flowing cornstarch to harden.

*As an aside, you may be interested in learning How To Make Fudge Without Condensed Milk. I just created a post on what you should know before making fudge without condensed milk, which you can see here!

How Do You Make Smoother Fudge?

In general, you can make fudge smoother by allowing it to cool before agitating it. If you begin beating the fudge while it is still hot, not enough crystals will form, resulting in a gritty texture. Let it cool to roughly 120F before beating the fudge.

*By the way, the Double Boiler is fantastic for melting things like chocolate while heating other components. I just published an article that breaks down the three best double boilers that individuals use at different stages of their baking journey.

After researching these double boilers, I decided that the Stainless Series 2-Quart Covered Double Boiler was the Best Overall Double Boiler since it performed well for my dessert requirements in my kitchen. This Double Boiler is available on Amazon!

How Long Should Fudge Be Boiling?

As a general guideline, if you don’t have a candy thermometer to tell when the fudge is done, boil it for around 7-8 minutes. If you go more than 9 minutes, the fudge will get gritty. Aim for a temperature of 235-245F using a candy thermometer.

Fudge is cooked until it reaches the soft-ball stage, which is 235-245 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer.

When it reaches this temperature, it must be removed from the heat and allowed to cool entirely.

*By the way, I just published an essay titled Why Did Your Fudge Harden? This page discusses all of the reasons why your fudge becomes hard, as well as how to correct and avoid it from happening again. This article may be found here!

Last Thoughts

I hope I’ve provided you some useful advice on how to cure runny fudge. Follow the recipe exactly, stirring regularly, and allow the fudge to harden before cutting into it. You’ll be able to repair runny fudge and enjoy wonderful, thick fudge every time if you keep these ideas in mind.