Christmas Coal Fudge

Name: Christmas Coal Fudge
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 490 min
Ingredients: 17.5 ounces white chocolate (495 grams) (bars or chips); 1¼ cups sweetened condensed milk (1 can); 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; ½ teaspoon sea salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons gel black food coloring; 2 teaspoons black or metallic sprinkles or sanding sugar (optional)

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This Christmas Coal Fudge Christmas candy looks like edible lumps of coal and is the perfect gag gift or sweet treat for stuffing stockings, regardless of good or bad behavior.

This rich and creamy fudge recipe takes 10 minutes to make using white chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, butter, a bit of salt, vanilla, and black food color and topped with sparkly metallic sprinkles.

Black Coal Candy Fudge For Christmas

Our Christmas Coal Fudge is a fast and easy way to make candy that looks like coal as well as my favorite Christmas fudge recipe that doesn’t require a candy thermometer or fancy equipment.

In a matter of minutes, this simple stovetop method melts 5 simple ingredients in a saucepan, tints it black, covers it in sprinkles or sanding sugar, and then places the pan in the fridge to set it into the sweetest lump of Christmas coal candy.

Getting coal for Christmas has never tasted so rich and creamy; it’s better than anything made in a fudge factory and cheaper than store-bought candy coal sweets.

This is the perfect fudge recipe when you want to give the gift of coal or you’re looking for a laugh – it’s the only kind of coal made edible to reward both the naughty and the nice.

Why We Love This Lump Of Coal Candy Recipe

Quick and easy to make in 10 minutes.
Uses 6 simple ingredients plus optional sprinkles.
No-bake recipe is the sweetest way to spread holiday happiness.
Fuss-free fudge is just as delicious as any long-cooked confection.
Homemade fudge is ideal for holiday gifting or placing on party platters and trays of sweet treats.
Perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges, gag gifts, and stocking stuffers.

More Easy Christmas Recipes

Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees

Christmas Tree Brownie Cups

Grinch Pretzels

Christmas Mints

Ingredients

White chocolate: You can use white chocolate bars or white chocolate chips for this recipe.
Sweetened condensed milk
Unsalted butter
Sea salt
Vanilla extract
Black gel food coloring
Black or metallic sprinkles or sanding sugar (optional)

Substitutions and Additions

Find Another Flavor: Instead of using vanilla extract to flavor your fudge, try swapping it with black licorice, peppermint, or almond extracts.
Choose Your Chocolate: Feel free to try this recipe with white chocolate chips, white baking chocolate, or almond bark. I recommend high-quality chocolate, otherwise, the taste and consistency might be off.

Christmas Coal Fudge with black sprinkles

Recommended Tools

8×8 square baking pan
Parchment paper
Saucepan
Whisk or a black/dark spatula
Sharp knife

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How to Make Christmas Coal Fudge

Make The Candy Mixture: Stir together white chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, butter, sea salt, and vanilla until melted.
Color The Coal: Remove the pot from the stove and stir in black food coloring.
Pour In The Pan: Quickly pour the fudge in the pan and top with sprinkles.
Pro Tip: If you need to get an even spread you can shake or lightly, tap the bottom of the pan on the counter.
Chill: Allow the fudge to set in the fridge overnight or for 8 hours.
Serve: Cut into squares, serve, and enjoy!
Pro Tip: I like to use a ruler to measure my squares so they are uniform in size.

Tip From Our Recipe Developer

Don’t skimp on the food coloring or you will end up with gray fudge!
Make sure you use sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk).
I like to line my pan with parchment paper so I can lift out the fudge and cut it on a cutting board instead of in the pan.
Be careful not to overcook your fudge or it will become grainy.
To cut your fudge, it’s best to use a large chef knife. You can warm the knife by running it under warm water, then dry it off with a towel before slicing.

Storage

To Store: Store your fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To Freeze: This fudge can be frozen for 1-2 months if wrapped well. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use milk or dark chocolate instead of white chocolate?

While I have never made my coal fudge with milk or dark chocolate, you can use them for this recipe. Keep in mind that they will both yield a darker base so you will need less black food coloring. I prefer to use white chocolate so I maintain better control over the color.

How do I make sure my white chocolate doesn’t seize?

Don’t try heating up the white chocolate chips without the sweetened condensed milk. White chocolate seizes and burns very easily, so it must be mixed in with the sweetened condensed milk you heat it up.

Why do I have to stir the chocolate mixture so often?

If you don’t stir the chocolate mixture often, the middle of the chocolate will burn before the outside of the chocolate is melted. You will also end up with a grainy fudge because the crystals in the chocolate will separate.

Can I freeze fudge?

You can freeze the fudge for up to 2 months. Wrap the fudge in waxed paper first, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the wrapped fudge in a gallon-size ziplock bag. Allow the fudge to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

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