CARAMEL AND VANILLA BAILEYS FUDGE RECIPE (2024)

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This boozed-up Baileys Fudge Recipe has the perfect balance of vanilla bean, white chocolate and Irish cream with a sweet caramel swirled in! This vanilla fudge is easy to prepare and turns out super creamy.

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CARAMEL AND VANILLA BAILEYS FUDGE RECIPE (1)

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Baileys Fudge Recipe With Caramel and Vanilla Bean

Today we’re about to multitask, and not the kind where you manage to work and keep up with the latest Grey Anatomy episode at the same time. I’m talking about the type of multitasking that involves snacking and boozing at the same time!

This amazingly soft and fluffy vanilla fudge recipe is everything you need in your life right now. Hints of pure vanilla bean, swirls of rich creamy caramel, and a touch of boozy Irish cream will send this recipe to the top of your to-do list!

Each bite gets better and better the more time you have to take in every component of this unique yet simple Baileys fudge recipe! It’s sure to be the talk of any party it’s served at!

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How To Make A Baileys Fudge Recipe

(full printable recipe at end of post)

Have you ever been that person too afraid to make fudge because you aren’t skilled enough in the kitchen? That was me once, scrolling through Pinterest drooling over all the fudge recipes, but too afraid to tackle one myself.

Well, let me tell you, that fear ends right now because guess what?! This vanilla fudge recipe is actually super simple!

Just combine sugar, butter, and heavy cream over medium heat. Then attach a candy thermometer and stir constantly cook until the thermometer reads the desired temperature. Lastly, you’ll remove the mixture from heat and add the white chocolate chips, vanilla, and marshmallow creme mixing until well combined.

CARAMEL AND VANILLA BAILEYS FUDGE RECIPE (3)

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Can I Make This Recipe Without The Alcohol?

Of course! Making this vanilla fudge into a recipe the whole family can enjoy is easy as pie! For a nonalcoholic version, substitute Baileys Irish Cream for an Irish Cream flavored coffee creamer.

Swapping the regular coffee creamer will not change the consistency or overall flavor of the fudge, so feel free to substitute, worry-free!

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Customize Your Baileys Fudge Recipe

When it comes to fudge recipes there are always a million different ways to switch them up making it your own. While I absolutely love all the flavors in this Baileys fudge recipe, there are never too many ways to make one dessert, so here are a few of my favorite customizations.

Swap out the vanilla for chocolate. If you’re more of a chocolate fan than vanilla fudge or you want to have both options available, then just swap out the white chocolate chips, for milk or dark chocolate chips, depending on your preference.

Make your own caramel sauce. Make this a completely from scratch authentic fudge and try making your own caramel sauce. For one of my favorite caramel recipes, head over to this Carmelitas post and find the full directions!

Try a flavored Irish cream.The easiest way to switch up this recipe and make it new is to try adding different flavored Irish creams like espresso cream, salted caramel, and vanilla cinnamon.

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Tips For Making Fudge Like the Pros

Test the Temperature.The temperature of the fudge is very important if you want it to set correctly, so it’s important to frequently check the temperature while it cooks. The easiest way to do that is what a candy thermometer. If you don’t have one here’s a great resource for how to check your candy without a thermometer.

Swirl the caramel.For a look that makes it seem like fudge straight out of your favorite bake shop, grab a butter knife and carefully swirl the caramel making a marbled effect. It’s the easiest way to achieve a professional look without a lot of effort!

Freeze it or refrigerate it. This fudge can be cooled in the fridge without any ill effects. It also freezes well, if you want to make it ahead. You can keep the fudge in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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How To Serve A Baileys Fudge Recipe?

A quick way to turn this fudge recipe into a cute party treat is to use a fun fudge mold. Whether it’s the holiday season, St.Patrick’s Day, or just your average birthday party theme shaped desserts are what you need to pull everything together!

To use a fudge mold just follow the instructions listed below, but swap the 9×9 in pan for a fudge mold, and pour equal parts into each mold.

Another great use for a fudge recipe is to give it as a gift! Put a few squares in a basket with some other goodies, or make it into a fudge wreath for the cutest and most delicious gift anyone will receive all season.

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Don’t Miss Out On More Irish Cream Recipes!

Irish Cream Cupcakes With Chocolate And Caramel Filling Filled with a chocolate caramel ganache surprise. Taken up one more notch with a rich buttercream spikedwith a dose of Baileys Irish Cream on top.

Irish Cream Cheesecake Parfaits Made with a Baileys infused chocolate and mixed with cream cheese and whipped cream. The texture is perfectly light and airy for this no-bake cheesecake!

Dark Chocolate Bread PuddingKing’s Hawaiian bread soaked in a rich dark chocolate custard topped withmore chocolate before being baked, served warm with raspberry sauce and Baileys whipped cream for a simple yet elegant dessert!

Irish Cream Pie co*cktail This easy drink recipe combines Irish Cream, coffee, vodka, and milk and tastes like an Irish Cream Pie…with a shortbread cookie rim!

Peppermint Pattie Iced CoffeeEnjoy the flavor of cool peppermint and smooth dark chocolate of a peppermint pattie in a refreshing iced coffee! A simple recipe using peppermint creamer.

Irish Cream Coffee BarsA luxurious treat to bake this March, or any time of year in my opinion. When you bite into this decadent dessert your teeth sink through, not one, but two layers of robust sugary bliss.

Like thisBaileys Fudge Recipe? Pin It!

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You know what they say, you miss 100% of the fudge recipes you don’t make! So with that being said, don’t miss your shot at enjoying the most amazing treat you’ve had in a long time! I can’t wait to hear how much you love it!

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Originally posted in October 2018. UPDATED Novemnber 2021. We spiffed up this post with more info and better pictures! No changes to the original recipe.

CARAMEL AND VANILLA BAILEYS FUDGE RECIPE (10)

Baileys Fudge Recipe

Yield: about 64 pieces

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Additional Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This boozed up Baileys Fudge Recipe has the perfect balance of vanilla bean and Irish cream with a sweet caramel swirled in! This vanilla fudge is easy to prepare and turns out super creamy.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Baileys Irish Cream
  • 2 cups white chocolatechips (I like Ghirardelli)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (you could also scrape 1/2 vanilla bean or 1½ teaspoon ofvanilla extract)
  • 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
  • 10 ouncesDulce de Leche (orcaramel sweetened condensed milk)

Instructions

  1. Line a 9-inch square pan with foil and lightly coat with nonstick spray.
  2. Using a medium saucepan, combine sugar, butter, heavy cream and Baileys. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling reduce heat to a little more than medium-low, attach a candy thermometer and stirring constantly cook for 7-10 minutes until thermometer reads 235° F (or soft-ball stage if using the cold water test)
  3. Remove from heat and add the white chocolate chips, stirring quickly with a wooden spoon or spatula until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Add vanilla and marshmallow creme and mix until well combined.
  4. Pour mixture into prepared pan and set aside on a wire rack.
  5. In a medium-small glass bowl, heat Dulce de Leche in the microwave to 15-20 seconds to soften.Drop dollops of softened Dulce de Leche around the top of warm fudge and swirl through with a butter knife for a marbled effect.
  6. Allow fudge to cool on wire rack until room temperature. Stored in an airtight container or wrapped, at room temperature, or in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Notes

  • This fudge can be cooled in the fridge without any ill effects.It also freezes well, if you want to make it ahead. For a nonalcoholic version, substitute the Baileys Irish Cream for an Irish Cream flavored coffee creamer.
  • adapted from imbibemagazine
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 64Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 90Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 11mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 12gProtein: 1g

Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used.

Did you make this recipe?

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CARAMEL AND VANILLA BAILEYS FUDGE RECIPE (11)

Related Posts:

  • Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe With Buttermilk
  • Creamy Bailey's Irish Coffee co*cktail
  • Baileys Martini with a Vanilla Twist
CARAMEL AND VANILLA BAILEYS FUDGE RECIPE (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to perfect fudge? ›

Valuable tips for successful fudge
  • Don't stir during cooking. Fudge can be cooked on the stove or in the microwave. ...
  • Avoid crystallization. During cooking, sugar crystals can stick to the sides of the pan. ...
  • Let cool before beating. After being cooked, the sugar must crystallize again to create fudge. ...
  • Beat the mixture.

Why is my 3 ingredient fudge not setting? ›

Why won't my 3 ingredient fudge set? This often happens when the condensed milk and chocolate chip mixture isn't hot enough to start. Everything must be completely melted before it is transferred to the pan to cool.

Why is my Baileys fudge not setting? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

How much alcohol is in Baileys fudge? ›

Once devoured our beautifully embossed tins are a great keepsake. Baileys (1%)(milk), Flavourings (contains E150B), sea salt (0.4%), salt. Allergen Advice : For Allergens, see ingredients in bold.

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.

Should you stir fudge while it's cooking? ›

Don't stir!

Once the fudge reaches soft-ball stage on the candy thermometer, remove from the heat and let the temperature drop to 110°F. Keep that spoon or spatula out of the pot until this happens. If you stir too early in the process, you'll make the sugar crystals too big and end up with grainy fudge.

Why did my caramel fudge not set? ›

Fudge Didn't Set

If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).

How to make fudge thicker? ›

If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream. Stir the fudge as it heats, but only until the sugar in the chocolate is completely melted again.

Can you reboil fudge that hasn't set? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

How to make fudge more solid? ›

there is too much leftover water in the syrup and the resulting fudge is soft. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 15 to 30 ml (1 or 2 tbsp.) of 35% cream and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely melted. Then let it boil until the thermometer reaches 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

How to tell if fudge is ready without a thermometer? ›

To test the boiling mixture for doneness, drop a bit of it into a bowl of cold water. If it forms a ball that is soft enough to flatten between your fingers, the mixture is ready for cooling. When the fudge cools to 110 degrees F/43 degrees C, beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until it's no longer glossy.

What is the best temperature to cook fudge? ›

Add the butter, chocolate, salt, and vanilla and bring the temperature up to 235ºF. Remove from heat. Once the mixture has cooled to 110ºF, mix it with a wooden spoon until it loses the majority of its sheen. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and let it cool fully before slicing.

Can children eat bailey's fudge? ›

The alcohol content in the fudge is not cooked off, so this is an adult treat! The Bailey's flavor is really prominent in the fudge, but not overwhelming. It's a smooth, Irish cream flavored treat.

Can you freeze Baileys in the fridge? ›

Simply Called Food doesn't recommend freezing Baileys because it will make it hard to pour. If placed in the freezer, the alcohol in the Baileys will not freeze, but the cream will. So go ahead and open a bottle of Baileys and enjoy now and later.

How strong is Baileys compared to vodka? ›

Baileys Irish Cream tastes sweet and milky, with notes of vanilla and chocolate, the fruitiness of Irish whiskey on the finish. How much alcohol is in Baileys? It is 17% ABV (alcohol by volume), so it is relatively low in alcohol. Compare it to 40% ABV for spirits like whiskey, rum, vodka and gin.

What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›

Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

Why hasn't my fudge set properly? ›

The most common culprit behind unset fudge is inaccurate temperature control. If the sugar mixture hasn't reached the correct temperature, your fudge won't set. Ensure you use a reliable candy thermometer and follow temperature guidelines meticulously to achieve the desired consistency.

How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›

How long does it take to make fudge:
  1. about 18 min to reach boiling.
  2. about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
  3. 60 minutes to cool.
  4. 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
  5. 4 hours to set.

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