This Key Lime Fudge recipe has turned out to be a very popular fudge recipe. It’s sweet and delicious, and it has that tangy taste of lime that we love so much in key lime pie! Watch the short how-to video showing you how to make this fudge, and then you can scroll to the bottom of this post and print out the recipe so you can make it at home.
Key Lime Fudge
It’s not a typical fudge flavor at all. In fact, it’s not even chocolate! There’s white chocolate in the recipe, but we all know that’s not really chocolate. The white chocolate acts as a vessel for containing an amazing sweet lime flavor. If you’re a lime lover, then this fudge recipe is for you.
Key Lime Fudge is a nice fudge to make during the holiday season to place on holiday treat platters or for gifting to friends and neighbors. I think people like to see and sample something that is a little different. This is definitely different than your typical fudge recipe.
What are Key Limes?
Key limes get their name from the Florida Keys, where Key Lime Pies are abundant! They have a stronger scent and a thinner rind than the typical lime. The flavor is more tart and bitter.
Have you ever picked up a bag of key limes? They’re awfully cute. They’re tiny little things. You’ve gotta squeeze the heck out of them to get every bit of their juice, but it’s all worth it.
These limes present themselves nicely in sweet treats (like key lime pie!) since the sugar balances out that tart flavor and highlights the unique flavor of the key lime. I love them! And if you love them too, then you must try my Key Lime Pie Ice Cream!
How do you make Key Lime Fudge?
Evaporated milk, sugar and salt are heated together in a saucepan and boiled for 8 minutes. Once that mixture has boiled for several minutes, it’ll be piping hot. At that point, you’ll pull the pan off the stove and stir in marshmallows, white chocolate, lime zest and lime juice. All should melt nicely, and then you’ll scrape the fudge mixture into a pan to cool. Once cooled, it’s ready to be cut into squares and eaten!
Can you use regular limes to make Key Lime Fudge?
You can most certainly use regular limes for this fudge. They might give the fudge a slightly sweeter flavor, but all will still be good. Don’t skimp on the lime zest in this recipe since it gives the fudge a fabulous green tint, and it adds a good amount of lime flavor to the recipe too. Oh, and if you want to make the whole process of making this Key Lime Fudge a zillion times easier, then just buy Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice in your market’s juice section. It’ll work just fine for this recipe!
So if you’re wishing for a little “spring” in your life and it hasn’t quite arrived yet, treat yourself to some Key Lime Fudge instead. Or surprise gift your friends for the holidays with a little Key Lime Fudge!
If you’re as obsessed with lime as I am, you might also enjoy my Iced Lemon Lime Cookies or this Lime- Coconut Buttermilk Pie. Lime Sugar Cookies, Chicken with Lime Butter and Super Easy Lime Bars are delicious lime recipes too!
Key Lime Fudge
Ingredients
- One 5-ounce can 2% evaporated milk
- 1⅔ cups granulated white sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 large marshmallows, quartered
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- ¼ cup grated lime zest (about 5 limes)
- 2 tablespoons key lime juice (5 to 7 limes, juiced)
Instructions
- Line an 8" x 8" square pan with aluminum foil; grease the foil with butter. It's not a good recipe for a 9-inch square pan as the fudge will be too thin.
- Combine the milk, sugar and salt in a large heavy saucepan (or better yet... a double boiler) over medium heat. Stir and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and boil for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring constantly at a boil (if you have a candy thermometer, you can bring it to the soft-ball-stage, but I don't use one). Remove the pan from heat. Add the marshmallows, chocolate, zest and juice, and stir until the marshmallows and chocolate are melted and the mixture is smooth. Scrape the fudge into the prepared pan. Tip the pan to make sure the fudge covers the bottom evenly. Cool completely, then cut into 1-inch squares.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
One 5-ounce can evaporated milk (2% or whole) So can I use regular milk and not canned? I feel funny about asking but unsure as you have (2% or whole).
no- you definitely need to use evaporated milk… either the whole or the 2%.
Evaporated milk is more heat tolerant than milk. You will find that it will cook better.
How long should it take for the fudge to set? I made these last night around 8pm and this morning it’s still soft. Did I not heat the condensed milk to a high enough temperature?
Thanks!
Texture problems usually have something to do with temperature- perhaps wasn’t quite there yet, as you mentioned.
What is the shelflife of the fudge? Must it be refridgerated?
No need to refrigerate. Just keep it in a tightly covered container.
I use Nellie and Joe’s Key West Lime Juice instead of juicing any limes.
It is delicious!
I made this wonderfully delicious Key Lime Fudge for a St. Patrick’s Day potluck at work. I followed the recipe exactly and it was wonderful! I took home an empty pan and was given high fives by all my co-workers! As always, Lori, thank you for sharing this scrumptious fudge recipe with all of us bakers!
Wow, this looks amazing! I bet your book is sooo awesome. Great recipe, thanks for sharing!
I love key lime pie – I bet the key lime flavor would be AWESOME in fudge!!
These bars look fantastic! We love anything key lime, especially my husband, so I will be adding this recipe to my list. Thanks for sharing.
I love key lime pie, and fudge. These sound like the perfect melding of both, and my gosh, they’re gorgeous. Going to have to make these! Thanks for sharing.
In my former life (pre-summer 2013) I liked nothing key lime! Since that is no longer the case..I’m gonna talk my daughter into making me some of this yummy looking fudge! 🙂