Chocolate Covered Cherries Fudge makes the perfect holiday treat. Taking chocolate-covered cherries and placing them in the center of every fudgy bite.
My grandma loves chocolate-covered cherries and she is what inspired this recipe. Every Christmas the kids and I take her a box and she always says, “These are my favorite.” We know grandma, how could I forget? Every Christmas she would have a couple of boxes in her kitchen and when I would ask or as I got older, if my kids would ask to have one she would say, “no, those are grandpas”. But we all really knew who they were for.
I love them as well but always wanted a bit more chocolate to balance out the cherry and amaretto filling. So after having that thought, fudge came to mind. I was going to go completely dark chocolate for this fudge, but to balance out the amaretto I went semi-sweet with just a dash of dark. It was the perfect balance.
This Christmas season I have been addicted to making fudge. And I am sure my children’s teachers love it, as they get all the leftovers. I have a piece and then let the family try and give the rest away because fudge is oh-so-good. And I want to be on my own nice list after the holiday break and not be angry at myself for being naughty.
So a batch of fudge a day, a piece a day and give the rest away seems to be the key to everything. I get to have my cake and eat it too, so to speak, yet able to spread yummy cheer with friends.
‘Tis the season for fudge my friend. Bake on and be merry!
XOXO San
How do you make Chocolate Covered Cherries Fudge Fudge?
Prepare an 8 or 9-inch square pan by lining it with two layers or foil and then gently spraying the foil with cooking spray or parchment paper, my favorite. You can just lightly grease the pan with cooking spray, but trust me the foil or parchment paper trick is so nice when lifting it from the pan.
Place 16 of the chocolate covered in the bottom of the prepared pan in 4×4 rows, see picture above for help.
In a large microwave-safe bowl add butter and heat for 1 1/2 minutes or until butter is completely melted.
Next, add sugar and half & half; stir until combined. Place in microwave and heat for 3 minutes. Then vigorously stir to combine, then cook another 2 minutes. Stir well while scraping down sides of bowl.
Return to microwave and cook for another 3 minutes. Stir once more and then heat another 2 1/2 minutes.
TIP you may want to set the large bowl on a plate in case it boils over while heating. This happens every time and the plate makes less of a mess for me to pick up.
Immediately remove from microwave, then add marshmallow creme and stir.
Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until smooth and well combined, no chunks. Immediately pour in prepared pan over chocolate covered cherries. Cut the remaining chocolate covered cherries in half and place on top of the fudge with center side up.
Tap the pan on the counter to work out the air bubbles. Cool completely until set. Use foil handles to lift fudge from pan before cutting into squares. I let mine set for 2-3 hours. Once cut into squares, trying to get the same 4×4 rolls that you laid out the chocolate covered cherries in so that they are in the center of the fudge. Don’t stress if it doesn’t happen that way, it will still taste amazing and look fantastic too.
How do you store fudge?
Store fudge in an airtight container once it’s cut into squares and set in fridge, or individually wrap each piece of fudge in waxed paper.
How long does Chocolate Covered Cherries Fudge last?
Fudge will last about 2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature.
If you keep the fudge in the fridge, this will extend the life for 3 to 4 weeks.
Fudge can also be frozen in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
If you like this Chocolate Covered Cherries Fudge, be sure to try my other favorite fudge recipes: Easy Red Velvet Fudge, White Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, Chocolate Pecan Fudge, Bailey’s Fudge, and 2-Ingredient Christmas Fudge.
Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to make later.
Chocolate Covered Cherries Fudge
Ingredients
- 3 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup butter
- 2/3 cup half & half
- 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup 60% cocoa chocolate chips
- 7 ounces marshmallow creme
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 20 chocolate covered cherries
Instructions
- Prepare an 8 or 9 inch square pan by lining it with two layers or foil and then gently spraying the foil with cooking spray or parchment paper, my favorite. You can just lightly grease the pan with cooking spray, but trust me the foil or parchment paper trick is so nice when lifting it from the pan.
- Place 16 of the chocolate covered in the bottom of the prepared pan in 4x4 rows, see picture above for help.
- In a large microwave safe bowl add butter and heat for 1 ½ minutes or until butter is completely melted.
- Next, add sugar and half & half; stir until combined. Place in microwave and heat for 3 minutes. Then vigorously stir to combine, then cook another 2 minutes. Stir well while scraping down sides of bowl.
- Return to microwave and cook for another 3 minutes. Stir once more and then heat another 2 ½ minutes.
- TIP you may want to set the large bowl on a plate in case it boils over while heating. This happens every time and the plate makes less of a mess for me to pick up.
- Immediately remove from microwave, then add marshmallow creme and stir.
- Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until smooth and well combined, no chunks. Immediately pour in prepared pan over chocolate covered cherries. Cut the remaining chocolate covered cherries in half and place on top of the fudge with center side up.
- Tap the pan on the counter to work out the air bubbles. Cool completely until set. Use foil handles to lift fudge from pan before cutting into squares. I let mine set for 2-3 hours. Once cut into squares, trying to get the same 4x4 rolls that you laid out the chocolate covered cherries in, so that they are in the center of the fudge. Don’t stress if it doesn’t happen that way, it will still taste amazing and look fantastic too.
- Store in an airtight container and set in fridge until ready to eat, serve or package up for friends and family.
Notes
Nutrition
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[…] are a few of my favorite fudge recipes currently on the blog: White Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, Chocolate Covered Cherry Fudge and of course, Dulce De Leche Fudge…all delicious and […]