Key lime fudge! The deliciously sweet-tart flavor of key lime in every rich, creamy fudge square. Perfect for sharing or gift giving!
Welcome to my labor of love. Yes, these key lime fudge squares started as a mere twinkle in my eye and then quickly became a tedious endeavor! Let me explain.
As a Florida girl, key lime pie is automatically a part of your culture when you live here. Sweet, tart, creamy. All the best flavors in one pie. Now to bring those flavors into fudge… now that was a challenge! After some intense research through several Key West shops that sold key lime fudge, I tested this recipe about 5 times until I got the perfect key lime flavor in every bite. I’m so proud of this recipe!
Let me show you how I brought it to life.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Evaporated milk. The best milk to use for fudge. It’s the most stable and doesn’t curdle like regular milk.
- Granulated sugar + salt. I know it seems like a lot of sugar but this is what makes it so smooth!
- Large marshmallows. Because of its gelatin content, this is what helps bind everything together.
- White chocolate chips. Perfect flavor combo for key lime!
- Key lime juice. Sweet, tart juice – the star of the show! If you cant find key limes, you can use this bottled key lime juice.
- Lime zest. Gives this fudge so much lime flavor! You can use regular limes if you can’t find key limes. Make sure to not zest the white part (the pith) off the limes as this part has a very bitter taste.
How To Make Key Lime Fudge
- Read the entire recipe first. I highly recommend you measure out all the ingredients before you begin this process. Trust me, we’re going to move through this recipe quickly.
- Prepare your baking dish. We’re not baking anything in the oven but it’s best to use an 8×8 baking dish for this. I line the dish with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray. This will help remove them easily later. Set aside.
- Dissolve the sugar in the milk. In a saucepan, bring milk, sugar, and salt to a boil, while stirring constantly. Don’t walk away or it may burn. Cook for 5 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved, then remove from heat. Make sure it’s bubbling before removing it from the heat. That’s what’s going to help the chocolate and marshmallows melt.
- Stir like crazy! Add marshmallows, white chocolate chips, key lime juice, and lime zest. Stir constantly with a rubber spatula until the mixture is smooth. Yes, your arm will hurt from all the stirring. You will be stirring for a good 5-10 minutes but I promise, it will be worth it!
- Wait patiently for glorious key lime fudge. Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish and cool completely. Chill for 3 hours or overnight then slice into 1-inch squares. You can enjoy them immediately or box them for gifts!
Does the fudge need to be refrigerated?
Nope. The fudge can actually dry out if you refrigerate it for too long especially if you plan on enjoying it within the next week or two (7-14 days). If you do decide to store it in the fridge, make sure to wrap it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil then transfer it to an airtight container. It will last up to 3 weeks in the fridge.
Can you freeze key lime fudge?
You can! Make sure to wrap it in both plastic wrap and aluminum foil then in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out. The key lime fudge will last up to 3 months in the freezer without losing its quality.
Key Lime Fudge
Ingredients
- 5 ounces evaporated milk
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cup large marshmallows
- 2 1/4 cups white chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons key lime juice
- Zest from 8 key limes plus more for garnish or 4 regular limes
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. This will help remove them easily later. Set aside.
- Measure out all the ingredients before you begin this process. Trust me, we’re going to move through this recipe quickly.
- In a saucepan, bring milk, sugar, and salt to a boil, while stirring constantly. Don’t walk away or it may burn. Cook for 5 minutes, until the sugar is fully dissolved, then remove from heat. Make sure it’s bubbling before removing it from the heat. That’s what’s going to help the chocolate and marshmallows melt.
- Add marshmallows, white chocolate chips, key lime juice, and lime zest. Stir constantly with a rubber spatula until the mixture is smooth. Yes, your arm will hurt from all the stirring. You will probably stir for about 5-10 minutes. Promise, it will be worth it!
- Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish and cool completely. Chill for 3 hours or overnight. Slice into 1-inch squares. Enjoy!
Sylvia says
Easy to make and very tasty. I used the Nelli & Joe liquid key lime. My issue is that it was too soft, especially on the bottom when I cut into it. It would have made a better pie or bar with a graham crust.. Did I use too much marshmallow perhaps?