Five Minute Fudge Wreath

Five Minute Fudge Wreath is a super easy delicious fudge that has become a holiday tradition in our family. Quick, easy, and perfect for gifting it’s a festive treat that spreads joy and sweetness.

While we really love Grandma’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge and boozy Bailey’s Fudge recipe…..this five-minute fudge wreath is something friends and family ask for every year!

Why Everyone Loves This Five-Minute Fudge Wreath

Spread joy this season with a Five-Minute Fudge Wreath – not only is it a delicious treat, but it’s also the perfect handmade gift! Crafted with love and simplicity, this festive creation adds a personal touch to your holiday gifting.

• Quick and Easy: Ready in just five minutes, this fudge wreath is a breeze to whip up, making it perfect for last-minute sweet cravings or unexpected guests.
• Festive and Fun: Shaped like a wreath, it adds a touch of holiday cheer to your table, making it an ideal treat for festive gatherings or as a delightful homemade gift.
• Versatile Ingredients: Simple pantry staples allow you to experiment with flavors and toppings, creating a fudge wreath that suits your taste buds and makes for a unique and delicious treat.
• Irresistibly Delicious: The combination of rich chocolate and smooth fudge texture makes every bite a decadent delight that will satisfy any sweet tooth.
• Perfect for Gifting: Share the joy of the season by gifting this delightful fudge wreath – a sweet and thoughtful present for friends, family, or colleagues.

I first saw this Five Minute Fudge Wreath on the Rachel Ray Show several years ago, and every year we make several to give away!

What You Need

Elevate your Five-Minute Fudge Wreath by infusing it with your favorite flavors! Swap out traditional chocolate chips for white chocolate, butterscotch, or mint chips, and experiment with toppings like crushed nuts, colorful sprinkles, or dried fruits. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to tailor this festive treat to your unique taste preferences.

For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• chocolate morsels – any flavor or flavor combo you like! We usually use 1 whole bag of chocolate chips and 3/4 of a bag of peanut butter morsels.
• sweetened condensed milk
• vanilla extract
• Red and Green Candied Cherries – you can usually find these in the baking aisle during the holiday season.

How To Make A Fudge Wreath

Get ready for some tasty fun! Making our Five-Minute Fudge Wreath is super easy. Just grab a medium-sized heavy bottom pot, an 8 or 9-inch round cake pan, plastic wrap, cooking spray, and your ingredients, and let’s get started! It’s like magic—delicious magic!

(full printable directions at the end of this post)

STEP 1: Place chocolate and peanut butter morsels and milk in a heavy pot and stir until the morsels are melted and the milk is combined.

Be sure to save the empty condensed milk can!

STEP 2: Line a round cake pan with plastic wrap, and give it a light coat of cooking spray.  Cover the empty milk can with plastic wrap and place it in the center of the cake pan.

STEP 3: Spoon fudge into the pan around the can, making sure to center the can if it drifts.  The fudge will start to set, so quickly garnish with “holly” made from cut candies (have them cut ahead of time).  You could also sprinkle red or green sugar over the fudge as well.

STEP 4: Chill covered in the refrigerator. (I just cover it with more plastic wrap)

After the fudge wreath is fully set, remove it from the pan, discard the empty can and plastic wrap, and place the Five-Minute Fudge Wreath on a pretty holiday plate or platter.

Storing Five-Minute Fudge

Store covered in an airtight container in a cool room for up to 2 weeks. I do not recommend storing it in the refrigerator, because it tends to dry it out.

However, you can freeze the five-minute fudge for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

Serve at room temperature.

Don’t be surprised if you make this fudge wreath and discover you have way more friends than you used to! Be sure to make a batch for yourself!

Fudge Wreath Flavor Variations

• Replace the candied cherries with another red and green candy, such as Dots or M&M’s (they are just an optional garnish). Or just garnish with red and green Christmas confetti or holiday sprinkles.
• Add nuts, raisins, or currants.  NOTE:  when I’m giving a five-minute fudge wreath as a gift, I leave these out, unless I know the recipient doesn’t have allergies to them.
• We’ve made other flavors, by replacing the peanut butter chips with mint or butterscotch chips.
• Want to booze it up?  replace the vanilla extract with Jack Daniels Whiskey!
• The possibilities are really endless. You can use any flavor or flavor combination of chips you want!

Recipe Tips

• Quality Ingredients: For the best results, use high-quality chocolate and butterscotch chips.
• Repurpose the Milk Can: Keep the milk can handy to shape your fudge into a wreath for a festive touch.
• Caution With Butterscotch: If using butterscotch chips, be aware they don’t melt as easily as chocolate, so give them a gentle smash at the end for a smoother texture.
• Decorate Promptly: Add your garnish swiftly as the fudge begins to set shortly after being added to the pan.
• Storage Tips: Keep the fudge in a cooler room for up to two weeks; avoid refrigeration as it may dry out the fudge. You can, however, freeze the five-minute fuge for up to three months.

How To Gift Wrap A Fudge Wreath

This is a perfect Holiday Gift for your neighbors, friends and co-workers.  I promise that whoever you give this to will love you forever!

If you want to give a fudge wreath as a gift, place the fudge on a holiday tray and cover it with holiday cellophane.  Then tie it up with a pretty wired ribbon and ornament or pin.

One year I tied on the Poinsettia pins I made.

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Originally posted in Dec 2011. UPDATED November 2023. We spiffed up this post with more information, no changes were made to the recipe.