This Instant Pot fudge recipe is just what you need if you are looking for last minute gifting ideas. With just three ingredients and 20 minutes of hands on cooking time, this fudge is worth all the hype. This post is also a step by step guide on how to use the Instant Pot as a double boiler.

Can anyone ever say no to chocolate? It is one of those things that can instantly cheer you up and this chocolatey treat is no exception.

You should make some fudge because

it has only three ingredients.
we just have to spend 20 minutes to make this decadent treat.
this is a vegetarian friendly dessert.
you can make this in multiple batches with minimal effort.
it is easily customizable.

Jump to:

Ingredients
How to use Instant Pot as a double boiler?
Variations
Shelf life and storage
Recipe Notes
Method
Instant Pot Fudge
More Chocolate, anyone?

Ingredients

Like I mentioned before, you just need 3 ingredients for this recipe.

Chocolate

I have used dark chocolate with 70% cocoa in it. Dark chocolate works perfectly for this recipe since we will be using condensed milk. The condensed milk mellows down the cocoa a bit and the end result is a rich milk chocolate style fudge.

Condensed milk

We will need one can of sweetened condensed milk for this recipe. Please do not use refrigerated condensed milk.

Nuts

Since I wanted to replicate Ferrero Rocher in terms of taste, I went with hazelnuts and walnuts for this recipe. Peeled hazelnuts are the best. You can also use almonds or pecans instead of hazelnuts and walnuts in this recipe.

How to use Instant Pot as a double boiler?

One of the reasons why I love the Instant Pot so much is that it is an appliance that works in multiple avatars. For instance, the stovetop Bain Marie method is so complicated. This is even more so for beginners who have no beforehand experience. But the Instant Pot makes it so easy.

To use the Instant Pot as a double boiler, you will need

6 quart or a 3 quart Instant Pot

Both these work well for melting chocolate or for any other recipe that calls for double boiling. Add 1.5 cups water to the inner pot, place it into the Instant Pot and set it to SAUTE MODE- HIGH for 8 MINUTES.

A large mixing bowl that can sit snugly over the pot

This is the most important thing. I recommend using a stainless steel or a tempered glass bowl for this purpose. And your bowl has to sit snugly inside the pot.

If your bowl does not fit properly into or over the pot, the steam that escapes will cause your chocolate to seize. When chocolate seizes, it will not get tempered.

In this recipe, I have used a 6 quart Instant Pot and a large tempered glass mixing bowl from Ikea. My bowl has a diameter of 26 cm and is 13 cm in height.

If you are a beginner and not confident about handling glass equipment well, I recommend using food grade stainless steel mixing bowls.

Variations

You can use this recipe as a base recipe and add your own touches to it. Here are some suggestions.

Make this nut free. Skip all the nuts and just use only chocolate and condensed milk to make good old fashioned fudge.
Use dried fruit like cranberries, figs and sultanas along with the nuts. The chewy fruit is a welcome addition in terms of texture and taste. You will need 1/2 cup dried fruit and 1 cup toasted nuts if you are going to use this combination.
Add some candied orange peel. The end result is a robust citrussy fudge that is not just delicious but something tastes like gourmet stuff.
Sprinkle some sea salt before setting the fudge. This elevates the fudge to another level of yum.
You can also add a splash of vanilla before adding the toasted and crushed nuts.

Shelf life and storage

This fudge keeps well in the refrigerator for 10 days. Place the cut squares in an air tight covered box. To prevent them from sticking to each other, separate each square with a small piece of parchment paper.

Recipe Notes

I have used a 20 cm by 20 cm square baking pan for setting my fudge. This recipe yields 16 squares. You can also cut them into smaller pieces based on your preference.
Make sure that the chocolate does not come into contact with moisture or water or steam while you melt it. Chocolate and water are enemies. Even a drop of water will make your chocolate seize. This in turn will affect the texture and the taste of the fudge.
You can use Hershey’s semi-sweet dark chocolate baking chips or Ghirardelli chocolate chips for this recipe. This is just a recommendation and this is not a sponsored post.
If you are using chocolate bar, then chop it into small pieces that are evenly sized. This also takes a bit longer than small chocolate chips to melt.
Prep the baking pan with a parchment paper as the first step before you begin melting the chocolate.
If you prefer thicker squares, you can also use a standard loaf pan that is 8.5 inches by 4.5 inches in dimensions. Line this with parchment paper and proceed with the recipe.
Toasting the nuts adds depth and flavor to the fudge. They also become crunchy. I highly recommend toasting hazelnuts because the flavor is incredible. If you are using almonds, you can skip this step. But for every other nut, I recommend toasting them.
Use an air fryer or the microwave to toast your nuts in a jiffy. For this recipe, I took the air fryer route to toast my hazelnuts and walnuts.
This fudge needs a setting time of at least 2.5 hours in the fridge for best results.

Method

Toast the nuts

Place the hazelnuts and walnuts in the Air fryer. Toast at 180C for 2 minutes. When done, remove and let it cool. After the nuts are cool, place them in a Ziploc bag and lightly crush the nuts using a rolling pin. Alternatively, place the toasted nuts in a coffee grinder and pulse once or twice.

Prepping the Instant Pot for double boiling

While the nuts cool down, add the water to the Instant pot and allow it to heat up. Also, line a 20 cm by 20 cm square baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Place the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add 1.5 cups water to the inner pot. Plug in the Instant Pot and select SAUTE MODE- NORMAL- 15 Minutes. Wait for the water to begin boiling.

Melting chocolate

When you see tiny bubbles and steam rising from the water, place a bowl that fits snugly on the inner pot. Add the chocolate chips and keep stirring it until it has melted half way through. This takes 2 to 3 minutes.

When the chips are melted half way through, add the condensed milk and stir well to combine. Keep stirring until the chocolate looks glossy and shiny. This takes 3 minutes.

Adding the nuts

When the chocolate mixture is all glossy, add the crushed nuts and mix well. Continue to cook the mixture for 1 minute after incorporating the crushed nuts with the chocolate mixture thoroughly.

Setting the fudge

Pour the mixture into the lined baking pan. Close it with another parchment sheet. Gently even out the surface with a flat based ramekin or a ladle. Place this in the fridge. Now, wait for at least 2.5 hours for the fudge to set fully.

Slicing the fudge

When the fudge has set well, uncover the fudge and slice them into squares.

chocolate fudge stacked over a piece of parchment paper placed on a rustic metal tray. Christmas ornaments placed at the back. Fairy lights not in focus.

Print Recipe

4.50 from 2 votes

Instant Pot Fudge

Quick and easy fudge rich with nuts. Takes less than 20 minutes of active cooking time and can be made in batches with minimal effort.

Prep Time6

Cook Time10

Chilling Time2 30

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, International

Servings: pieces

Calories: 279kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot 6 qt
Mixing bowl
Spatula
20 cm by 20 cm square baking tin
Parchment paper
Paring knife

Ingredients

1.5 cups water
12 oz dark chocolate chips 342g by weight
5 oz hazelnuts
2.5 oz walnuts
14 oz sweetened condensed milk