White Chocolate Peanut, Pretzel, & Chocolate Chip Fudge
What do you do with those little bags of peanuts and pretzels from the airlines that you don’t actually eat on the flight because you brought homemade Vanilla Eggnog Donuts with instead?
Oh, that’s easy.
You make this no-bake and microwave-friendly white chocolate fudge because it would be too easy to just eat them, as is.
May as well create a baking project and re-invent the wheel whenever possible. That’s how my brain works.
Plus peanuts and pretzels taste much better when they’re coated in a pound of white chocolate and cream cheese, give or take.
You don’t have to add pretzels or peanuts to this so-creamy-it’s-almost-like-cream-cheese-frosting white chocolate fudge, but if you like salty ‘n sweet combos, then I recommend it.
And if you just like sweets with your sweets, or you don’t happen to have any spare (stale) peanuts ‘n pretzels laying around, feel free to omit them.
The fudge is so rich, so creamy, and so decadent on its own that it doesn’t ‘need’ any add-in’s, but I figured they couldn’t hurt.
And I also threw some chocolate chips in, too.
Because everything is better with dark chocolate.
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White Chocolate Peanut, Pretzel, & Chocolate Chip Fudge (No-Bake, Microwave-able)
8 oz cream cheese, softened (I used Philadelphia Whipped cream cheese, softened to room temperature)
4 c powdered/confectioner’s sugar
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
10 oz white chocolate chips (this is 1 bag of white chocolate chips from Trader Joe’s but if you have a 12 or 15 ounce bag, feel free to use it all)
Add-Ins: all are optional and to desired taste/quantity (add more or none of any)
1/3 c pretzels, crushed
1/3 c peanuts, crushed
1/2 c chocolate chips
Optional: Butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, other nuts, seeds, dried fruit such as dried cranberries or dried apricots, peppermint candy bits, toffee bits, etc. Use what you have on hand and prefer.
Directions:
Prepare an 8 x 8 or similar-sized baking pan by lining it with foil and lightly spraying with cooking spray. Or, use parchment paper. Set pan aside.
In a large bowl combine softened cream cheese and powdered sugar and stir until combine (I did this by hand but use a mixer if you prefer). Then, add the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips, taking care not to burn them. (Microwave for no more than 20-30 seconds at a time, removing from heat, stirring vigorously; repeating as necessary. My chips were softened enough after the first 30 second burst and some vigorous stirring to melt fully)
Add the melted white chocolate mixture to the cream cheese/powdered sugar/vanilla mixture and stir to combine.
Add the remaining ingredients, all the ‘add-in’s', folding them in until dispersed and combined.
Pour mixture into prepared pan and chill in the freezer for at least one hour before slicing and serving.
Slice into fairly small cubes (these are very rich). Store extras in the freezer. Use common sense but this will keep for weeks or month(s) in the freezer. It could be the Caribbean heat but even in the freezer, this does not freeze completely solid for me, even after a few days. I believe the cream cheese prevents it.
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This fudge is serious business.
As in, I am normally able to put away a pretty serious quantity of desserts that are deemed “too sweet “or “too rich” by many.
But this stuff definitely gives me a run for my money. It’s that rich.
It’s almost like eating frosting so if you don’t love frosting, I wouldn’t recommend this recipe.
But for those of you who love a little cake with your frosting, this stuff is right up your alley and I’d suspect will be a hit at the next holiday party, baby or bridal shower, or girls-night-in party you’re throwing.
You may want to make this for an event rather than just for yourself.
Then again, that’s what the freezer is for: to store a wide variety of desserts for that rainy day…
…For that rainy day that you get hit with the craving for something sweet with just a wee bit of salty…
…And for that rainy you’re PMS’ing
…Or for that random rainy day when you just need a little pick me up. Just because.
Well, this is your rainy day right here.
Do you like fudge? Any favorite recipes?
There are so many ways to make fudge. With or without cream cheese, with or without sweetened condensed milk or sugar, on the stovetop or not, in the microwave or not, with or without a candy thermometer, boiling the mixture or not, and it goes on and on.
For as many things you can add or not add to fudge, it seems there’s a different recipe to try.
I am a fan of: easy, microwave-friendly, two bowls, minimal cleanup, with decadent results. <— Those are my goals for all desserts though, not just fudge.
If you’re a fudge fan and looking to gain 10 pounds over the holiday season and looking to do a little more holiday (un)baking, may I suggest:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge (5 minute, microwave-friendly, no-bake)
Raw Vegan Girl Scout “Thin Mint”-Inspired Fudge
Vegan Fudge (10 Minutes, no bake, gluten/soy/tree-nut free)
White Chocolate Cookies & Cream Fudge (with Oreo Cookies, no-bake, decadent)
Yum! This has all of my favorites :) White chocolate, pretzels, peanuts, and chocolate chips :)
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 5th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Thanks, Amanda! Wish I could have sampled that sundae with you from your last post :)
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Mmmm I love salty sweet combos! I haven’t had fudge in awhile, but I love it! Dunno about having a favourite flavour…I’ll take ‘em all. I don’t discriminate ;)
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Oh what a perfect combo of sweet/salty! I’m going to have to try this!
Also, I love the light in these pictures, it’s just beautiful.
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 5:31 am
Ironically I hated the light when I was working with it…white fudge, white backdrop, shooting in an unfamiliar way….but after I saw them on my computer and a little editing, I was like..okay, I guess it’s not awful but white food is just hard to shoot I’ve determined!
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“this fudge is serious business” ha! Love the looks of this, and how you used left over airplane snacks because you were eating delicious donuts instead!
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This sounds so freaking yummy. I am sooo looking forward to trying this.
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I love that you embrace white chocolate in your recipes :D So many forget to acknowledge the deliciousness of it!
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 5:28 am
That’s what I say…it needs to have more recognition!
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Oh yes I love fudge! My mother in law used to make this awesome sucre a creme, a French Canadian delicacy. Since she passed away, none of us have successfully made it, but I am going to try this year. I think it will be nice to have something of hers. Plus it’s super duper sweet and I can’t argue with that :)
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Very fun recipe, the name says it all literally! Did you bring that background board all the way to Aruba?! That’s dedication, love it! I’m a bite of fudge kind of gal, I can’t handle much or my jaw aches like crazy from the sweet lol! Hope the sun has popped out for you finally.
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 5:28 am
Yes I did bring it down. What can I say…dedication.
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My new favorite peanut butter fudge: equal parts peanut flour and confectionary sugar with just enough unsweetened almond milk to roll into balls. Stick in fridge/freezer = done! So easy and so good! I really detest the taste of butter (even vegan butter) so this is perfect for me but might not be rich enough for some people.
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 5:27 am
I make PB balls with PB and protein powder and/or peanut flour
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2010/04/no-bake-vegan-peanut-butter-chocolate.html
But just starting with peanut flour and the sugar/almond milk is another fun starting place….thanks for the idea.
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I still have peanuts in my purse from my flight over the weekend. DONE.
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 5:26 am
May as well put that cardboard to a more proper use, i mean those airline pretzels :)
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Those are so pretty, they would make good gifts!
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Actually not a big fan of fudge but mostly b/c it’s usually chocolate. Now this…this is one I could handle. I think it’d make perfect holiday treats for parties or to give away in tins.
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 5:29 am
which is exactly what my neighbor down here is getting…a tin of this!
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Just….yum. I love those yougrt covered pretzels so much, and this is kind of like those. But in a much prettier package.
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 6:36 am
omg that is the PERFECT description of what this fudge tastes like..the candied part of a white choc/yogurt pretzel but in a more chewy rather than “crunchy” form…yes!
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Yum. Just Yum!
Brooke
http://www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
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Ooooh cream cheese in fudge! Great idea – thanks for the recipe!
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Mmmm….I’m all about white chocolate treats :-) These look great– and EASY!!
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oh my gosh!
those look DELISH!
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 8:16 am
that bark/toffee amazing-ness that you have on your site right now is what I really!! want!
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I love no bake recipes! They usually make it from bowl to mouth much faster… And that’s a BIG plus in my book. Great recipe + beautiful shots, like always :)
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 8:15 am
thanks, Heather!
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This is going on my list of stuff to bring with me for the holidays. Danke, Also, I shrunk your eggnog donut recipe and made it a microwave mug cake. I may or may not have topped it with a smallish scoop of eggnog ice cream and may or may not have added bourbon. I may or may not have eaten it so fast as to give myself a stomach ache.
the pain was worth it.
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 8:29 am
sorry about the tummy ache…but sounds like it was so well worth it..nog ice cream with bourbon. swoon.
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OMG this look amazing!!! Beautiful pictures!
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Those who “love a little cake with their frosting” – that’d be me! Obviously I would love this fudge. I’m all about rich desserts, particularly fudge! Yum!
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 8:28 am
glad you caught that line..it’s so me, too :)
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Holy @#$%^&* yes.
That’s all I have to say.
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 10:46 am
I heart you.
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Wow, I just found your blog and I love it!!!!!! Due to health reasons I just started getting into yoga this year. I lOVE it. So happy to have found your blog. Your photography is beautiful!
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 6th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Thanks Jen for the kind words and for finding me!
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This is so pretty! I hardly have/make fudge…! I should change that….I always like the mint chocolate kind :)
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“too rich” “too sweet” Do that even exist!? Not in my world. This looks fantastic!
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Now you’ve got me wondering if these would work with non-dairy cream cheese…haha! Something tells me they might not turn out, but chances are good I would still try ;)
Love the photos!!
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Yum! These look amazingly good!
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These little morsels look divine!
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Those look so good! I love your white on white pictures, they’re beautiful!
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Fabulous recipe, very creative and great pics! I’m a huge fudge fan, mostly raw vegan stuff now. It’s such a holiday staple.
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I love the addition of pretzels in these. Something about pretzels in sweets just gets me! Love it.
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Wow! All my favorite ingredients.. Im falling in love with this fudge!
So much chocolates and you are in such a good shape.. How is that possible? Yoga?
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I love cream cheese and pretzels,, so I think I am going to love this fudge. What a great recipe and the pictures are extremely tempting!!
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I like fudge but only in very, very, very small amounts (like 1 small bite). It becomes too rich/sweet for me very quickly.
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After converting everything into Aussie measurements, my son and I ran down the road tonight to grab the ingredients for it and made it, mine looks a bit like the dogs dinner, but yum! I didn’t add any mix-ins to it, and had a bit of trouble when it came to mixing the melted chocolate in (I have problems with my fingers and hands). One of the cats was going around after me licking the stuff I dropped on the floor :D.
P.s I came across your blog many moons ago over on vogue Aus forums, long time reader, first time poster ;)
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Averie @ Love Veggies & Yoga replied: — December 10th, 2011 at 8:34 am
glad that you made it and thanks for reading and for commenting finally!
basically some cream cheese and powdered sugar in a bowl with white chocolate chips…even if it doesn’t look perfect, you can’t go wrong with the taste :)
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Thank you for this post. This was so simple to make in large quantities. Goodie bags? Check! I’ve posted some changes on my blog. Some intentional, some accidental, all delicious.
http://whatthedogate.blogspot.com/2011/12/sweet-and-salty-vanilla-bean-fudge.html
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how did i miss this amazing fudge recipe?? anything with chocolate and pretzels makes me go nuts! looks SO good Averie!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 17th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Probably because I posted it in Dec right in the heart of holiday (and fudge) baking season. There were so many going around that time of year!
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