Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (2024)

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This delicious Bailey’s fudge recipe has a surprise addition of coffee for a great flavor. It is creamy and sweet and has a lovely consistency.

This year, make some Irish Cream Fudge as a part of your Christmas traditions!

Who doesn’t love the taste of a glass of Bailey’s Irish cream during the holidays? It is rich and thick and so creamy with that delicious hint of whiskey in the background.

Now imagine that taste in a piece of holiday fudge! BOOM! What a flavor combo!

Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (1)

Making fudge is a favorite of mine pastime during the holidays. I don’t make fudge very often during the year, because I do try to watch my weight, but during November and December I indulge in it.

This recipe for Irish Cream Fudge infused with Bailey’s Irish Cream & cold Coffee is as tasty as can be. It is my favorite sweet treat, so I like to have a lot of fudge recipes on hand.

NOTE: This is not a really easy fudge. In order to get the right consistency, the main fudge mixture must be boiled for five minutes or so to get it to the soft ball stage. But the flavor makes it worth the effort.

More fudge recipes

Are you a fudge lover like I am during the holidays? Try one of these recipes, too:

Time to make someBailey’s Irish cream Fudge

To make the Irish Cream Fudge, you will need Bailey’s Irish Cream. I had a bottle on hand that was unopened, but when I undid the top, I discovered to my horror that it had gone off and I could not shake it to make it good again.Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (2)

Since I had all my ingredients out and it was a Sunday, I decided to make my own Bailey’s Irish Cream.It is just as good as the original and costs a fraction of the price. Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (3)

To make the fudge you will need: (affiliate links)

    1. 3/4 cup of butter
    2. 3 cups of granulated sugar
    3. 2/3 cup of evaporated milk
    4. 1/3 cup of Bailey’s Irish cream
    5. 2 Tbsp-cold coffee (the liquid from a cup of coffee, not granules)
    6. 1 – 7 oz-jar marshmallow cream
    7. 1 11 oz package of butterscotch morsels
    8. 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (4)To make this Bailey’s fudge recipe, start by placing aluminum foil in the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch pan. It will make it so much easier to get the fudge out later.

Just use the pieces on the top as handles and then peel it off later. Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (5)Mix together the Bailey’s and cold coffee and place it in a microwave safe bowl and heat for about 20 seconds until it is well mixed. Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (6)On the stove top, combine the butter, evaporated milk, sugar and marshmallow cream until well mixed and smooth. Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (7)Slowly stir in the Bailey’s Irish cream mixture and mix well. Continue to cook after it boils for five minutes, stirring the whole time, so that it does not stick.

It will be at the soft ball stage. (drop a bit of the fudge mixture into a glass of water…it will form a small ball.)Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (8)Stir in the butterscotch chips and vanilla extract. Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (9)Pour the mixture for the Bailey’s fudge recipe into your prepared pan. I had to hurry as it was starting to harden. I love this stage.

I know that I have cooked it long enough when it starts to harden on the sides of my cooking pan. There is nothing as discouraging as spending time on fudge and not having it set later.

Share this recipe for making Bailey’s fudge on Twitter

If you enjoyed this fudge recipe, be sure to share it with a friend. Here is a tweet to get you started:

The holidays will soon be here and fudge is a part of any dessert table. What is better than plain fudge? Fudge made with Bailey's Irish Cream. It's sweet and creamy and a hit at any holiday gathering. Click To Tweet

Tasting the Bailey’s Fudge Recipe

This Irish cream fudge has the perfect texture. I like a fudge that is not too sticky and this one cuts into beautiful chunks.

The taste is sweet and creamy with a hint of coffee in the background. My husband is a big coffee drinker and really likes this fudge!Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (10)

Place in the fridge until set. Cut into pieces and enjoy. For more great Bailey’s desserts, try these Baileys Mudslide Truffles, andBailey’s Irish cream brownies. YUM!

Would you like a reminder of this recipe for Bailey’s Irish cream fudge? Just pin this image to one of your Pinterest dessert Boards.Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (11)

Yield: 30

Bailey's Irish Cream & Coffee Fudge

Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (12)

Get the taste of Bailey's Irish cream in a piece of holiday fudge, for the ultimate in Christmas sweet treats.

Cook Time10 minutes

Total Time10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup of butter
  • 3 cups of granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup of evaporated milk
  • 1/3 cup of Bailey's Irish cream
  • 2 Tbsp cold coffee (the liquid, not granules)
  • 1 - 7 oz-jar marshmallow cream (NOT marshmallows - cream in a jar)
  • 1 11 oz pkg of butterscotch chips
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl combine Bailey's Irish cream and the cold coffee.
  2. Place the mixture in a microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 10 seconds. or until melted and dissolved well.
  3. Melt the butter milk, sugar and marshmallow cream in a saucepan on the stove over medium heat.
  4. Slowly stir in the Bailey's coffee mixture; mix well and boil for 5 minutes. (Should be to the soft ball stage)
  5. Remove from heat and stir in butterscotch chips and vanilla extract.
  6. Stir for 3-4 minutes. until the mixture is smooth. Pour into a foil lined 8 x 8" pan.
  7. Chill to set and then cut into pieces.
Irish Cream Fudge - Bailey's Fudge Recipe with Coffee Flavor (2024)

FAQs

Why is my Baileys fudge not setting? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

What makes high quality fudge? ›

You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

Why is my fudge not thickening? ›

The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.

What should you not do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.

What is the most popular flavor of fudge? ›

After years of testing recipes, we're pretty sure we have a handle on the most popular fudge flavors, but chocolate and cherry will always rank high on the list.

Should you stir fudge constantly? ›

It is important to stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to thicken and its surface starts to look dull or matte. Now is the time to stop beating and pour the fudge into a mould. Another tip: Do not scrape the sides of the pan or the spoon used for stirring.

Why is my fudge not creamy? ›

If the sugar crystals are not properly dissolved before cooling, they can create a gritty texture. To avoid this, ensure that you stir the fudge mixture consistently and remove any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan using a wet pastry brush.

Can I fix fudge that didn't set? ›

It sounds like your fudge simply wasn't heated enough. ... If it's overcooked (resulting in grainy fudge) or undercooked (resulting in poor setting) all you really need to do is add a bit of cream, reheat the fudge to the target temperature, and let it set again.

What happens if you boil fudge too long? ›

The ingredients for fudge are combined and cooked to 234 degrees, cooled to 110 degrees without stirring, then beaten until creamy. Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard.

Can you over whisk fudge? ›

It could even be because the fudge wasn't beaten long or hard enough. If you are using an electric whisk instead of hand beating your Homemade Fudge it's important to remember that this is a very easy way to overbeat Fudge.

Do you stir fudge while it is boiling? ›

Brush the sides of the pan with a wet brush at the beginning of cooking to dissolve sugar crystals stuck to the sides. Never stir the mixture during cooking or sugar could crystallize again. The mixture may seize and become grainy. Use a candy thermometer or conduct a cold water test to check if the fudge is done.

Can you beat fudge in a stand mixer? ›

Pour the mixture over the chocolate, being sure to shake, not scrape, the mixture from the pot. Set aside to cool for 10 to 12 minutes. (This prevents a grainy consistency.) Using the clean wooden spoon or a standing mixer on low speed, stir or beat the mixture until the chocolate is completely melted and incorporated.

Why is my fudge crumbling when I cut it? ›

The ingredients for fudge are combined and cooked to 234 degrees, cooled to 110 degrees without stirring, then beaten until creamy. Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard.

What does soft ball mean when making fudge? ›

making of fudge

termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.

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