Easy Hot Cocoa Fudge (Rich, Creamy, and No-Fail)

This easy hot cocoa fudge is rich, creamy, and full of chocolate flavor. Made with simple ingredients and perfect for holidays or gifting.

At a Glance

👩‍🍳 Skill Level: Beginner
🍫 Flavor Profile: Rich, chocolatey, and creamy with a hint of cocoa
🧁 Options Included: Topped with dehydrated or mini marshmallows
🎯 Best For: Holiday trays, winter gatherings, or cozy treats

What is Hot Cocoa Fudge? 

Hot cocoa fudge is a delicious and easy fudge recipe that you'll turn to again and again! It's so yummy!

You might wonder what sets hot cocoa apart from an ordinary fudge recipe. 

Simple! It’s the addition of three packets of instant hot cocoa mix. You stir it directly into the hot liquid and stir until it’s fully incorporated. 

The flavors from those three packets are just the thing to make this fudge taste like a cup of hot cocoa! 

And the addition of those tiny dehydrated marshmallows. . .well, that’s just the icing on the proverbial cake. 

What are Dehydrated Marshmallows? 

If you’ve ever had instant hot cocoa you’re probably familiar with dehydrated marshmallows. They’re tiny shrunken version of mini marshmallows that swell a tiny bit as they are place in the hot liquid. 

You might be wondering if it’s okay to swap out mini marshmallows for dehydrated in this recipe. That’s totally up to you. The point of the dehydrated ones (which I purchased at Amazon, by the way) is the feel of cocoa. But mini marshmallows are fun, too. 

Why I Made this Fudge

I've been on a roll lately making Christmas treats (in preparation for holiday-themed posts). I recently made Chocolate Crinkle cookies, (perfect for holiday trays). And I'm working on several other Christmas dishes to add, as well.

So, when I found this recipe at a food blog called Far From Normal, I was intrigued. Hot Cocoa fudge sounded perfect for the holidays, so I decided to give it a try! It came together so easily! And I took it to a seniors Bingo event and the ladies loved it, too!

This one is definitely perfect for Christmas!

Hot Cocoa Fudge Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need to make this fudge. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand in your pantry. 

• semi-sweet chocolate chips
• milk chocolate chips
• butter (salted or unsalted, your choice) plus a bit more for buttering the dish
• sweetened condensed milk
• pouches of hot cocoa mix
• vanilla extract
• dehydrated marshmallows (marshmallow bits)

How to Make Hot Cocoa Fudge

This cocoa came together so easily, y’all! And it really is the perfect holiday treat.

Butter an 8x8-inch dish. Place a piece of parchment paper inside and butter it, as well. 

Pour the sweetened condensed milk and butter in a microwave-safe bowl.

Place in the microwave and heat in 30-second increments until milk warms and butter begins to melt.

Put the chips into the bowl and continue to heat in 30-second increments until chocolate chips are fully melted. 

Stir well until there are no lumps. Add vanilla extract and stir.

Now stir in the three packets of dry cocoa mix. (Check out that hot chocolate powder, y'all! Doesn't it make you want to dive right in?)

Add half a cup of dehydrated marshmallows to the fudge. 

Stir well until the fudge is smooth. 

Immediately pour fudge into prepared pan. (A square pan is always best for fudge.) Spread in an even layer.

Immediately place the remaining (1 cup) dehydrated marshmallows on top. 

Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge to chill for a couple of hours. 

Cut into pieces with a sharp knife and serve! (Portion sizes are totally up to you.)

Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator. This fudge can be frozen up to two months in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap. 

What to Expect from this Fudge

This fudge is going to be perfect on your Christmas cookie tray, y’all! It’s lovely to look at, creamy and delicious, and those little marshmallows? Well, they’re simply perfect! 

I love the combination of the semi-sweet and milk chocolate flavors. And the addition of the sweetened condensed milk gives it the perfect consistency! (Homemade fudge is the best!)

I highly recommend this simple fudge recipe. (No candy thermometer necessary!) It's so easy and holds up beautifully and definitely has that hot cocoa flavor.

Variations on this Easy Fudge Recipe

This fudge has a wonderful delicious flavor and is perfect just as it is. . .but there are always ways to change things up. Here are some ideas for next time: 

Pecans: I’m nuts about nuts and I think this recipe would be great with a handful (up to a cup). 

White chocolate chips: Add a cup of white chocolate chips in place of the marshmallows inside the fudge. 

Peppermint candies: Skip the marshmallows. Crush several peppermint candies and press them into the top of the fudge. Perfect for Christmas! 

Rocky Road: Add chopped almonds and miniature marshmallows (not dehydrated) to turn this into Rocky Road fudge. 

Marshmallow cream: You can add some marshmallow cream to this recipe if you want it to be more like fantasy fudge.

Peanut Butter: Love the flavor of peanut butter? Swirl some in while putting the fudge in the baking dish.

M&Ms: Skip the marshmallows and press M&Ms on top. During the holidays use green and red M&Ms for a festive dessert!

Red Velvet: Add red coloring gel and a teaspoon of vinegar to turn this into red velvet fudge. 

Hot Fudge: In the mood for ice cream? Melt down the fudge mixture and turn it into hot fudge sauce!

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Welcome to the Candy Shop! Homemade Sweet Treats You'll Love

Step right up, candy lovers! If you've ever dreamed of wandering through a magical candy shop, where the shelves are lined with colorful sweets, rich chocolates, buttery toffees, and old-fashioned favorites, you've come to the right place! Here at Out of the Box Baking, we're turning ordinary kitchen ingredients into extraordinary little treats. No golden ticket required!

Whether you're filling Christmas candy tins, preparing homemade gifts, or simply indulging your sweet tooth, there's something delightful waiting around every corner. So grab your imaginary candy-shop basket and come explore some of my favorite homemade confections!

Take a Stroll Through the Candy Shop!

1. Soft Christmas Peppermints (Old-Fashioned Butter Mints) – Soft, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth little morsels of peppermint happiness! These colorful old-fashioned candies look like something straight out of Grandma's Christmas candy dish.
2. Old-Fashioned Jelly Nougat Candy – Imagine a snowy-white candy studded with colorful, jewel-like pieces of fruity goodness. This chewy, nostalgic treat is almost too pretty to eat. Almost!
3. Easy Salt Water Taffy – Take a little trip to the seaside candy shop without ever leaving your kitchen! This sweet, stretchy favorite brings back memories of boardwalks, candy counters, and old-fashioned fun.
4. Old-Fashioned Divinity – Light, fluffy, and wonderfully sweet, divinity is like a little cloud of sugary magic. It's the kind of classic Southern candy that makes every holiday dessert tray feel extra special.
5. Easy Fantasy Fudge with Pecans – Rich, creamy chocolate fudge filled with crunchy pecans? Yes, please! This old-fashioned favorite is perfect for slicing into generous little squares and sharing with someone you love.
6. Easy Peanut Brittle – Crunch, crackle, and snap! This golden, buttery candy is packed with peanuts and delivers that irresistible old-fashioned crunch that keeps everyone reaching for another piece.
7. Traditional English Toffee – Buttery, crunchy toffee meets luscious chocolate in this classic homemade confection. Break it into deliciously imperfect pieces and tuck them into a pretty candy tin for a gift worth remembering.
8. Quick and Easy Buckeyes – Creamy peanut butter centers dipped in rich chocolate make these little candies irresistible. They're a peanut butter lover's dream and a favorite on holiday candy platters!
9. Easy Homemade Turtles Candy – Pecans, caramel, and chocolate come together in one glorious little candy. Sweet, nutty, chewy, and wonderfully indulgent, these homemade turtles are a candy-shop classic.
10. Copycat Reese's Peanut Butter Cups – Who needs the candy aisle when you can make your own chocolate-covered peanut butter cups? These homemade favorites deliver that magical combination of creamy peanut butter and chocolate.
11. Easy Chocolate Coconut Balls – Calling all coconut lovers! These delightful little chocolate-covered treats hide a sweet coconut surprise inside, making every bite feel like discovering a secret treasure.
12. Easy Peanut Butter Snowballs – Sweet peanut butter goodness dressed up in a snowy coating! These pretty little candies are perfect for winter celebrations, holiday gift boxes, or sneaking straight from the refrigerator.
13. Easy Oreo Truffles – Who knew a humble sandwich cookie could become such a fancy little confection? These rich, chocolatey truffles are wonderfully simple to make and look right at home in a gourmet candy box.
14. Lemon Oreo Truffles – A little sunshine in every bite! These bright, cheerful truffles bring a refreshing burst of lemony sweetness to the candy counter and make a lovely addition to spring parties and dessert trays.
15. Easy Red Velvet Truffles – Rich, beautiful, and dressed for a celebration! These red velvet beauties are the fancy little jewels of the candy shop, perfect for Valentine's Day, Christmas, or any occasion that deserves something special.

There's Always Something Sweet Around the Corner!

Well, friends, I hope you've enjoyed our little stroll through the candy shop! From nostalgic favorites that remind us of childhood to chocolate-covered treasures that look almost too beautiful to eat, there's something wonderfully satisfying about making candy in your own kitchen.

And guess what? The candy shop doesn't close here! I've gathered even more delightful confections in my Homemade Candy Recipes: The Ultimate Guide to Delicious Homemade Treats. You'll find even more fudge, brittle, truffles, chocolate-covered goodies, and old-fashioned sweets just waiting to be discovered. So pull up a stool at the candy counter, choose your next sweet adventure, and remember: a little homemade candy can turn an ordinary day into something magical!

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That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious chocolate marshmallow fudge recipe. 

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

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Learn more about doctored cake mixes, the theme of this blog. 

For the master list of all doctored cake mix recipes on this site, visit Doctored Cake Mix Recipes, Master List. 

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.