Turtle fudge is an easy no-bake dessert made with chocolate chips, Rolos, and toasted pecans for a rich, classic turtle candy flavor.
This turtle fudge is made entirely in the microwave, with no candy thermometer or stovetop cooking required. Once you make fudge in the microwave you’ll never make it another way again!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- It’s easy to make: if you can stir melted chocolate, you can make this fudge.
- It uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
- This fudge is perfect for gifting, holidays, or when you need an easy make-ahead dessert.
Ingredients you’ll need
• Chocolate chips form the rich, smooth base of the fudge (semi-sweet or milk both work).
• Sweetened condensed milk gives the fudge its creamy texture and helps it firm up as it chills.
• Rolos provide the gooey caramel pockets that give this fudge its classic turtle flavor.
• Toasted pecans add crunch and a nutty contrast to the soft fudge.
• Salt balances the sweetness and deepens the chocolate flavor; it’s optional, but even a pinch helps keep the fudge from tasting too sweet.
How to make your fudge
- Combine chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and half of the Rolos
- Melt in the microwave, stirring often
- Add toasted pecans and the rest of the Rolos, then stir to combine
- Transfer to an 8-inch square baking dish and chill to set
Recipe notes and tips
• Use sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk. Sweetened condensed milk contains sugar and milk solids that help the fudge set properly; evaporated milk is unsweetened and will result in a soft, loose fudge that won’t firm up.
• Chocolate scorches easily, so melt it in short microwave intervals, stirring well after each. This keeps the fudge smooth and prevents the chocolate from overheating.
• Add the Rolos in two stages. The first should melt completely with the chocolate to flavor the fudge, while the rest are folded in at the end so they stay partially intact and create gooey caramel pockets.
• Toast the pecans first. Toasting deepens their flavor and keeps them from tasting flat against the rich chocolate.
How to store your fudge
Store turtle fudge in an airtight container, layered with wax paper or parchment, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
For longer storage, freeze the fudge in an airtight container for up to 2 months. You can let frozen fudge sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving. (You can also eat it directly from the freezer!)
How to toast pecans
Toasting the pecans gives this fudge a deeper, richer flavor, and it only takes a few minutes.
- Spread the pecans in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet (so they don’t slide off). Toast at 375 for about 5 minutes, stirring once halfway through. You’ll know they’re done when they’re fragrant and look a little darker than when they went into the oven.
- Let the pecans cool completely before stirring into your fudge; warm nuts can soften the mixture.
A few more easy microwave fudge recipes:
3-Ingredient Chocolate Fudge
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge
Chocolate Walnut Fudge
Did you make this easy turtle fudge? That’s awesome! Let me know what you think with a comment and a rating below. And post a pic on Instagram too! Tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see!
Easy microwave turtle fudge is made in the microwave with chocolate chips, Rolos, and pecans. It's simple to make, no candy thermometer required, and turns out rich, smooth, and delicious every time.
- 2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups Rolos unwrapped*
- 3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans
- Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper (or wax paper or aluminum foil). Set pan aside.
- Combine the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, salt, and half of the Rolos.
- Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each interval, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Fold in the remaining candy and the chopped pecans and mix until the nuts are evenly distributed and the rolos are melting a bit (you don’t want them fully mixed in, you want pockets of caramel throughout the fudge).
- Scrape into the prepared baking dish and smooth into an even layer. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Once set, slice your fudge and serve.
- Uneaten turtle fudge can be stored in an airtight container, layered with wax paper, in the fridge for up to 1 week. It can also be stored in the freezer (again in an airtight container) for about two months.
- *To get 1 1/2 cups of Rolos you’ll need about 8 ounces of candy.
- A 10.6-ounce bag gives you roughly 2 cups so you’ll use about 3/4 of them. If you can purchase your Rolos in bulk you only need 8 ounces.
- Be sure to use sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk. If you use evaporated milk your fudge will not set.
- A 12-ounce bag of chocolate chips is 2 cups.
- To toast pecans: Spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and toast at 375 for about 5 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Cool completely before adding to the fudge.
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