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This easy Swirled Strawberry Fudge is melt-in-your-mouth delicious and super creamy with flecks of vanilla bean and beautiful strawberry swirls.
It’s funny, there’s something about the Christmas and Valentine seasons that get my imagination swirling with fudge ideas. I go all year with barely a thought about this delicious sweet confection but when these holidays roll around, I all over it. This Swirled Strawberry Fudge is the creation of my current fudge obsession.
The swirly technique for this fudge is the same as my holiday Candy Cane Swirled Fantasy Fudge. That one was so popular around Christmas that I decided something similar would be fun for Valentines Day. This time, however, I decided to go with a strawberry-flavored fudge. I was a bit perplexed, however, as to how to pull off the strawberry part. I loved the idea of strawberry fudge but knew fresh strawberries wouldn’t work as they’re too wet and would make the fudge gooey and perishable.
My next thought was to use a strawberry extract. I had to go on a hunt for this extract since many stores don’t carry a large variety of extracts. When I finally did find it at one of my local grocery stores, I noticed it was labeled “Imitation Strawberry Extract”. Ewww, not what I was hoping for. I didn’t want fudge with a fake strawberry taste.
I love it that these days, we don’t have to be content with what is available in local markets and stores. I checked online and found exactly what I was looking for, Pure Strawberry Extract, actually made from real strawberries. I quickly pushed the “order” button and within seconds received an email that my pure strawberry extract would be on my doorstep in two days.
And it was. A few days after it arrived, I set to work. I used the Candy Cane Swirled Fantasy Fudge recipe as a template and had some fun with it, adding a favorite condiment, Vanilla Bean Paste to the base and for the swirls used Pure Strawberry Extract combined with a bit of red food color.
A Café reader emailed me a while back and shared that Wilton has a No-Taste Red Food Coloring Gel. I ordered it and it’s true, it’s just color with no taste. It’s quite concentrated, so you don’t need much.
Another fun online discovery is natural food coloring. This is a food coloring made from vegetable colorants with no artificial dyes. I love that!
This strawberry fudge can be made in a traditional 8×8-inch pan but I decided to go for some Valentine fun and used several heart-shaped silicone molds. These silicone molds are inexpensive, come in all different shapes and are super simple to use. Fudge and baked goods just pop right out after they’re cooled.
Pretty packages from the heart
I’ll package the little strawberry fudge hearts in small bags or boxes and use them as gifts for family and friends. I also love that I can find an assortment of small gift bags and boxes online for dressing things up. I don’t know about you, but there’s something really special to me about gifts that come in pretty packages!
Although this fudge is perfect for Valentine’s Day, it would also be really fun to celebrate lots of other special occasions. Strawberry seems to be a universally-loved flavor with young and old alike. I guess that’s why everyone who sampled this strawberry fudge gave it a huge thumbs up.
Try it, I think you’ll enjoy it too – it’s so easy, so delicious and takes less than 30 minutes to make a batch (plus cooling time). That almost makes it dangerous, doesn’t it?
Café Tips for making this Swirled Strawberry Fudge
- You’ll often find the instructions for this type of fudge say to “cook it for 4 minutes” or sometimes “5 minutes”. I’ve found, after years of inconsistency in my success with fudge, that it really helps to have a candy thermometer. When this fudge is cooked to reach a temperature of 234˚F it comes out perfect, every time. Candy thermometers are not expensive. I have this digital one which I love. It beeps when the mixture is within a few degrees of the goal and then beeps again when it reaches the set temp. I’ve also used this simpler thermometer with good success.
- I used these heart-shaped silicone candy molds for my strawberry fudge. You’ll need two of them for this recipe. They also come in other fun shapes.
- If you live outside the U.S., you may not be familiar with half and half. It’s a convenience product frequently used in coffee here in the States. It’s simply half milk and half cream.
- Marshmallow creme is a light, creamy marshmallow mixture that’s sold in jars. If you can’t find it, you can make your own.
- Use a good quality white chocolate chip. How do you know if it’s good? Check the label – one of the first ingredients, after sugar, should be cocoa butter. Many of the so-called “premium” chips don’t have any cocoa butter. I really like the chips from Trader Jo’s which you can purchase at their stores.
- I love vanilla beans but they are quite expensive and tend to dry out if you don’t keep them carefully stored. Vanilla bean paste is essentially vanilla beans that have been scraped out of the pods. It’s not cheap but it has the equivalent of A LOT of vanilla beans so it’s really quite economical. I always keep vanilla bean paste on hand.
This Swirled Strawberry Fudge is super creamy with flecks of vanilla bean and swirled with strawberries. It makes a wonderful gift!
- 2 teaspoons pure strawberry extract
- ½ rounded teaspoon red gel food color I like the No-Taste red food coloring from Wilton
- 3 cups sugar
- ¾ cup butter I use salted
- ⅔ cup half and half*
- 12 ounces white chocolate chips**
- 1 7- ounce jar marshmallow creme***
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste**** The vanilla bean paste adds amazing flavor, but you could also use regular vanilla for this
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Combine red food color and strawberry extract in a small bowl. Stir well till gel is dissolved, then set aside.
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You will need 2 silicone mini molds, each having 24 openings. Place each on a sheet pan. This will keep them stable once they're filled with fudge. Set aside.
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Butter or spray a small thin-bladed knife with cooking spray (a butter knife works well for this). Set aside.
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Combine sugar, butter and half and half in a saucepan (at least 3 quart-size) over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, stirring frequently. Using a candy thermometer, cook until mixture reaches 234˚F. Remove from heat.
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Add white chocolate chips, marshmallow creme and vanilla bean paste. Stir until smooth and well mixed.
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Using a small spoon, sprinkle the strawberry extract mixture in random drops over the surface of the fudge. Using the side of the prepared knife, run it back and forth through fudge a few times, creating a swirled pattern. Don't swirl too much. If you do, the whole mixture will turn solid pink.
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With a small scoop, transfer the fudge into the cavities of the silicone pan, filling to the top. Avoid stirring the fudge, just scoop it up. You'll find that the last scoops will be less patterned, still pretty, but the red color will have combined more with the white.
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Cool completely (if you're in a hurry like I usually am, refrigerate fudge till cool). Pop the fudge out from underneath. I like to push gently up on each edge before I remove them to ensure they stay intact.
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Store in an airtight storage container with wax or parchment paper between layers.
See Café Tips above for more detailed instructions and extra tips.
Tammy Boyne says
making for Easter – I have 6 granddaughters that LOVE LOVE LOVE strawberries and they will be very excited to see what their Mema has made for them this year! I have everything needed except silicon egg shape molds, but Walmart and Hobby Lobby are close, I am sure I can find just what I need!
Chris Scheuer says
6 granddaughters? How wonderful! You are very blessed. I hope they all enjoy spending Easter with you as well as your Easter Egg Fudge!
Easyfoodsmith says
These look so pretty! My daughter is going to love them. Thanks for sharing
Liz says
SO pretty and festive! I”m with you on artificial strawberry flavor. Yuck. So glad you found a terrific alternative!
Charlotte Moore says
This is so pretty.
Ashley says
Just an FYI I’ve found Vanilla Bean Paste at Walmart. You need to look in the Cake Decorating/Wilton section by Crafts, not in the grocery section.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Ashley! That’s great to know!
Vick says
How long will the fudge last for once made?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Vick, it will keep for a week or two if kept in an airtight container.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Glenda!
Sandra says
I share your love of silicone molds they are so easy to work with. I also think your swirled fudge looks like artwork, beautifully done Chris!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
I don’t think this could be any more beautiful! The swirl is amazing. Love the hearts – perfect!
TheKitchenLioness says
Chris, what an incredibly pretty treat these fantasy fudge hearts of yours are! Perfect! Love the packaging too and the fact that you menitioned different options for “getting the red” into the fudge!
These would make wonderful gifts indeed!
Andrea
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
Really gorgeous Chris!
Judit + Corina @Glamorous Bite says
What a pretty and festive marbled fudge! It is a little work of art!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much!
Wendy says
I love how pretty this fudge is, Chris! Almost (but not quite) too pretty to eat. 😉 A non’-chocolate based fudge is a WONDERFUL change. I am definitely getting some of these molds! I always struggle to cut fudge in even squares for gift giving. Some are too small. Some are lopsided. With a mold, they are all adorable!
p.s. I believe you are now officially the Queen of pink-red swirls!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
What a beautiful red and white fudge…flavored with all natural strawberry extract! So very pretty with wonderful styling and photography. Thank you for sharing, Chris. Pinning!
Monique says
So pretty..They remind me of the meringues you taught us how to make♥
Ginny Hartzler says
Oh my gosh, this is gorgeous!!! And now your friends can really eat their hearts out!! We can also say that it is healthy for us!! (O.K. that is a stretch, but anything with the word strawberry in it can be claimed to be healthy)
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
wow and wow! These look so beautiful and perfect! White chocolate and strawberry extract…my husband will be crazy for those little sweet beauties.
Debra says
Beautiful and perfect valentine idea, chris. My mouth is watering .
Betsy says
I’m going to make this for Valentine’s Day! Thanks for the links to get the strawberry extract…just ordered it along with the vanilla bean paste! I already had the Wilton food coloring, so I’m all set!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
What a great way to say Happy Valentine’s Day! I don’t have strawberry extract but I want some!
Betty says
Gorgeous! Pretty sure I could eat way too much of this- I guess I need to start shopping now for some strawberry extract. 🙂 I love the swirls- so pretty!
gloria says
Look beautiful and delicious Chris!
June Burns says
Such pretty fudge! 🙂