Irish Whiskey Fudge Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for details.

Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: Whip up my Irish Whiskey Fudge Recipe for the ultimate festive indulgence! If you’ve been searching for a special treat just for the grown-ups, look no further! This memorably intense, dark chocolate fudge featuring smooth, warming whiskey is the peak of holiday cheer. It is ideal for a holiday cocktail party, gifting, or to just enjoy as a break from the holiday bustle.

• Creamy and crunchy. You’ll fall in love with the satiny-smooth texture of this whiskey fudge. Toasted pecans set it off beautifully.
• Quick and simple! This no-fuss, 8-ingredient recipe is primarily hands-off and takes only 20 minutes to prepare. Combine the ingredients over low heat, spread in the pan, top with the nuts, and chill.
• Easy cleanup.The last think I want to be doing at the holidays is washing dishes! In this whiskey fudge recipe, you mix everything in one pan, and the baking dish is lined with parchment paper, making it a snap to clean.

I’m proud of my family connection to the renowned O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey used in this recipe. It’s made by Stafford Bonded in my hometown of Wexford, Ireland, and my cousin, Michael J. Stafford, is the managing director. Michael continued the family business created by our grandfather (James Stafford) and our fathers (George Stafford Snr and Michael Stafford Snr). Please check out the Stafford Bonded website, where Michael has beautifully documented the history of the Stafford family! Diarmuid O’Driscoll, Michael’s other grandfather, was the inspiration behind O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey. Our other O”Driscolls recipes, like Irresistible Whiskey Chocolate Meringue Tart,  O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Cake, and O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Chocolate Mousse, and are also celebratory and just perfect for the holidays. 

Table of Contents

• What is Irish Whiskey Fudge Recipe?
• Tools You Need
• Key Ingredients and Why
• How to Make Irish Whiskey Fudge
• Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
• Make Ahead and Storage Tips
• FAQs
• More Fudge Recipes

What is Irish Whiskey Fudge Recipe?

• My Irish Whiskey Fudge Recipe yields decadent, ganache-like fudge with minimal effort. A base of sweetened condensed milk and butter flavored by two types of chocolate, Irish whiskey and vanilla, gives it a deep cocoa flavor with notes of toasty caramel and smokey whiskey.
• Even though this recipe is easy, it creates the type of sophisticated confection you’d find at a fancy sweet shop. The interplay of velvety and crunchy textures, gorgeous, nuanced flavors, and pleasant, festive booziness make this chocolate fudge a standout.
• This whisky fudge is not only a breeze to make but will also make your kitchen smell heavenly! Chocolate, vanilla, and Irish whiskey warming on the stove create a magically aromatic combination.

Tools You Need

• Mixing bowl
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Glass measuring jug
• Kitchen scale (optional)
• 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan
• Parchment paper
• Medium saucepan
• Wooden spoon
• Spatula
• Knife

Key Ingredients and Why

Bittersweet chocolate

• Bittersweet chocolate (which contains 63 – 72 % cocoa solids) is the perfect balance of bitter and sweet and is darker and has a more profound flavor than semisweet chocolate.
• Additionally, bittersweet chocolate is the perfect choice to stand up to the robust whiskey flavor.

Sweetened condensed milk

• Sweetened condensed milk is made by evaporating more than half of the milk’s water content and adding sugar.
• Importantly, sweetened condensed milk delivers sweetness, creaminess, and richness.
• Learn how to make your own with How to Make Condensed Milk.

Butter

• Butter contributes to the fudge’s decadent texture by providing fat and moisture.
• Importantly, butter helps keep the fudge from becoming grainy by preventing sugar crystal development.
• Additionally, butter adds a rich, slightly salty, delightful dairy flavor to the fudge.

Salt

• Salt enhances the fudge’s flavors and balances the sweetness.

Dutch-processed cocoa powder

• Dutch-processed cocoa powder provides a deep, slightly bitter flavor that adds depth and flavorful dimension to the whiskey fudge.
• The cocoa powder also enhances the fudge’s texture, making it thicker and more velvety.
• Dutch-processed cocoa powder is chocolate treated with an alkalizing agent that gives it a milder taste than regular cocoa powder.

O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey

• O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey, has vanilla, toffee, and caramel notes. When you add a little less than a cup whiskey, it adds its own unique flavor and is an ideal complement to chocolate.
• O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey is triple distilled and aged in bourbon casks for three years, which gives it unparalleled smoothness compared to other liquor such as scotch.

Vanilla extract

• Vanilla’s warm, slightly floral note enhances the chocolate, whiskey, and dairy flavors.

Pecans

• Chopped pecans have a mildly sweet, buttery flavor that pairs beautifully with the chocolate. Their satisfying crunch elevates the fudge.
• Toasting pecans is a must to bring out their flavor potential.

How to Make Irish Whiskey Fudge

Prep

1. Butter and line an 8-inch (20 cm) baking dish with parchment paper.

Make the fudge

2. In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped chocolate, condensed milk, butter, and salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly to melt the chocolate and blend the mixture.

3. When the chocolate has melted, stir in the cocoa powder to the melted chocolate mixture until fully combined.

4. Remove from the heat and stir in the Irish whiskey and vanilla extract until smooth.

Cool and serve

5. Spread the fudge mixture in the prepared pan. Sprinkle the chopped pecans on top.

6. Let cool to room temperature. Then cover it and transfer it to the fridge to chill for four hours until set.

7. Cut into small squares and serve.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• This recipe calls for bittersweet chocolate, but you can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate if you prefer.
• Dutched cocoa gives the smoothest chocolate flavor, but you can use regular cocoa powder if that’s what you have on hand.
• You can swap the pecans out for another nut. Walnuts, hazelnuts or peanuts also go well with chocolate.
• This boozy fudge recipe can be doubled to feed a crowd! Use a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) pan.
• This fudge is very rich, so cut into small squares to serve. 

Make Ahead and Storage Tips

Make ahead tips

• You can do some prep work ahead of time. Chop the bittersweet chocolate and chop and toast the pecans.
• This whiskey fudge has to chill for at least four hours, and it can be made up to two weeks in advance and stored in the fridge.

How to store leftovers

• Store leftover fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
• For longer storage, wrap fudge squares individually and place in freezer bags or an airtight container.
  • Freeze for up to three months.
  • Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

FAQs

Can I make this fudge alcohol-free?

• This recipe was developed to include Irish whiskey, and I wouldn’t recommend making it alcohol-free.
• If you would prefer alcohol-free fudge, I recommend my popular Homemade Chocolate Fudge Recipe.

How do I make sure my fudge comes out smooth and creamy?

• It’s important to cook the mixture over low heat. Sugar can crystalize and make the fudge grainy if the mixture heats too quickly.
• Be sure to stir constantly while cooking the fudge mixture to ensure that it is smooth.

When can I use on top in place of pecans?

• If you are allergic to nuts or don’t care for nuts, try one of these alternatives:
  • Dried cranberries or cherries add color and a tangy fruit contrast to the rich fudge.
  • Crushed pretzels are a crunchy alternative to nuts.
  • For an elegant look, top the fudge with edible gold leaf or gold or silver sugar pearls or sprinkles.
• Additionally, if you’d like to add more texture, you could add mix-ins like semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini marshmallows.

More Fudge Recipes

• Chocolate Fudge
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Vegan Fudge
• Vanilla Bean Fudge
• Praline Fudge
• Chocolate and Orange Fudge 

Try These Recipes!

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Recipe

Easy Saltine Cracker Toffee

Heavenly Champagne Truffles Recipe

Sweet And Nutty White Chocolate Bark