Looking for a show-stopping patriotic dessert that doesn't require turning on the oven? This 4th of July fudge is exactly what you need for your Independence Day celebration! With beautiful red, white, and blue layers that mirror our flag colors, this sweet treat is guaranteed to be the star of your dessert table.
If you're a fan of festive holiday treats, you'll also love my 4th of July Oreo Balls and 4th of July Cupcakes that bring the same patriotic spirit to your celebration.
I first made this fudge last summer when I was looking for something that could be prepared ahead of time for our neighborhood block party.
Let me tell you, these colorful squares disappeared faster than I could say "Happy Independence Day!" Even my daughter Emily, who's usually not a big fan of white chocolate, kept sneaking pieces from the fridge.
Why You Will Love This 4th of July Fudge
- Makes a gorgeous patriotic display with minimal effort
- Requires only 5 main ingredients
- No candy thermometer needed
- Can be made days ahead of your celebration
- Perfect make-ahead dessert that actually improves with time in the fridge
- Firm enough to be picked up and eaten by hand (great for parties!)
- Kids absolutely love the festive colors and sprinkles
Ingredients for Patriotic Fudge
- 1½ bags (11 oz bag) white chocolate chips
- 1½ cans (14 oz cans) condensed milk
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened at room temperature, divided
- 6 tablespoons white cake mix, divided (heat treated, see directions below)
- Red and blue gel food coloring
- ½ cup red, white, and blue sprinkles
How to Make the Perfect 4th of July Fudge
Before jumping into the recipe, I want to remind you to prep all your ingredients in advance.
Having everything measured and ready makes the process much smoother since timing is important when working with multiple fudge layers.
Preparing Your Pan
- Prepare an 8×8 pan with parchment paper (see my detailed tips below for the perfect parchment lining technique).
- Heat treat your cake mix using either the microwave or oven method below.
Making the Red Layer
- In a large saucepan, combine ⅓ of the chocolate chips (about 1 cup), ⅓ of the condensed milk (about ⅘ cup), and 1 tablespoon of butter over low heat.
- Cook on low for 8-10 minutes until the mixture breaks down completely. Use a rubber spatula and stir frequently.
- Remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons of cake mix. Stir for about 1 minute until the mix has completely dissolved.
- Add 2-3 inches of red food coloring gel, stirring until the color has completely blended. Return to heat if needed. Keep adding food coloring gel until you reach your desired shade of red.
- Pour red fudge mixture into the center of the 8×8 dish, scraping any excess from the pan using your spatula.
- Allow the layer to cool and stiffen slightly before adding the next layer.
Creating the White Layer
- Repeat the cooking process using the same amounts of white chocolate chips, condensed milk, butter, and cake mix.
- Do not add any food coloring to this layer - its natural white chocolate color is perfect.
- Pour this white mixture over the red layer, allowing it to spread and cover completely.
- Allow the white layer to cool and stiffen slightly before adding the final layer.
Have you tried my 4th of July Chocolate Covered Strawberries yet? They make a perfect companion to this fudge for a complete patriotic dessert spread!
Finishing with the Blue Layer
- Repeat the same cooking process with the remaining white chocolate chips, condensed milk, butter, and cake mix.
- Add 2-3 inches of blue gel food coloring to the final fudge layer, mixing until fully combined. Add more if needed until your desired shade of blue is achieved.
- Pour blue fudge mixture over the white layer, allowing it to spread completely over top.
- Immediately top with patriotic sprinkles before the fudge starts to set.
- Place inside the refrigerator to chill overnight before serving.
Serving Your 4th of July Fudge
When ready to serve, remove the fudge from the 8×8 pan by pulling up on the parchment paper.
Use a sharp knife to carefully cut the fudge into 16 equal squares, making three cuts in both directions.
The contrast between layers creates a beautiful patriotic effect that will wow your guests!
Storage Tips for Homemade Fudge
To Store: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
To Freeze: For longer storage, tightly wrap the fudge with plastic wrap and then place it in an airtight container or freezer-safe plastic bag for up to 3 months.
Sarah's Tips for Perfect Patriotic Fudge
- Heat treat your cake mix before using! This is important for food safety. See instructions below.
- Use gel food coloring instead of liquid drops. The gel gives you vibrant colors without thinning your fudge mixture.
- Make sure your butter is truly at room temperature. Cold butter won't melt properly over low heat.
- Allow each layer to cool slightly before adding the next – but don't let it cool completely or the layers won't stick together.
- Work quickly when adding sprinkles to the top blue layer while it's still wet so they adhere properly.
- For the cleanest cuts, run your knife under hot water and wipe it clean between each cut.
- This fudge is sweet! The primary flavor comes from white chocolate with secondary flavors from the condensed milk and cake mix.
If you're looking for more patriotic treats, my Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods can easily be decorated with red, white, and blue sprinkles for the 4th!
How to Heat Treat Cake Mix for 4th of July Fudge
Microwave Instructions: Microwave the cake mix in a microwave-safe bowl for two 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
Allow the cake mix to come to room temperature before using.
Oven Instructions: Place cake mix on a large cookie sheet prepared with parchment paper. Evenly spread your cake mix out to cover the entire sheet.
Cook cake mix at 350 degrees for 5 minutes and allow it to come to room temperature before use.
Perfect Parchment Paper Lining Method
To best prepare an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper:
- Take a sheet of parchment large enough to cover the dish with about 2 inches of overhang.
- Using your thumbs and index fingers, press the parchment paper down into the dish, extending your fingers firmly into each corner to make an indentation.
- Remove the parchment paper and using scissors, cut the parchment paper in 8 places; two cuts leading to each indentation from both sides of the paper.
- Place the cut parchment paper back into the dish, tucking the corners properly. The parchment should hold its shape nicely.
Common Questions About 4th of July Fudge
The secret to good fudge is cooking the mixture over low heat, stirring frequently, and allowing proper chilling time. For this 4th of July fudge, using softened room temperature butter, gel food coloring (not drops), and allowing each layer to cool slightly before adding the next ensures perfect texture and vibrant patriotic layers.
Fudge not setting properly with condensed milk usually happens if the mixture wasn't heated long enough (full 8-10 minutes on low) or if it wasn't chilled for the full recommended time (6 hours or overnight). Make sure to follow the exact measurements of chocolate chips to condensed milk ratio in the recipe for firm, sliceable fudge.
For firm fudge, ensure you're using the correct ratio of white chocolate to condensed milk (1½ bags chocolate chips to 1½ cans condensed milk), cook the mixture thoroughly for 8-10 minutes on low heat, add the cake mix which helps with structure, and most importantly, refrigerate for the full 6 hours or preferably overnight before cutting.
This 4th of July fudge can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. For longer storage, tightly wrap the fudge with plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container or freezer-safe plastic bag where it will keep for up to 3 months.
Recipes You May Like
- 4th of July Oreo Balls - Another no-bake patriotic treat that's easy to make ahead
- 4th of July Cupcakes - Perfect if you want a traditional baked dessert for your celebration
- Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies - When you need a quick sweet treat that isn't themed
Final Thoughts
This red, white, and blue fudge has become our family's tradition for 4th of July celebrations. There's something special about slicing into those vibrant layers that brings a smile to everyone's face.
Not only is it a crowd-pleaser, but it's also one of those rare desserts that's actually better when made in advance, saving you precious time on the holiday itself.
The sweet white chocolate flavor paired with the festive appearance makes this 4th of July fudge a true winner for any patriotic celebration.
Give it a try this year, and I bet it becomes part of your annual tradition too!
Don't forget to save this recipe to Pinterest for your 4th of July planning!
Red, White, and Blue 4th of July Fudge
Equipment
- 8×8 Baking Pan
- Parchment Paper
- Saucepan
- Rubber Spatula
Ingredients
Fudge Base
- 1 ½ bags white chocolate chips (11 oz bags)
- 1 ½ cans condensed milk (14 oz cans)
- 3 tablespoon salted butter softened at room temperature, divided
- 6 tablespoon white cake mix divided (heat treated, see directions)
Colors and Toppings
- red gel food coloring
- blue gel food coloring
- ½ cup red, white, and blue sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare an 8×8 pan with parchment paper. See notes for detailed parchment lining technique.
- Heat treat your cake mix using either microwave or oven method. For microwave: heat in 30-second intervals twice, stirring between. For oven: spread on parchment paper and bake at 350°F for 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
- For Red Layer: In a large saucepan, combine ⅓ of the chocolate chips (about 1 cup), ⅓ of the condensed milk (about ⅘ cup), and 1 tablespoon of butter over low heat. Cook for 8-10 minutes until completely melted, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons of cake mix. Stir for about 1 minute until completely dissolved.
- Add red food coloring gel, stirring until the color has completely blended. Return to heat if needed to ensure smooth consistency. Add more coloring until desired shade of red is achieved.
- Pour red fudge mixture into the center of the 8×8 dish and let it self-level. Allow to cool and slightly stiffen before adding next layer.
- For White Layer: Repeat the process using the same amounts of white chocolate chips, condensed milk, butter and cake mix. Do not add any food coloring.
- Pour white mixture over the red layer, allowing it to spread completely. Allow to cool and stiffen slightly before the final layer.
- For Blue Layer: Repeat the cooking process with remaining white chocolate chips, condensed milk, butter and cake mix.
- Add blue gel food coloring until desired shade is achieved, mixing until fully combined.
- Pour blue fudge mixture over the white layer, allowing it to spread completely.
- Immediately top with patriotic sprinkles before the fudge starts to set.
- Refrigerate overnight or for at least 6 hours until completely set.
- When ready to serve, remove the fudge from the pan by pulling up on the parchment paper. Cut into 16 equal squares with a sharp knife (for cleanest cuts, run knife under hot water between cuts).
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