This Pineapple Upside Down fudge recipe is a fun twist on the treat giving you the flavor of Pineapple Upside Down cake in rich, luxurious fudge. The cherries and pineapple provide a tart balance to the sweet fudge. Just 5 ingredients and no baking required, you can easily make on the stove or in your slow cooker.
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I love fudge, but I despise how expensive it is. I can totally agree that it is an art form and those who make it should be well-paid, but $12-14 per pound?!? Sorry, can’t do it. Learning to make it yourself will save you major bucks. (Or even give you something to sell during the holidays to make some extra money!)
Fudge, in its most basic form, is sugar and liquid that has been heated to 235 degrees and cooled to 110 degrees before being poured into the baking dish to set. This allows tiny sugar crystals to form that give you a smooth texture, rather than a grainy fudge.
Making fudge can be a very tricky process requiring constant monitoring of your temperatures. By using sweetened condensed milk and sweetened chocolate chips, we eliminate the need to add granulated sugar and monitor the temperature so closely.
You’ll still want to heat the mixture gently, but you won’t need to check the temperature of the mixture. Make sure to stir regularly while it is melting, though, so that the mixture doesn’t burn on the bottom.
While researching the history of fudge and helpful tips, I found this handy resource: Secrets to Making No-Fail Fudge at Home
Ingredients
Cake Mix: I use yellow cake mix for this recipe, but you can absolutely use pineapple or white cake mix. You’ll need 1/2 cup of mix, and you can use the rest of the cake mix to make these small batch cupcakes.
Sweetened Condensed Milk: Found in the baking aisle of your grocery store, sweetened condensed milk comes in a 14 ounce can.
White Chocolate Chips: Go for real white chocolate chips, not coating chocolate. You’ll need an 11 ounce bag of chocolate chips.
Candied Pineapple: Also known as crystallized pineapple, you can find candied pineapple online or in the dried fruit section of your grocery store.
Maraschino Cherries: You’ll want to make sure to get pitted maraschino cherries in a jar. Drain the liquid and cut the cherries in half.
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Measuring Cup
- Can Opener
- Whisk
- Rubber Scraper
- Knife and Cutting Board
- 9 x 9 inch Square Baking Pan
How to Make Pineapple Upside Down Fudge
Combine cake mix and sweetened condensed milk in a medium saucepan. Whisk to combine and heat over medium-low heat.
Stir in white chocolate chips and allow chips to melt in mixture, stirring occasionally.
Once the white chocolate chips are melted and fully combined, fold in the chopped candied pineapple. Pour the mixture into a greased or parchment paper lined baking pan. Top with sliced cherry halves and allow to cool completely.
Once cooled, remove from pan and cut into 36 pieces. Store in a sealed, airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Variations
The measurements of sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips in this recipe are the standard ratio for any variety of fudge. You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips and stir in marshmallows and crushed graham crackers for a s’mores fudge or use strawberry cake mix and mix in freeze-dried strawberries. The possibilities are endless.
Make sure to also try this Red Velvet Fudge!
More Easy Dessert Recipes
- No-Bake Banana Pudding Pie
- Whipped Shortbread Cookies
- White Chocolate Peach Dump Cake
- Pineapple Cake Mix Whoopie Pies
Pineapple Upside Down Fudge Recipe
Pineapple Upside Down Fudge
Ingredients
- 14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1/2 cup Yellow Cake mix
- 2 1/2 cups White Chocolate Chips
- 3/4 cup Chopped Candied Pineapple
- 18 Maraschino cherries stems removed and cut in half
Instructions
- Line a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray, if desired
- Combine the sweetened condensed milk, cake mix, and white chocolate chips into a medium saucepan
- Cook over medium heat, whisking until the mixture is melted and smooth
- Stir in the chopped candied pineapple
- Pour fudge into the parchment-lined baking dish
- Press the cherry halves into the fudge mixture. You can use a knife to swirl the cherries into the fudge or allow them to remain on top.
- Allow to cool two hours in the fridge or overnight at room temperature before cutting into 36 pieces (approximately 1 1/2 inch pieces).
Notes
Nutrition
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I really want make this
Oh wow! This looks absolutely deeelish! It’s a great time of year to make a refreshing yummy fudge like this! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks, Shari! Yes, it really is so easy and doesn’t heat up the whole kitchen!
I love fudge and the pineapple and cherries make this a perfect summer treat.
That pineapple fudge sounds like a great summer treat. I can’t wait to try it!
My daughter gave me this recipe right before Christmas since to add to my fudge making. Since then I am making my fourth batch. I gave some to a lady at church in a candy dish and now I was asked by my Pastor’ s wife to make some for the Valentines celebration this Sunday. I’ll be making a batch for the Iowa blood drive next Thursday. My first batch I took some and have been asked to make more. I’ve never had any complaints. I would definitely give you 100 stars,
Joyce, this makes me so happy! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it and shared it with others, and thank you for taking the time to comment! <3
I’ve never made fudge before but today is Father’s Day and my pappy’s FAVORITE dessert is pineapple upside down cake. Well! My oven is broken and I was hoping *someone* would have also come up with the idea to make a fudge recipe for the same flavor. And you did! I can’t wait to make this for him and I LOVE that you also included directions for variations of the basic recipe, so thank you! Also, for anyone who’s curious; you can make a delicious pineapple upside down cake cocktail (or shots for the brave!) using vanilla vodka, pineapple juice, and a dash of maraschino cherry juice. As a drink recipe I would recommend 1 part vodka and 2 parts pineapple juice with just a dash of the maraschino cherry syrup (grenadine works in a pinch!) As a shot however, I would go more towards 2 parts vanilla vodka and 1 part pineapple juice; then chasing with an actual maraschino cherry (opposed to adding the syrup.) Enjoy!!
Hi Sarah
Just wondering if there is any substitute for the sweetened condensed milk at all? Have a family member who is unable have condensed milk but is super keen to try the fudge when i make it.
Very interesting fudge recipe using cake mix.
I visited you via The Country Cook. My entries are Air Fryer Parmesan Crumbed Fried Pork Chops and Hot Tasty Zinger Chicken Wraps. Feel free to join SSPS Linkup M-S: https://esmesalon.com/tag/seniorsalonpitstop/