This 3-Ingredient Chocolate Fudge Starts With Your Favorite Fruit

Craving a sweet treat that doesn't require a lot of time in the kitchen? Look no further than this easy three-ingredient fudge. It starts with a super simple, fresh base — your favorite fruit — and then gets a flavorful finish of peanut butter and melted chocolate.

Begin by lining a dish with parchment paper (a must so you can get the finished fudge out). Arrange your chosen fruit — we love fresh strawberries — in the bottom of the pan in an even layer. Keep the pieces larger so you don't introduce too much moisture to the fudge.

Chop your preferred chocolate into small pieces, which will make it easier and faster to melt the chocolate in either a double boiler or the microwave. Once the chocolate is melted, stir in some creamy peanut butter. Save your natural peanut butter for a PB&J: You want the processed stuff here for the smoothest fudge. Pour your melted chocolate and peanut butter over the fruit to cover, then place the whole thing in the fridge until it is firm. Use the parchment paper to lift the fudge out of the pan, then slice and enjoy.  

Be sure to store the fudge in the fridge. Unlike other common styles of fudge, this one doesn't involve any of the sugar-cooking that would be necessary to keep it firm at room temperature.

Sure, the combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and strawberries may be hard to beat, but the only limit to what ingredients you could add to this fudge is your imagination. If you're using dark chocolate, raspberries would be a phenomenal pairing. The tart berries will bring out the bitter, fruity notes of the chocolate. If you prefer milk chocolate, consider fresh cherries. Simply pit and halve the cherries, and arrange them cut-side down. You can also combine a variety of berries for a more complex flavor and texture.

Dried fruits would also be delicious in this fudge. Raisins and chocolate are a classic pairing — plus they go great with peanut butter, à la ants on a log. For something a little more sophisticated, reach for dried apricots or candied orange peels and use dark chocolate. You could also use freeze-dried fruits for a sweet pop and a bit of crunch. 

The only fruits you shouldn't use? Anything too wet. While banana sounds like a delicious choice, it brings too much moisture to the party, as would something like sliced peaches. You also shouldn't use defrosted frozen fruits, as they'd be a little too juicy for this application.