The salted part of this easy no-bake Salted Caramel Fudge is from the addition of pretzels and peanuts which makes it taste exactly like a Hershey's Gold Bar. This salty sweet recipe comes together with just five ingredients and about 10 minutes of effort.
This dulce de leche fudge recipe was originally created for an Olympics watch party and would be fun for any gold theme. This simple Salted Caramel Fudge also makes a great gift and a fun and delicious treat! If you love salty sweet, you'll want to check out this Salty Sweet Potato Chip Bark and Salted Peppermint Bark.
Why this Recipe Works
The combination of white chocolate and dulce de leche blends perfectly to create a sweet fudge base. The peanuts and pretzels add the perfect level of saltiness to offset the sweetness of the white chocolate and caramel.
This white chocolate caramel fudge also tastes exactly like a Hershey's Gold Bar. A Hershey's Gold Bar is a caramelized creme bar with peanuts and pretzels. It's definitely not as well known as other Hershey's flavors, but in my opinion it's one of the best!
Ingredients and Notes
White Chocolate Chips - When you're melting the chips, you want the pieces to be fairly evenly sized so it melts evenly. This makes using chips the easiest method since they're already the same size, but any white chocolate will work.
Dulce de Leche - I love to use a can of dulce de leche because that means no measuring is required. Plus, it's so thick that when it's heated with the chips, it gets soft and smooth, but doesn't burn.
Pretzels and Peanuts - The pretzels and peanuts add a balance of saltiness to the sweet caramel white chocolate mixture. They also add a bit of texture to the caramel fudge base.
Substitutions
White Chocolate Chips - Instead of white chocolate chips, a bar can be chopped, or white melting chocolates can be used. Vanilla melts or vanilla almond bark can also be used. Or if you prefer a chocolate caramel flavor, you could replace the white chips with milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or dark chocolate.
Peanuts and Pretzels - The pairing of these flavors is really key in the flavor of this white chocolate caramel fudge, but you could definitely swap out one with more of the other.
How to Make this Recipe
Step 1: Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 2: Combine the white chocolate chips and dulce de leche in a saucepan. Stir over low heat until the dulce de leche is soft and the chips are mostly melted.
Step 3: Remove from heat, stir in the pretzels, peanuts, and vanilla until well distributed and the chips are fully melted.
Step 4: Pour into the lined pan and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours, but preferably 4 hours. Cut into cubes and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Once the salty sweet fudge is set and cut, it can be stored outside of the refrigerator, but if it's in a warm location it would be better to keep in the refrigerator to avoid it getting melty.
This would most likely be if there is too much liquid in the mixture. I don't recommend substituting a caramel sauce or caramel topping for the dulce de leche as that could make the fudge mixture too thin and may be more difficult to set.
White chocolate is sugar, cocoa butter, and milk. It does not have cocoa solids like other chocolates do. Some will even say that white chocolate isn't chocolate. Though dark chocolate or milk chocolate can be used in place of white chocolate in this recipe, the flavor will be different. White chocolate may also melt differently from other chocolates.
Tips & Tricks
Tip #1: Binder clips on the edges of the pan can help hold the parchment paper in place, making it easier to pour the salted caramel fudge mixture into the lined pan.
Tip #2: White chocolate can burn very easily. When heating the dulce de leche with the white chocolate chips, be sure to stir frequently, if not constantly. Remove the mixture from heat before the white chocolate is fully melted. It will continue to melt once off the heat. If the mixture is smooth when it's removed from the heat, it was likely heated for too long.
Tip #3: If the fudge feels soft when you go to cut it, stop cutting it and put it back in the fridge. The fudge should be fully set before it's cut.
Storage Tips
Salted Caramel Fudge is best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-5 days.
Related Recipes
Did you try this recipe? Leave a review below, and tag @flourdeliz on Instagram!
📖 Recipe
Salted Caramel Fudge
Equipment
- 8x8 pan
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 3 cups white chocolate chips
- 13.4 oz can dulce de leche
- 1 cup pretzel pieces crush before you measure
- 1 cup peanuts smaller pieces
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.
- Combine white chocolate chips and dulce de leche in a saucepan.
- Heat over low heat, stirring regularly, until the caramel is super soft and the chips are mostly melted.
- Remove from heat and stir in pretzels, peanuts, and vanilla.
- Pour into prepared pan and refrigerate 2-4 hours till set.
- Cut into pieces and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on February 18, 2018, but was republished with new photos, additional information about the recipe, step-by-step instructions, FAQs, and tips and tricks in July of 2023.
The Better Baker says
Sounds right up my taste bud alley. SOOO glad you shared this amazing recipe.
Liz says
And it's super easy too! Hope you enjoy!
chris chetwynd says
Can you please tell me what dulce de leche is? I would love to make this fudge but have never heard of the ingredient before. Thanks for your help.
Liz says
It is a can of caramel. In many grocery stores it is either with the sweetened condensed milk or in the international section. It looks like this, but Nestle's La Lechera Sweetened Condensed Milk looks similar, so make sure you get the Dulce de Leche! Let me know if you can find it and make the fudge!
Gertraud says
Did you put salted or unsalted peanuts in it? And can I use a regular bar of white chocolate instead of the drops or do they melt/harden differently ?
I'm so glad I found your recipe btw because I live outside of the States but got hooked on the taste of Hersheys Gold when someone brought it home from travelling.
Liz says
Oh good! I'm so glad you found it too! I used salted peanuts, but if there is too much salt for your liking between the peanuts and pretzels, you could certainly use unsalted instead. You can use white baking chocolate or white chocolate melts instead of the chips, but I would chop it up a bit. A white chocolate candy bar may not solidify quite as much, but worth a try if that's what's available! Let me know how it turns out!!!
Neva says
What size is the Dulce de Leche car or how many ounces would it be? I can find 2 sizes, one small and one quite a bit larger. Thanks
Liz Pollio says
Hi Neva, great question! The cans I use are 13.4 oz (380 g). I hope that helps. I will be sure to update the recipe as well!