This 4 ingredient fudge icing is simple to make and you likely have all of the ingredients in your fridge and pantry. It tastes great and is perfect poured over brownies, rice krispie treats, and more!

stack of maple peanut butter rice krispie treats with fudge frosting on top.

This easy fudge icing has been a staple since my childhood. My aunt taught me to make it and we’ve been putting it on everything ever since.

It is a simple recipe that comes together in a few minutes in a saucepan. Then it can be poured over your favorite dessert. It sets firm, pours easily and tastes rich and fudgy.

I am going to warn you, this frosting is really good.

Spatula lifting piece of maple peanut butter rice krispie treat with chocolate icing out of pan.

Ingredients including milk, sugar, cocoa powder and butter, ready to be made into fudge icing.

The worst part is once you realize how easy it is, you won’t be able to stop making it (and licking the spoon, and the pan, and your fingers…)

I can still remember my Aunt Marlene teaching me this recipe. I was still in grade school and after I knew how simple it was to make such a delicious frosting, I was armed and dangerous!

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It is simple enough to commit to memory and very easily adapts into a hot fudge sauce (try it over peppermint ice cream in the winter… oh my!)

I still remember her teaching me to cool it in an ice water bath if you wanted to use it more quickly. It was then my contribution to the family cookbook when that came out.

Fudgy chocolate icing boiling in saucepan on stove.

Cooked fudge icing in saucepan with whisk, ready to use.

My favorite way to use this frosting is over rice krispie treats, but it also is a great way to take your pan of brownies up to the next level!

This recipe is sized perfectly to give a nice layer of fudgy frosting to a 9×9 pan. Though I am sure you could easily spread it out over a 9×13 of brownies if you wanted a thin layer of frosting.

Square glass baking dish with maple peanut butter rice krispie treats topped with homemade fudge icing.

9x13-inch pan of brownies topped with thin layer of fudge icing and chopped peanut butter cups.

I have been anxious to make this for you guys as it has been a favorite for so many years, so I finally made a batch of maple peanut butter krispie treats and it was amazing!

Stack of peanut butter rice Krispie treats topped with hardened homemade fudge icing.

4.62 from 13 ratings

Marlene’s Fudge Icing

Author: Carlee

Servings: Servings

If you are looking for a great chocolate icing, this is for you. It is so simple to make with just 4 ingredients. We love it on brownies, rice krispie treats, and more.

Prep: 2

Cook: 10

Total: 12

Ingredients

▢ ½ cup butter
▢ ¼ cup milk
▢ 1 cup granulated sugar
▢ ¼ cup cocoa powder

Instructions

Place ½ cup butter, ¼ cup milk, 1 cup granulated sugar, and ¼ cup cocoa powder in a sauce pan and heat over medium low heat.
Stirring occasionally, bring the mixture to a boil. Allow to boil for 3 minutes, then remove from heat.
The frosting will be really hot, so you will want to let it cool for a while before you spread it over anything. You can place the saucepan in an ice water bath and stir occasionally if you would like to speed the process.