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Easy Homemade Fudge Recipe
Homemade fudge can be a very tasty snack or on a large scale a great dessert for a celebration or dinner party. Or if you're like me and you just need something to satiate your sweet tooth every now and then. But before we make some sweet fudge it is always good to gain a little knowledge on our dessert.
Fudge has its origins in Britain, Europe, similar in ingredients to the fudge we know today it was at the time called tablet. Mention of the confectionery began to appear in texts from the 17th century forward with wide variations in the recipe. The beginning of fudge using chocolate started in North America at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. From that humble beginning it spread throughout America and eventually the world.
Though fudge has been a long time in reaching its current form one can see why it has become a staple of dessert tables. Below are the ingredients to my fudge recipe enjoy it and have fun with it!
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 5 table spoons Butter
- 3 cups of sugar
- 3/4 cup of cocoa
- 1 1/2 cups of milk
- 2 tea spoons of vanilla
- 1 cooking thermometer
- Sauce pan
- Baking pan
- Wooden spoon
- Other misc. utensils
Instructions
- Use butter to grease the baking pan before starting with any of the other ingredients, make sure you use butter or pan spray liberally as fudge can get stuck on the pan very easily.
- Place the cocoa milk and sugar in a sauce pan and place on the stove.
- Bring to boil while continuing to stir the mixture throughout the process. Consistency is key to making excellent fudge so keep your attention on the stirring.
- Once the mixture reaches a boil cease stirring and allow to settle on low heat. Do not stir while on low heat.
- If making the fudge without a thermometer take a small amount of the mixture and place it in a cup with cold water. This allows the hot mixture's temperature to lower and you can feel the texture of what your finished product will be like.
- If using the thermometer place in sauce pan and cook the mixture until it reaches a temperature of 115 Celcius or 238 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Next take the saucepan mixture from the stove and add butter and vanilla extract to the ingredients. Mix thoroughly with the wooden spoon until the the fudge is no longer shiny and begins to thicken slightly.
- Pour all of the mixture into the prepared, greased pan and let sit to solidify.
- After cooling you may cut fudge into individual squares. We recommend 100 squares, if you are health conscious you could cut smaller pieces. If you love fudge you may cut big pieces.
Optional Ingredients
When making fudge one doesn't necessarily need to do it exactly like the recipe suggests, sometimes it can be extra tasty to add other ingredients.
- Nuts truly enhance the fudge eating experience, we recommend walnuts or possibly almonds for best results.
- If the fudge isn't already rich enough for your tastes you can add candy into the mix, bits of toffee, smarties and other types of candy can be used.
- If looking for something that can really add taste to the fudge try fruit, blueberries, strawberries and even banana bits, they work very well.
