Description
Classic Old Fashioned Fudge delights chocolate enthusiasts with its rich, creamy texture. Smooth chocolate squares promise sweet memories of grandma’s traditional kitchen magic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120 milliliters/4 fl oz) whole milk
- ½ cup (115 grams/4 oz) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (25 grams/0.9 oz) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup (150 grams/5.3 oz) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation Setup: Assemble a heavy-bottomed saucepan, wooden spoon, candy thermometer, and lined square pan, ensuring all equipment is clean and ready for precise fudge crafting.
- Initial Mixture: Combine granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and milk in the saucepan, heating gently while stirring continuously until ingredients integrate smoothly and dissolve completely.
- Temperature Elevation: Increase heat, allowing mixture to bubble without stirring, carefully monitoring temperature until reaching the soft ball stage between 234F and 240F using a candy thermometer or classic water drop test.
- Cooling Phase: Remove from heat, add unsalted butter and vanilla extract without immediate stirring, letting the mixture cool naturally to approximately 110F, creating optimal crystallization conditions.
- Transformation Process: Energetically beat the mixture with a wooden spoon, transitioning from a glossy liquid to a thick, matte texture through persistent stirring for 5-10 minutes, developing the classic fudge consistency.
- Final Setting: Quickly pour the transformed mixture into the prepared pan, spreading evenly and allowing it to set completely at room temperature until firm and ready to be cut into delectable squares.
Notes
- Choose Robust Cookware: Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan to distribute heat evenly and prevent sugar from burning, which ensures smooth fudge texture.
- Master Temperature Precision: Invest in a reliable candy thermometer to hit the exact 234-240F sweet spot, preventing grainy or too-soft fudge consistency.
- Control Stirring Technique: Minimize stirring during initial heating to prevent sugar crystallization, then vigorously beat when cooling to create perfect creamy texture.
- Adapt for Dietary Needs: Substitute dairy milk with coconut or almond milk for lactose-free version, and use dark cocoa powder for richer chocolate flavor without compromising recipe integrity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 17
- Calories: 153
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg