Have you ever thought about how to make the thick, velvety fudge you remember from Grandma’s kitchen? Get ready to take a trip down the past with our Old Fashioned Hard Fudge Recipe!
This Old Fashioned Hard Fudge recipe is easy to understand: it’s just an adaptation of the recipe found on the label of a jar of condensed milk. The use of condensed milk makes up one of the secrets for making creamy fudge, smooth, without fooling around with candy thermometer temperatures without worrying about graininess.
Aside from eating a piece of plain chocolate, fudge is essentially chocolate with its purest form. The word fudge conjures up images of sweets and nostalgia. It can be seen in landlocked tourist towns. However, the first thing that comes to mind is boardwalks.
Anyways, you can make this Old Fashioned Hard Fudge Recipe in your kitchen by following this simple recipe.
What Will You Love About This Recipe
What is not to love in our classic hard fudge recipe? Let’s look at the tempting traits that make this dish a must-have among every dessert lover.
Firstly, it is all about flavor. Consider biting into a bit of fudge that melts on the tip of your tongue, producing an explosion of rich, chocolatey flavor. The mix of high-quality chocolate, aromatic vanilla extract and creamy butter yields an unrivaled flavor experience. Each taste is a delightful treat that will keep you wanting more.
However, it is not just about the taste; it is also about the texture. Our recipe produces fudge with an ideal blend of creaminess and hardness. It’s velvety and smooth, but with a pleasing bite that stays on the tongue. This is the type of fudge that keeps its shape well, making it perfect for sharing, simply or gifting while enjoying on its own.
This Old-Fashioned Hard Fudge Recipe is very versatile, which we adore. While it’s unquestionably tasty on its own, one can get creative with ingredients and toppings to make it your very own. Whether you want classic nuts, delicious caramel swirls, or tangy citrus zest, the options are limitless.
Finally, there’s the thrill of mastering a timeless classic. In an age of transient food trends & flavors, this Old-Fashioned Hard Fudge Recipe has stood through the test of time. It is a taste of nostalgia which never goes out of fashion, giving joy with each bite and making an indelible effect on everyone who tries it.
Ingredients
To make Old-Fashioned Hard Fudge, you need the ingredients in the following quantities:
- Sugar = 3 cups
- Butter = 1/4 cup
- Dark unseasoned cocoa = 2/3 cup
- Salt = 1/8 tsp
- Whole milk = 1 1/2 cups
- Finely chopped pecans = 1/2 cup
- Vanilla extract = 1 tsp
Instructions for Making Old Fashioned Hard Fudge Recipe
Following is a detailed description of the method on how to make Old-Fashioned Hard Fudge Recipe:
Step 1
Line an eight or nine-inch square pan using foil.
Step 2
In a heavy four-quart saucepan, combine sugar, salt and cocoa.
Step 3
Stir in the whole milk.
Step 4
Cook over a medium-high flame, stirring regularly, until the mixture reaches the full rolling boil.
Step 5
Boil continuously without mixing until the candy thermometer registers 234 degrees or a tiny amount of the mixture placed into a very cold water makes a soft ball.
Step 6
Remove from the heat & add the vanilla and butter. Do not whisk. Cool to room temperature (110 degrees).
Step 7
Stir in the pecans.
Step 8
Beat using a wooden spoon till the fudge thickens and starts to lose some of its sheen.
Step 9
Quickly pour into the prepared pan. Cool fully.
Step 10
Cut into squares. Store in a firmly sealed container at room temperature.
Recipe Variations
Here are some variations for you:
- Nutty Delight: Once the mixture reaches soft-ball stage (235°F), take from the fire and toss in one cup of chopped roasted nuts such as pecans, almonds or walnuts. Pour in a pan & top with another ½ cup. Allow to set.
- Fruit Fun: After the fudge has cooled significantly (about 180°F), add ½ cup of the chopped dried fruit, such as cherries, apricots or cranberries. These will offer a burst of color & a sweet-tart flavor.
- Spicy Surprise: For an adult twist, use a pinch of the cayenne pepper or a tablespoon of ground cinnamon alongside the vanilla extract. This provides a slight warm or heat spice to enhance the chocolate.
- Mint Marvel: For having a refreshing twist, replace vanilla extract with 1 teaspoon of the peppermint essence. You can also mix a few drops of the food coloring in the color green for a festive look.
More Recipes
- Cheesecake Factory Pasta Napoletana Recipe
- Popeyes Sweet Heat Sauce Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Ham Salad Recipe
Old Fashioned Hard Fudge Recipe
Ingredients
- Sugar = 3 cups
- Butter = 1/4 cup
- Dark unseasoned cocoa = 2/3 cup
- Salt = 1/8 tsp
- Whole milk = 1 1/2 cups
- Finely chopped pecans = 1/2 cup
- Vanilla extract = 1 tsp
Instructions
- Line an eight or nine-inch square pan using foil.
- In a heavy four-quart saucepan, combine sugar, salt and cocoa.
- Stir in the whole milk.
- Cook over a medium-high flame, stirring regularly, until the mixture reaches the full rolling boil.
- Boil continuously without mixing until the candy thermometer registers 234 degrees or a tiny amount of the mixture placed into a very cold water makes a soft ball.
- Remove from the heat & add the vanilla and butter. Do not whisk. Cool to room temperature (110 degrees).
- Stir in the pecans.
- Beat using a wooden spoon till the fudge thickens and starts to lose some of its sheen.
- Quickly pour into the prepared pan. Cool fully.
- Cut into squares. Store in a firmly sealed container at room temperature.
