Making Fudge Recipes: Your Questions Answered
Want to know all about making fudge recipes?
Fudge is a wonderful, decadent, and insanely popular treat that is made mostly around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
It’s a holiday staple in a lot of homes.
The dessert recipes are made in homes and sold in shops all over the world. But, fudge doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s easy to make and turns out decadent every time.
Making Fudge
Making fudge can be done in a large variety of ways from cooking on the stovetop to melting in the microwave.
Most people make fudge on the stovetop and use a candy thermometer while cooking to bring the fudge to a soft-ball stage to help it set up.
What Is Fudge?
Fudge can be made with a variety of ingredients and is usually made with sugar, butter, evaporated milk, marshmallow cream, and chocolate chips.
Fudge has been a popular holiday dessert for generations and is most popular at Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings.
Fudge is a great gift for friends, family, teachers, or just about anyone. And, everyone loves homemade fudge.
What Is The Difference Between Fudge And Chocolate?
Fudge has added ingredients such as butter and marshmallow cream and stays soft, while most chocolate hardens as it cools.
And fudge is usually made with chocolate. It can be white chocolate, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate.
Flavors of Fudge
There are a lot of recipes that call for other ingredients, besides chocolate to make fudge. Most fudge recipes have a chocolate base.
However, fudge is super versatile and you can make butter pecan, peanut butter, root beer, gingerbread, key lime, peppermint, or even candy corn fudge.
You can even make fudge with only two ingredients, or ingredients such as cake batter.
What Are The Ingredients For Fudge?
The main ingredients in fudge are usually made up of butter, sugar, and milk. While boiling the sugar will dissolve and become creamy with the combination of milk and butter.
The butter will help give the fudge a rich flavor and the milk helps make it creamy, as well.
If you are making a candy fudge you will not need too many ingredients, but if you want a creamier fudge, you can add marshmallow cream to the recipe.
More Ingredients Include:
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Milk chocolate chips
- Peanut butter
- White chocolate chips
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Cake mix
- Sprinkles
- Shredded coconut
- Pumpkin spices
- Kahlua
- Red velvet cake mix
- Peppermints
- Peppermint extract
- Orange extract
- Almond extract
- Vanilla extract
- Any variety of extract
- Malt balls
- Gumdrops
- Chopped pecans
- Chopped walnuts
- Crunchy peanut butter
- And, so much more!
Why Is Fudge So Expensive?
There are a lot of factors that go into the cost of fudge.
- A lot of fudge contains butter, which can be costly at times.
- Fudge can contain ingredients that are more expensive such as pecans, walnuts, or candies.
- Sugar-free fudge can be a pricey option.
- Fudge takes time to cook, which can add to the price tag.
- Fudge is sometimes sold in more high-end stores, which can drive up the price. We live near a touristy area down here in Florida, and fudge is a popular item. The price is a little higher because tourists are coming in to purchase the fudge.
Fudge can be an art form and turns out so beautiful. The recipe above, tiger butter fudge, turns out beautiful every time.
The white and semi-sweet chocolate chips create a ribbon throughout the fudge that keeps everyone in awe.
It’s a great gift for friends and family. Plus, it only requires three ingredients and a microwave, so it’s one of the easiest recipes for fudge. And we all love the easiest way to make fudge!
The recipe is a combination of a creamy and crumbly fudge recipe, as well.
Why Does My Fudge Fall Apart?
If you cook fudge in a saucepan, it can be easily overcooked and the fudge will get too hard and fall apart.
The fudge will dry out and crumble if overcooked.
Most fudge is brought to a boil and cooked to 234 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the soft-ball stage, and once it reaches the right temperature, the candy will cool and set up without being overcooked.
If you don’t cook the fudge long enough or bring it to the correct temperature it will not set up properly and end up being too soft.
When you make fudge, it’s important to follow the directions to get the right outcome.
Old fashioned fudge recipe is usually a fudge recipe with marshmallow cream. It is one of the most common types of fudge.
For this recipe, you combine sugar, butter, and evaporated milk and bring to a boil. Once the recipe comes to a full rolling boil, the temperature will climb to 234 degrees within about five to eight minutes.
You will remove the saucepan from the stove and add the marshmallow cream and peanut butter and mix until melted.
Does Fudge Set At Room Temperature?
If cooked properly, fudge will set at room temperature. But, it will usually take two to three hours for the fudge to set up.
Be sure not to leave the fudge sitting on a hot stove or it will take longer to set up and could cause the fudge to become dry.
How Long Do You Let Fudge Cool Before Cutting?
The fudge will need about two to three hours to set up. It’s hard to resist the temptation to cut into the fudge, but try to wait until it sets up before cutting.
I will admit, we grab spoons on occasion and dig in to the hot fudge before it sets up and it’s delicious either way. (Just don’t burn yourself because it’s hot).
Can I Freeze Fudge To Make It Set Up?
Freezing fudge is not a good idea as it can make the fudge crumbly and the sugar crystalize.
You can place the fudge in the refrigerator to set up a little faster. However, it will still need at least an hour or more to set up in the fridge.
Can You Make Fudge On A Rainy Day?
Fudge can be a bit fickle at times and it’s best to make fudge on a day when the humidity is low.
The fudge can actually grab moisture out of the air, reabsorb it, and come out too soft. This is a pretty rare occurrence, but it can happen.
Easy Fudge Recipes
There are a lot of different ways to cook fudge recipes.
If you want to cook the fudge in a saucepan and not worry about bringing it to the boiling point, you can add some sweetened condensed milk to the recipe.
Cook until melted, add the ingredients and pour the fudge into a pan to set up, like the Reese’s recipe above.
Quick and easy chocolate fudge is another recipe that combines a few different types of sweet chips to form a delicious treat in a saucepan.
Even though it’s easier to make it’s still a great recipe and tastes amazing.
If you don’t want to cook fudge in a saucepan, there are a lot of other recipes that only use a microwave and a couple of bowls.
Five-minute peppermint fudge is an easy and delicious treat. It’s a fun candy cane fudge that’s perfect for the holidays.
And, five-minute fudge is another very versatile recipe. You can add Oreos, toffee, or your favorite candy to the simple fudge recipe.
More Easy Fudge Recipes
- Chocolate frosting fudge is one of the easiest recipes. It only requires two ingredients and a microwave. It’s a delicious dessert. You simply melt chocolate chips and frosting, mix, and pour into a dish to set up.
- Peppermint white chocolate fudge only needs three simple ingredients for one delicious treat.
- Chocolate turtle fudge, as seen in the picture below, is one of the most delicious and easy fudge recipes to make. The combination of chocolate, caramel, and pecans is out of this world.
Does Fudge Melt In Hot Weather?
Fudge can melt in hot weather because it is usually made of chocolate which will melt in the heat.
Normally, if the fudge gets hot and melts, it will set up again when it cools. So, if you leave it in the car on accident and it melts, bring it inside and set it on the counter or in the fridge to firm up.
What Happens If You Over Beat Fudge?
Certain fudge recipes require you to beat the fudge or stir it often. However, you don’t want to stir too often or the fudge can get hard.
If you are boiling the fudge, stir it on occasion while it boils to keep it from burning on the bottom of the pan.
When you add the marshmallow cream and chocolate chips you can stir to melt and then pour it into the pan to cool.
Some recipes, like the Hershey’s Cocoa fudge recipe above, require you to cook the fudge, add a few ingredients, and then allow it to cool before stirring.
The recipe states once it cools to 130-degrees, you can stir until some of the shine becomes dull.
Fudge can be fickle, but if you take the time and follow the directions, you should have a delicious treat every time.
And just when you thought you’d seen it all when it came to fudge, you can add ingredients such as Velveeta Cheese for a creamy and rich dessert.
The popular recipe has been around a long time and lends itself to a salty sweet taste.
Just follow the step-by-step instructions and you’ll have delicious fudge every time.
Or give eggnog fudge a try. It’s perfect around the holidays.
What Size Baking Dish Do I Use?
Most fudge recipes call for a baking dish that is 9-inches by 13-inches. I like to put my fudge in a 9-inch by 9-inch pan because it makes the fudge thicker, but you will have less pieces.
But, it’s up to you what size you use for the fudge. If you have a larger crowd at a party, you will want to use a larger pan to get more pieces out of the recipe.
How Do You Make Fudge Soft Again?
It’s always a good idea to keep the fudge in an airtight container if stored on the counter or in the fridge.
If the fudge happens to get dry, you can try the old bread trick. Place a piece of bread in the sealed container and the fudge will reabsorb some of the moisture from the bread.
You can also try a damp paper towel instead of bread.
How Long Is Fudge Good For Not Refrigerated?
If you leave fudge on the counter in an airtight container it will last for about one to two weeks.
Fudge that is refrigerated will be good for about three weeks.
Should You Cover Fudge To Cool?
I typically allow the fudge to cool for at least an hour before covering it with any plastic wrap or anything because the heat can produce condensation if trapped. And, you don’t want your fudge to get wet.
After the fudge has cooled, you can add a covering.
If you leave your fudge out on the counter without a covering make sure kids and pets cannot reach it.
(Or a mom with a spoon who’s had a bad day – actually, let her have it. I’m pretty sure fudge heals all wounds, right? Ha! If anything, she’ll be in a better mood after she eats it).
What Is The Secret To Making Fudge?
Fudge is not something to be afraid of making. It’s a wonderful dessert, especially around the holidays. Plus, the sweet treat is the perfect gift any time of year.
There are a few secrets or “tricks” that will help you along the way.
- Have a prepared baking pan to pour the fudge into. Once it cooks, you want to get it out of the heat of the saucepan and into a pan to allow it to set up.
- Make sure you have a heavy saucepan that heats evenly and you’re less likely to end up with burnt fudge.
- Stir on occasion, but don’t over stir.
- Use a candy thermometer.
- Let it cool to room temperature (may take a few hours)
- Take your time and follow the directions.
- Don’t worry if it doesn’t turn out perfectly. It will most likely still taste great.
- Sometimes fudge takes practice. Don’t be afraid to try again and again.
If you have any more questions, please add them in the comments below and I will answer them them for you. Thanks!
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