Fudge

Fudge

1 h 30 min
Chocolate fudge is a sweet, irresistible treat perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. Sink your teeth into a moist, smooth piece of confection flavoured with your favourite type of chocolate – fresh white, sweet milk, or bitter dark. Delicious as a sweet treat to serve with a of hot beverage, this smooth and creamy confection is also perfect for gifting. So, make a batch and prepare thoughtful, homemade gifts or spoil your friends and family with a sweet treat for the next teatime.
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https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/fudge1/

Instructions

  • Mix cream, sugar, syrup, and salt in a large thick-bottomed saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring continuously. Boil without a lid for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • The mixture is ready when its temperature reaches 124°C – use a sugar thermometer to measure its temperature. Alternatively, use the ‘soft-ball stage' test method; pour a few drops of the mixture into ice-cold water to test if these can be formed into quite firm but slightly pliable balls.
  • Remove saucepan from the heat and add butter and chocolate. Stir until butter and chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth, and it starts looking matt, having lost its sheen.
  • Pour mixture into a cake pan (approx. 10 x 15 cm) lined with sheet paper. Allow it to cool completely on the worktop.
  • Lift the sheet paper out of the cake pan and use a sharp, cold knife to cut about 48 pieces.
  • Store fudge pieces on top of sheet paper in an airtight container somewhere cool.
Enjoy!
Tips

The texture is everything, and you do not want a neither too hard nor too soft mouthfeel. Luckily, you can fix it if the texture is not perfect. The method is the same, whether you want to soften or harden it; put it in a saucepan with some water or cream and reheat it on low heat until it dissolves. Taste the mixture and add more flavouring in case you feel the water or cream has diluted its taste. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a boil once more until it reaches 124°C. Remember not to stir too often to avoid over-crystallisation.

Tips

Then, take it off the heat, and stir while it cools until it is not glossy anymore and it starts to thicken. Pour the mixture into a cake pan and wait to see if it sets properly this time.

Tips

Remember to check your candy thermometer to see if it needs to be recalibrated. Maybe it shows the wrong temperature, making it difficult to get the texture right.

Questions about fudge

With our simple and easy fudge recipe, you can serve delicious homemade chocolate fudge bars for guests or pamper your family in no time. Interested in learning more about it? Then, read our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below and make your way to the kitchen!

What is chocolate fudge?
Chocolate fudge is a type of confectionary sugar candy with cream, sugar, syrup, salt, and butter combined with your favourite kind of chocolate. Make a milk, white or dark chocolate depending on which flavour profile you enjoy the most. Cut in squares to make bite-sized fudge bars and enjoy! They make the perfect gift for loved ones, hostess gifts, or simply a delicious treat to eat at home.
How to make chocolate fudge?
Our fudge recipe is quite simple; start by combining all ingredients except for butter and chocolate. Stir it constantly while bringing to a boil, then stir only occasionally to avoid crystallisation. The secret to the right silky-smooth and delicious texture lies in the temperature, the sugar and cream mixture being heated to 124°C and then slowly cooled when mixing with butter and chocolate. Leave to set and cool completely on the worktop in a lined cake pan before enjoying the soft and chewy treat.
Can you freeze fudge?
To save fudge for another time, you can freeze it. Before or after cutting it into pieces, wrap it first in cling film, then aluminium foil, before placing it into an airtight container to ensure its smooth and moist texture. Wrapping prior to cutting will ease the process. It will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw it on the worktop for a few hours before enjoying it.
How long does fudge last?
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, it will be good for 2-3 weeks. If you are unsure whether it is still fit for consumption, look out for signs like a dry-looking, cracked surface or liquid surrounding it. These are sadly signs of your homemade treat being spoiled.
Does fudge need to be refrigerated?
You do not need to store fudge in the fridge. The cold environment will deplete it of its moisture, making it dried-out and hard – a texture you will want to avoid! As such, storing it in a refrigerator will result in a crumbly texture that has a very different mouthfeel than intended. Instead, store it out of the fridge in an airtight container.
How long does fudge take to set?
Setting homemade fudge at room temperature on a worktop may take up to 3 hours, but it is perfectly safe to leave it out overnight. Just cover it with a dishtowel to prevent anything (or anyone) getting into it. To harden it faster, pop it in the fridge for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The cold refrigerator environment changes the texture very quickly though, and as such, you need to keep an eye on it because the refrigerator may dry it out, changing the mouthfeel considerably. Do not attempt to speed up the setting time by placing it in the freezer as it will freeze rather than set.
How to tell if fudge is ready without a thermometer?
Without a sugar thermometer, it is very difficult to know when the mixture has reached 124°C exactly. However, using the 'soft-ball stage' method, you can determine if it is ready or not. Pour drops of the mixture into a glass of ice-cold water and observe how they behave. If the drops form soft balls that are firm, yet pliable when touched, the mixture is ready to be poured into a cake pan.

Ingredients

Double cream
1½ dl
Sugar (approx. 1½ dl)
125 g
Light syrup (approx. 150 g)
1 dl
Flaky salt
1 tsp
Butter in pieces
50 g
Finely chopped chocolate of your choice (white, milk, or dark)
100 g
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Easy fudge – the traditional way

Simple ingredients like cream, syrup, sugar, butter, and chocolate come together in this traditional fudge recipe to create a beautiful sweet, caramelised, and buttery flavour as well as a firm but moist, smooth-textured treat. All these beautiful flavours as well as that of your chocolate of choice are enhanced by the addition of a little flaky salt. The delicious no-bake confection seems to melt in your mouth.

In the mood for more amazing no-bake confectionary desserts? Try a no-bake strawberry cheesecake, have a look at our delicious and easy rocky road filled with marzipan, marshmallows, nuts, and candy or use your leftover cake to make scrumptious rum cake balls.

Bite into a smooth and flavourful fudge

Our easy fudge recipe can be made using different types of chocolate. Chocolate fudge made with white, milk, or dark chocolate has very distinctive flavours, making them perfect for picking and choosing exactly the one you like the most – it is the perfect excuse for trying out this recipe multiple times with different types of chocolate!

White chocolate fudge

A white chocolate fudge recipe yields a light golden-coloured confection. White chocolate has a delicate flavour with hints of floral vanilla undertones. Using this type of chocolate makes for a sweet and creamy treat with a buttery, sweet vanilla flavour with notes of fresh milk, mixing deliciously with the silky-smooth texture of the delightful bars.

Milk chocolate fudge

A milk chocolate fudge recipe will result in a light-brown confection with the well-known milky-sweet chocolate flavour. It has a sweet, yet still complex, chocolate flavour that is smooth and delicate, and eating it almost makes you think of having a candy bar. As such, it will be a hit with kids as well as adults.

Dark chocolate fudge

If you enjoy a deep, intense chocolate flavour, make a dark chocolate fudge. These dark-brown delights are incredibly decadent. The bitter complexity for which dark chocolate is so well-loved complements the confection’s buttery sweetness  and makes for a treat that is, at the same time, both intense and light.

Add flavour and texture

To mix it up, try adding coarsely chopped nuts like hazelnut, almond, walnut, or pistachio. This will add texture to your homemade treats as well as a nutty, earthy flavour. Hazelnut and salted peanuts pair especially well with milk chocolate, while a dark chocolate is wonderful with almonds and walnuts. The pops of green pistachio will look most beautiful with white chocolate and may lead some to think of French nougat. You can also add freeze dried raspberries to the white chocolate variation for a delicious berry flavour.

For a more adult take, add coffee liqueur and crushed coffee granulates to dark chocolate fudge bars. It will get a kick from the alcohol as well as an earthiness and slight bitterness from the coffee that makes for a complex flavour experience. A rich, bitter dark chocolate fudge may also be complemented by the addition of homemade marshmallows which will add sweetness as well as a delightful chewy texture to the smooth treat.

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