Foolproof Chocolate Fudge

Sunday 3 December 2017


I am not sure where the tradition of making fudge at Christmas began, but I know that we always had a pan of fudge in our home for the Christmas holidays, the whole time I was growing up.  
 
Normally it would be my mother's peanut butter fudge.  What a treat that was!  She didn't have a recipe for it.  She made it off the top of her head.


She always used the same aluminum pot for it and filled it up according to the size of that pot with the ingredients needed for the fudge.  It turned out perfect every time and so delicious.  
 
One year I watched her making it and wrote down every thing she did, and composed my own measurements for it.  Somehow though, while it is still very good, it never quite tastes as good as the memory of hers tastes!  
 
Food memories have a tendancy to be like that!


My ex husband loved chocolate fudge and I had his mother's recipe for that.  Sometimes it turned out, other times it didn't.  
 
This chocolate fudge here today ALWAYS turns out.  It is fool proof.


Not only is it foolproof, but it is creamy and delicious and uses things you probably have in your kitchen right now. 
 
Well, if you are like me at any rate!


It has walnuts in it and chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk.  I am sure I probably got the recipe from a tin of the milk years and years ago.  
 
Whatever . . .  I can attest to the fact that is is truly no fail and always delicious.  You can of course leave out the nuts.


For the holidays I like to make it a little bit extra special and I shape it into a wreath, which is very easily done. 


You just shape it in a lined cake tin, around a small unopened tin of food that you have wrapped in cling film, and decorate with glace cherries to look like holly.  
 
Its a doddle and looks so pretty.


You can pop it into a pretty tin lined with tissue paper for gift giving.  I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy getting this for Christmas!


Its so creamy and delicious and so easy to make.  It's a win/win thing all around!


*Foolproof Chocolate Fudge*
Makes 1 pound

A Christmas Classic. Nothing could be easier than this! 

540g semi sweet chocolate chips (3 cups)
397g tin of sweetened condensed milk (1 14-oz tin) (NOT evaporated milk!)
pinch salt
90g chopped toasted walnuts (3/4 cup) (optional)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 


Optional for making a fudge wreath
2 red candied glace cherries
2 green candied glace cherries



Have ready a 8 or 9 inch square pan, which you have lined with greaseproof paper, wax paper or plastic cling film.  Alternately if you are making a wreath, line an 8 or 9 inch round tin. For the wreath, wrap a small sized tin with plastic cling film and place into the centre of the round tin.  


Put the milk and the chocolate chips into a heavy based saucepan, along with a pinch salt.  Heat slowly, over low heat, stirring often, until the chocolate has melted and you have a smooth and even mass.  Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and nuts (if using).  Spread into the prepared pan, according to what you are making.  If you are making a wreath, spread it into the tin right up to the can in the centre and around.  Cut the red cherries in half and place evenly spaced, rounded sides up, around the wreath.  Cut the green cherries into quarters and place two near each red cherry to resemble holly leaves.  


Cover and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours to set firm.  Lift out of the tin, peel off paper and cut into squares on a cutting board if you are doing a square tin. For the wreath, lift out of the tin, peel off paper and remove tin in the centre.  You can then place it into a decorative tin for gift giving.  Store any uneaten fudge, covered, in the refrigerator.



  My husband really likes this.  Funny, he is not fond of chocolate cakes or cookies, but chocolate candy or fudge he loves!  Especially if there are some toasted nuts and candied cherries involved!  Happy Holidays! 

This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com Thanks so much for visiting. Do come again!  


 




14 comments

  1. This looks absolutely wonderful. I'm dismal at chocolate fudge making. I'm looking forward to trying yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The only way possible to go wrong with this Katy, is to melt the chocolate and milk on too high a temperature. Keep it on low and stir it and you should have success! xoxo

      Delete
  2. Looks lovely, however I am always confused about what the UK equivalent of semi-sweet choc chips would be. I usually can only find milk, plain, or white. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Karen, I always buy my chocolate chips over here at Costco. You can also get them on Amazon. They come in a huge 2KG bag and it lasts me a long time, but they are reall good chocolate chips. Here is a link that you can use to buy them on Amazon with: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baking-Chocolate-Chips-Semi-Sweet-Value/dp/B00K25TH1G/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512366012&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Kirtland+Semi+Sweet+chocolate+chips

      I have bought small bags of the UK chocolate chips but I find they charge you a fortune in the shops for very few chocolate chips and they aren't even that good IMO. Hope this helps!

      Delete
  3. yummy and so simple,, I made this recipe last year with white chocolate chips and stirred in broken peanut butter cups lol,, and then one pan with gum drops,, the white chocolate chips and eaglebrand taste really good with gumdrops lol,, thanks for sharing Marie,, take care,,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds tasty Laurie. I wish we could get gumdrops over here. The candy they sell as American Hard Gums is not gumdrops at all. Its far too hard. Broken peanut butter cups, yum. I need to try to find some of those! xo

      Delete
  4. Marie, I am so delighted to "meet" you! I've seen you comment for a long while on Tracy and on Nana's blogs and Monique also often features your recipes. I knew I had to come "in person" because I love England (and was NEVER disappointed in their food.

    This is simply beautiful and so easy! I have a feeling this is on the Christmas cooking list. AND, I have to look up that peanut butter fudge recipe, too. It's a favorite and I've never had a good recipe! So thank you!
    ~ jeanie from Marmelade Gypsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jeanie, I am so pleased to meet you and yes this is the easiest fudge ever. It is pretty hard to mess it up! I have been friends with Tracy's and Monique's for a very long time now! Tracy and I have even been blessed enough to meet in person, back when her blog was known as Pink Pearl, and I was working at the Manor. She and TJ were in London and came down to Kent to spend the day with us. It was so wonderful! I love England also and have been in love with the food even before I knew what it was as a child when I was reading my Enid Blyton books! As an adult I was able to make a childhood dream come true and here I am! I shall look forward to a long association and friendship! xo

      Delete
  5. Ooh, so good. Love the tip about making it like a wreath.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It makes for a really pretty presentation Linda! xo

      Delete
  6. Could I use a Bundt pan for this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, I wouldn't. It would be far too much faffle. Doing it in a small round pan with a tin in the center will give you a very pretty result without a lot of bother. Hope this helps!

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by. I love to hear from you so do not be shy!


BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT OR RATING, ASK YOURSELF:
Did you make the recipe as directed? Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.

Is this comment helpful to other readers? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Remember that this website is run by a real person.

Are you here to complain about ads? Please keep in mind that I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising helps to defray my cost of doing so, and allows me to continue to post regular fresh content.

Thanks so much for your understanding! I appreciate you!