Old Fashioned Hard Fudge Recipes

OLD FASHIONED FUDGE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, stir together the cocoa powder, sugar and salt. Mix in corn syrup, and milk until well blended. Add butter, and heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. Stir occasionally.
• Remove from heat, and beat with a wooden spoon until the mixture is thick and loses its gloss. Stir in vanilla, and pour into a buttered 9x9 inch baking dish. Let cool until set. Cut into small squares to serve.

OLD FASHIONED CREAMY COCOA FUDGE

Steps:

• Line an 8"x8" pan** (See Notes) with parchment or non-stick foil with a piece that is long enough to line the bottom and come up and over two opposite sides of the pan. (use these as "handles" to get the cooled fudge out of the pan). Spray with pan spray. You can also spray or butter the pan well, but using parchment or non-stick foil will make it easier to get the fudge out of the pan.
• Place the sugar, cocoa powder, corn syrup, salt and milk in a heavy-bottomed saucepan that is much larger than you think you need. 3 quart size will work just fine.
• Stir well, and cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. You can stir it and scrape the sides of the pan until it starts to boil.
• Allow the mixture to boil until it reaches 234F. This is just under the soft ball stage, but this is the correct temperature for making cocoa fudge. (If you're making chocolate fudge, cook to 238F, which is the soft ball stage.)
• Move the pan off the burner and drop in the butter and the vanilla. Don't stir them in (if you stir too soon, you'll end up with grainy fudge).
• Let the mixture cool to 110F. The pan will feel warm but by no means hot. If you're using a "leave-in" candy thermometer, there will be no question. If you don't have one, occasionally check the temperature with your instant read thermometer (that's what I do).
• Once the candy has cooled to the correct temperature, begin stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon. You can also scoop up a bunch of the warm candy and let it pour back into the pot. This will make you feel fancy, and it will help to bring the temperature of the candy down more quickly. Keep stirring and stirring until the candy is just starting to lose its gloss and thicken up.
• Dump in the pecans if using, and stir them in quickly.
• Scrape the now-quite-thick fudge into the pan and moosh it into the corners with a spatula. I sprinkled some flaky sea salt on top of mine. You can too if you want. Or not.
• Allow the candy to set up for at least an hour before slicing with a sharp knife.
• Store at room temperature in a tightly-sealed container for 3-4 days. But it will be gone before then.

OLD FASHIONED FUDGE RECIPE

Steps:

• Butter a flat baking tray.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan and slowly add the sugar. When you can see the sugar just beginning to burn (little brown bits in it), then add the condensed milk.
• Now keep stirring with a wooden spoon (non-stop) - if you stop stirring, it will burn and you will have toffee stuck to the pan. It will change colour to light brown and then a darker brown. Keep stirring. Then at some point the mix will start to change texture.
• You will see what I mean - the mixture will start to change its consistency. At this point, and NO LATER, you pour it onto the baking tray. If you get it right, it should be fudge, and edible without breaking your teeth ☺️.
• If you get it wrong, the bottom of the pan will have dark brown burnt sugar residues, and you will have made toffee instead (also good !) The taste is the same, but it can break your teeth. The advantage is that the batch lasts longer, as the other consumers are away at the dentist ????.
• Before it has completely cooled mark into squares with a knife.

OLD FASHIONED HARD FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 8 or 9-inch square pan with foil. Generously grease the foil with butter. Combine the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Mix well. Using a wooden spoon (do not use a whisk), stir in the milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until the milk comes to a full, rolling boil. Let it boil without stirring until it reaches 234 degrees F on a candy thermometer (soft ball stage, drop a small amount in very cold water to test it - it should form a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water). Remove the pan from the heat. Add the butter and vanilla to the saucepan but DO NOT STIR. Just let the mixture sit until it has reached 110-120 degrees F. Once cooled, beat the fudge with the wooden spoon until it thickens and has lost some of its glossiness. Quickly spread the fudge in the greased pan. Let cool slowly (do not rush the cooling process or it may not set up) then cut into squares when completely cooled. Store the fudge wrapped loosely in foil in the refrigerator. cook's notes You can use other flavor extracts in place of vanilla (peppermint, caramel, strawberry, coffee, etc). Add-ins such as dried fruit or nuts can be added as it sets. Do not use margarine as it has a higher water content that can keep the fudge from setting up properly.

GRANDMA LORI'S OLD-FASHIONED FUDGE

Steps:

• Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch square pan.
• Combine dry ingredients in heavy 4 quart saucepan.
• Stir in milk.
• Bring to a "bubbly" boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• Boil, without stirring, to 234 degrees (soft ball stage). Remove from heat. Cool at room temperature to 110 degrees.
• Beat with wooden spoon until thickens and loses gloss.
• Quickly spread in prepared pan.

OLD FASHIONED PENUCHE FUDGE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a 3-quart saucepan combine both sugars and the milk and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, while stirring constantly. Once it reaches a boil, stop stirring the mixture (so fudge doesn't turn gritty).
• Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking mixture, without stirring, until it reaches the soft-ball stage, 236F/113C degrees.**If mixture is stirred after boiling and before cooling down, large sugar crystals will form and fudge will be gritty**
• Remove saucepan from the heat and add the butter and vanilla, but DO NOT STIR. Let the mixture cool without stirring until it reaches 110F/43C degrees. Start checking the temperature at 20 minutes and then check every 5 minutes, until it reaches 110F/43C.
• While the mixture is cooling, butter an 8-inch-square pan. Set aside.
• Once the mixture has cooled down, beat with a wooden spoon until the butter is fully incorporated and mixture starts to thicken. Quickly pour the fudge into the buttered pan before it becomes too solid. ***If using optional 1 cup chopped nuts, quickly stir them into the fudge right before pouring into the prepared pan***
• Let cool completely before cutting into 1-inch squares. Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator.

OLD FASHIONED CHOCOLATE FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• In a heavy medium saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa, and salt, and stir or whisk to mix everything well.
• Add the butter and place over medium heat, stirring to melt the butter and mix everything together into a smooth, brown sauce.
• Add the milk, stir well, and bring the frosting to a boil, stirring often and adjust the heat to maintain an active but gentle boil, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• When the frosting begins to thicken, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla and set it aside to cool for about 20 minutes.
• Beat the frosting just until it thickens and looks shiny, and then spread it over the cake or the layers you want to ice.

OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square pan with foil or wax or parchment paper and grease the inside with softened butter.
• Combine the chocolate chips, condensed milk and salt in a medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir the vanilla and the nuts, if using, into the chocolate mixture. Pour it into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Let the fudge sit in a very cool dry place until the fudge has set, or if your room is warm, chill but only after it comes to room temperature, about 1 hour more.
• Cut into 1-inch squares and serve. Store in an airtight container for up to a week, or in the fridge if it's not all that cool in your kitchen. Let come to room temp just before serving. Makes 64 pieces.

OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Grease an 8x8 inch square baking pan. Set aside.
• Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. Do not stir again.
• Place candy thermometer in pan and cook until temperature reaches 238 degrees F(114 degrees C). If you are not using a thermometer, then cook until a drop of this mixture in a cup of cold water forms a soft ball. Feel the ball with your fingers to make sure it is the right consistency. It should flatten when pressed between your fingers.
• Remove from heat. Add butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Beat with a wooden spoon until the fudge loses its sheen. Do not under beat.
• Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Cut into about 60 squares.