Van Winkles Homemade Opera Fudge Recipes

OPERA FUDGE

Steps:

• Butter a rimmed baking sheet; set aside.
• Mix sugar and cream together in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place over medium-low heat and bring to a boil. Add butter, and cook, without stirring, until mixture reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer, 50 to 60 minutes.
• Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Let cool 2 hours. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in vanilla. Using your hands, begin to pull and press the mixture. Keep pulling and kneading mixture until it lightens in color, loses its shine, and no longer sticks to your fingers, 15 to 45 minutes. Roll mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm and cold, about 10 minutes.
• In a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water, melt chocolate and food paraffin, stirring until smooth and well combined. Using a toothpick, dip each ball into chocolate mixture, and return to baking sheet. Refrigerate until fudge is chilled and chocolate has set, about 30 minutes. Bring to room temperature before serving.

OPERA FUDGE

Steps:

• Butter sides of a heavy 2 quart saucepan.
• In it combine sugar milk cream corn syrup and salt.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to boiling.
• Cook to soft ball stage (236°F).
• Immediately remove from heat.
• Cook to lukewarm (110°F) without stirring.
• Add butter and vanilla.
• Beat vigorously until mixture becomes very thick and starts to lose its gloss.
• Quickly stir in cherries and pour into buttered shallow pan. Mark while warm; cut when firm.

WHITE FUDGE (OPERA FUDGE)

Steps:

• Oil a jelly roll pan OR an 8 x 8 pan.
• Combine the sugar, cream and salt in a 3 quart heavy pot, stirring to blend well
• Place over medium heat and, stirring constantly, bring to a boil.
• Cover and let boil for 2 or 3 minutes.
• Uncover and wash down the sides of the pot with a pastry brush dipped in cold water
• Continue to boil over medium heat, WITHOUT STIRRING, until the syrup reaches the soft ball stage (234F)
• Remove the pot to a cooling rack and let cool to lukewarm (110F) WITHOUT STIRRING.
• Add the vanilla, whip until creamy, then spread in the oiled pan.
• To keep it creamy, cover the top of the candy with a damp cloth or paper towel for at least 30 minutes.
• Uncover, let set until firm and cut into squares.
• Store in airtight container.

SPICED PUMPKIN FUDGE

Steps:

• Line 13 x 9-inch baking pan with foil.
• Combine sugar, brown sugar, evaporated milk, pumpkin, butter and spice in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 10 to 12 minutes or until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees F to 240 F (soft-ball stage).
• Quickly stir in morsels, marshmallow creme, nuts and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until morsels are melted. Immediately pour into prepared pan. Let stand on wire rack for 2 hours or until completely cooled. Refrigerate tightly covered. To cut, lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Makes about 3 pounds.