Description
Classic Old Fashioned Fudge invites chocolate enthusiasts on a nostalgic journey through sweet, creamy indulgence. Rich cocoa blends with sugar and milk to create a melt-in-your-mouth treat that connects generations of dessert lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (680 g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) whole milk
- ⅔ cup (55 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup (57 g) butter
- 1 ½ tsps (7 g) butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil, thoroughly coating the surface with butter to guarantee effortless fudge removal.
- Foundation Blend: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, thoroughly combine cocoa powder, sugar, and salt, creating a harmonious dry mixture that will define the fudge’s rich flavor profile.
- Liquid Integration: Gently whisk milk into the dry ingredients, ensuring a silky-smooth consistency without any lingering lumps or uneven texture.
- Heat Management: Position the saucepan over medium heat, continuously stirring to prevent scorching and promote uniform heat distribution throughout the mixture.
- Boiling Point: Allow the mixture to reach a vigorous rolling boil, maintaining constant motion to safeguard the delicate sugar crystals from burning and maintain optimal flavor development.
- Temperature Precision: Deploy a candy thermometer and cease stirring, permitting the temperature to ascend precisely to 234°F – the critical soft-ball stage that determines fudge perfection.
- Flavor Infusion: Immediately remove from heat, tenderly introducing vanilla and remaining butter, leveraging residual warmth to seamlessly marry flavors without disrupting the delicate chemical transformation.
- Crystallization Phase: Permit the mixture to rest undisturbed, naturally cooling to 110°F to cultivate the ideal crystalline structure that defines exceptional fudge texture.
- Texture Transformation: Energetically beat the cooling fudge with a wooden spoon, metamorphosing its appearance from glossy to matte and developing a dense, creamy consistency.
- Finishing Touch: Carefully spread the fudge into the prepared pan, executing smooth, deliberate motions to ensure uniform thickness and a professional presentation, then allow to set completely at room temperature before slicing into precise 1-inch squares for serving.
Notes
- Temperature Precision: Use a reliable candy thermometer to hit exactly 234°F for perfect soft-ball stage, preventing grainy or hard fudge.
- Stirring Strategy: Continuously stir during initial heating to prevent sugar crystallization and ensure smooth, creamy texture.
- Cooling Technique: Let fudge cool undisturbed to 110°F before beating, which helps develop ideal crystalline structure and prevents graininess.
- Pan Preparation: Generously butter aluminum foil lining to guarantee easy fudge removal and clean cutting without sticking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 239
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg