Homemade fudge is, I think, the most quintessential holiday treat. Sadly, though, almost every recipe for chocolate fudge that you see today is the melt-a-bag-of-this-and-add-a-can-of-that variety.
It’s not that I have anything against these types of recipes in and of themselves, but I have neither chocolate chips (for the very simple reason that if I did, I’d eat them up. Darn chocolate addiction), nor sweetened, condensed milk in my pantry on a regular basis.
Beyond that, I’ll reiterate what I already mentioned in the Pumpkin Spice Fudge recipe (which, by the way, is absolutely amazing): I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with making something completely from scratch. It’s just so satisfying!
It also seems that making things from scratch is becoming a lost art, and I want to do my part to preserve it. 😉 Alright, fine. I do it as much for the taste as for anything else. You can’t deny that food made from scratch is truly amazing!
Recipe For Chocolate Fudge
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup milk
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons butter
dash of salt
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Butter the sides of a heavy 2-quart saucepan. In it, combine sugar, milk, cocoa, and 2 tablespoons. butter, salt, and cream of tartar.
Place over medium heat and stir until sugar is dissolved.
Immediately remove from heat. Dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and let cool to lukewarm (about 110°F) without stirring.
Add vanilla and beat vigorously until fudge becomes thick and begins to lose its gloss. An immersion blender works wonderfully to speed up the process (if you have one), but a fork works just fine, too.  At this point, you can add chopped pecans, walnuts, or whatever your heart desires. 🙂
Quickly spread fudge into a buttered shallow pan – I use a 9×5 bread pan for this size recipe.
Score while the meat is warm, then cut when it is firm.
I used to work at a fudge shop and we would pour it out onto a marble table and mix it by hand until it was creamy. I had completely forgotten how to make the fudge though but now I’ve got yours! Thanks for the recipe.
I will have to try making fudge from scratch! I almost did this weekend, then I opted for an easier version. I think I was intimidated by the “soft-ball stage,” but I do have a candy therm. I will have to give it a go! I bake a lot, but I only do candy making during the holidays, so I am not quite as confident. My husband loves experimenting and trying new things, maybe we can try it together!
Oh thank you for sharing, my son always makes me fudge when he comes to visit and I never thought to get him to make chocolate fudge! We had one issue and that was putting it somewhere to set where we can remove it afterwards, we use my rubber cake moulds it comes straight off when cold.
YESSSS thank you!!! Real fudge! Like what we made in home ec in school. Fudge is kind of a big deal in my home state (MI). We make it in our middle school home ec classes, so anyone that is intimidated by fudge don’t be! Children with no cooking experience make it without thermometers, it is complete do able! Love fudge, everyone should make real fudge (not that marshmallow fluff crap people CALL fudge >.<).
I used to work at a fudge shop and we would pour it out onto a marble table and mix it by hand until it was creamy. I had completely forgotten how to make the fudge though but now I’ve got yours! Thanks for the recipe.
I will have to try making fudge from scratch! I almost did this weekend, then I opted for an easier version. I think I was intimidated by the “soft-ball stage,” but I do have a candy therm. I will have to give it a go! I bake a lot, but I only do candy making during the holidays, so I am not quite as confident. My husband loves experimenting and trying new things, maybe we can try it together!
Oh thank you for sharing, my son always makes me fudge when he comes to visit and I never thought to get him to make chocolate fudge! We had one issue and that was putting it somewhere to set where we can remove it afterwards, we use my rubber cake moulds it comes straight off when cold.
I love your Fudge recipe, it looks awesome! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a very special Christmas week!
Miz Helen
YESSSS thank you!!! Real fudge! Like what we made in home ec in school. Fudge is kind of a big deal in my home state (MI). We make it in our middle school home ec classes, so anyone that is intimidated by fudge don’t be! Children with no cooking experience make it without thermometers, it is complete do able! Love fudge, everyone should make real fudge (not that marshmallow fluff crap people CALL fudge >.<).
I have never thought of using an immersion blender! I pour it into my KitchenAid and let it do the work. ????
It turned to powder as soon as I stirred it. I’m heartbroken