Homemade fudge

Fudge is always one of those things I’d wanted to try and it was a pretty last minute decision to make some for our neighbours!

This is very last minute for Christmas but not too late!

I’ll come completely clean at the outset as the first time I made it, the fudge didn’t harden…so after much research and browsing, I transferred the mixture back into the pan and tried again! This time it worked. I think that on the first attempt the mix hadn’t boiled for long enough.  So, don’t be disheartened…if it doesn’t work first time, don’t give up. My hubby commented it was the best fudge he’d tasted so let’s hope the extra boiling wasn’t the reason!!

Here’s how:

// Grease a 20cm x 20cm tin or you can use a disposable one which will save you wash up time!

// In a pan place all your ingredients except the vanilla essence. Bring slowly to the boil and, using a sugar thermometer, keep at the boil until you reach 115 degrees C. This is the ‘soft ball’ stage, where when you drop a little of the mix into a bowl of cold water and lift it out, it will form a ball between your fingers. If you don’t have a thermometer boil it for between 12-20 minutes testing for the soft ball between these times.

// When ready, lift the pan off the stove and add the vanilla essence.

// I mixed by hand using a whisk for about 10 minutes until the mixture had become very stiff and hard to get the whisk through. You can use an electric mixer…I would have, but mine is broken, so elbow grease it was!

// Transfer to the tin and leave to harden.

// Cut into small squares and we placed in little bags to give away as gifts!