Best Vanilla Fudge Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2024)

  • add review
  • #52373

Fudge may often be a chocolate affair, but a good vanilla variety can hold its own any day. This treat is great when studded with pecans or macadamia nuts, or extra-pretty when swirled with raspberry jam.

Best Vanilla Fudge Recipe | CDKitchen.com (1)


serves/makes:

ready in:

2-5 hrs

3 reviews
4 comments


ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 can (5 ounce size) evaporated milk
1/3 cup milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
broken nuts (optional)

directions

Line an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan or 8x8 pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Butter foil; set aside. Butter the sides of a heavy 2-quart saucepan.

In saucepan combine sugar, evaporated milk, milk, and salt. Cook and stir over medium-high heat to boiling. Carefully clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan. Cook and stir over medium-low-heat to 238 degrees F, soft-ball stage (this should take 25 to 35 minutes). Immediately remove saucepan from heat.

Add butter and vanilla, but do not stir. Cool mixture, without stirring, to 110 degrees F, lukewarm (about 55 minutes).

Remove candy thermometer from saucepan. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon till fudge becomes very thick and just starts to lose its gloss (about 10 minutes total). Do not over-beat. Immediately spread fudge into the prepared pan.

Score into 1-inch squares while warm. Top each square with a piece of nut, if desired. When candy is firm, use the foil to lift the fudge out of the pan. Cut into squares. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator.

added by

031984

nutrition data for best vanilla fudge

138 calories, 4 grams fat, 26 grams carbohydrates, 1 grams protein per 1 ounce piece. This recipe is low in sodium.



more recipes like best vanilla fudge

TRADITIONAL FUDGE IN THE MICROWAVE

OLD FASHIONED HARD FUDGE

THREE MINUTE MICROWAVE FUDGE

SHARP CAROUSEL MICROWAVE FUDGE

DARK DOUBLE CHOCOLATE FUDGE

MAMIE EISENHOWER'S MILLION DOLLAR FUDGE


reviews & comments for best vanilla fudge

  1. Guest Foodie December 11, 2019

    I don’t know what I did wrong because I’ve made toffee many times but my fudge is not even thicker than pudding and won’t thicken

    • CDKitchen Staff Reply:

      Either it wasn't cooked long enough or it wasn't cooled long enough. Either can affect the outcome.

  2. pattycakes REVIEW:
    November 6, 2013

    I got this to work but it took two tries. Here's what I did that worked: First, dissolve the sugar, milks, and salt over medium heat first. Don't boil until the sugar is blended in. I had to buy a new candy thermometer after the first time I tried it because I dropped it so I don't know if may be my thermometer was off the first time or what. I did not let it cool 55 minutes. It was maybe 35 minutes, then I started stirring. The first time it was 55 minutes and like others it was a rock. But I don't know if that was the method of letting the sugar dissolve before boiling or the cooling time. Overall the fudge (finally) turned out decent but it's definitely a finicky recipe. I'm giving it 4 stars purely on taste because if it was method I was rating it would probably be a 2.

  3. Carol December 4, 2011

    I followed this recipe to the letter. I did use a candy thermometer, for the first time. It was the first time I tried to make fudge and was so disappointed because it came out like a rock. When I tried to beat as they said to,after the 55 minutes of cooling to 110 degrees, I couldn't budge anything, it was a solid mass like concrete. My husband used a chisel to break everything apart and I am soaking my pot.I don't know what to say went wrong or how to fix it, since I have never made fudge before and never used a candy thermometer before. Maybe not leaving it sit for 55 minutes would help. Not sure.I do hope someone can figure out what went wrong with this recipe.

  4. Guest Foodie REVIEW:
    August 26, 2011

    I'm learning to make fudge. Some tips that I've learned so far. 1. Test your thermometer to see if it is working properly. Also, if you live at high altitude, for every 1,000 ft subtract 2 degrees from the recipe cooking temperature to achieve soft ball stage. 2. Spray sides of pan and wooden spoon with oil. 3. Have the heat on warm to melt the sugar. Stir and stir. Rub the sugar syrup in between your fingers for smoothness. Don't bring it to a boil before all of sugar is melted.3. Periodically wash off wooden spoon before you put it back into the syrup. This will remove any dried sugar crystals from being reintroduced into the syrup.4. Once sugar is all melted, with a wet pastry brush, brush down the sides of the pan really well several times before the sugar comes to boil. Any sugar crystals remaining on side of pan can fall back into the syrup making it grainy. Maybe add 2 1/2 tablespoons of corn syrup to break down the sugar?5. Keep temp to just boiling. Can't rush fudge. I live at high altitude and it takes me 3 hours to make it. hope this helps....

  5. Brian November 3, 2010

    I have actually made this recipe several times and it works great. Setting like concrete probably means the mixture was heated to too high a temp. At the end of the 55 minutes it should still be soft ball stage.

  6. BUYINGNEWPANS August 15, 2010

    This recipe does not work followed the recipe to the letter everything was fine up until the leaving it to cool for 55 minutes before beating in the butter :O thought this was odd all I got from this recipe was a solid mass in the bottom of the pan with melted butter ontop had to throw out my pan, wooden spoon and anything else I used for this recipe as it was all set like concrete! severley wouldnt recommend this recipe! It was a costly mistake follwing this recipe!!! I think this was either wrongly typed or the poster hadn't actually tried the recipe out?? I think the mistake was in the order of the recipe and the ooling in the middle part all other recipes I have seen add all ingredients together and definately dont have a coool the heated suger and milk for an hour :D I honestly thought this would happen but trusted the poster! I think this recipe could be improved by being totally rethought and tested before posting!!

    • CDKitchen Staff Reply:

      Actually, there are lots of fudge recipes that specify you cool it to 110F before proceeding (which is what this specifies). Did you check it with a candy thermometer?

  7. littlemissxx REVIEW:
    July 20, 2007

    easy to follow recipe which made a mountain of gorgeous fudge. I split the mixture and added a few drops of strong coffee instead of vanilla. A tip i read earlier suggested cream of tartar prevents 'sugaring' will let you know as this will be a much used recipe!I found the best measurement conversion was (esp for those in UK)
    1 cup granulated sugar=200g
    1 cup confectioner/icing sugar=110g
    1 cup evap milk=half pint

');

Best Vanilla Fudge Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Tips for Making Fudge
  • Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
  • Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
  • Beat Thoroughly.
Mar 8, 2023

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

To fix oily, hard or grainy fudge, scoop the fudge back into a pot with about a cup of water. Cook it over low heat until the fudge dissolves. Then bring the fudge back up to the temperature specified in the recipe and follow the remaining steps. The flavor may be slightly diluted, but the texture will be improved.

What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›

Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

What makes high quality fudge? ›

You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

Do you stir fudge while it is boiling? ›

Brush the sides of the pan with a wet brush at the beginning of cooking to dissolve sugar crystals stuck to the sides. Never stir the mixture during cooking or sugar could crystallize again. The mixture may seize and become grainy. Use a candy thermometer or conduct a cold water test to check if the fudge is done.

Why is my old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›

If you didn't reach the correct temperature during the cooking process, it might not set properly. Use a candy thermometer to ensure that you reach the recommended temperature. Overcooking or Undercooking:Solution: Cooking the fudge for too long or too short a time can affect its texture.

Why isn't my fudge creamy? ›

Fudge usually behaves this way when it's not cooked to a high enough temperature (due to oversight or a faulty candy thermometer). If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature.

What causes fudge not to harden? ›

Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set

If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.

Why do you add vanilla to fudge? ›

Vanilla is often added to chocolate candies or other chocolate recipes because it complements and accents the flavor of chocolate.

What is the ball method fudge? ›

According to most recipes, the ingredients of fudge are cooked to what is termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.

How do you firm up homemade fudge? ›

If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream. Stir the fudge as it heats, but only until the sugar in the chocolate is completely melted again.

Why does my fudge crumble when I cut it? ›

The ingredients for fudge are combined and cooked to 234 degrees, cooled to 110 degrees without stirring, then beaten until creamy. Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard.

What can I use instead of cream of tartar in fudge? ›

Buttermilk. The acid in buttermilk makes it a good stand-in for cream of tartar in baking recipes, as long as you reduce the amount of liquid in the rest of the recipe. For each 1/4 tsp. of cream of tartar that the recipe calls for, remove a 1/2 cup of liquid from the recipe and replace it with 1/2 cup of buttermilk.

How do you keep fudge from being sugary? ›

If the sugar crystals are not properly dissolved before cooling, they can create a gritty texture. To avoid this, ensure that you stir the fudge mixture consistently and remove any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan using a wet pastry brush.

How do you keep fudge smooth? ›

If the sugar crystals are not properly dissolved before cooling, they can create a gritty texture. To avoid this, ensure that you stir the fudge mixture consistently and remove any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan using a wet pastry brush.

What would cause fudge not to harden? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

What do I do if my fudge doesn't harden? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

What thickens fudge? ›

If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream. Stir the fudge as it heats, but only until the sugar in the chocolate is completely melted again.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6143

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.