Country House Fudge Martha Dixon Recipes

MARTHA'S CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• You will need a candy thermometer. Make your fudge on a dry day. Too much humidity will keep the fudge from setting up properly.
• Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch pan and place it in the fridge. Alternately, use a loaf pan if you want really thick pieces.
• Sift cocoa powder and sugar into a medium bowl.
• Prepare an ice bath. I use my sink, filling it with approximately 2" of water, then adding a bunch of ice.
• In a small saucepan, combine milk and cocoa-powder mixture with a wooden spoon until a sandy, paste like texture forms.
• Add chocolate, butter, and corn syrup.
• Cook on med-low heat (don't let it boil yet), stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved completely (very important), 7 to 10 minutes.
• Using a pastry brush dipped in cold water, wash down any sugar crystals that form along the sides of pan.
• Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, making sure the tip of the thermometer does not touch the bottom of the pan.
• Increase heat a bit until the fudge starts to boil. When the fudge begins to boil, stop stirring and don't stir AT ALL for the rest of the cooking time or the fudge will be grainy.
• Keep the syrup boiling, being careful that it doesn't boil over.
• When the candy thermometer registers 236°, remove the pan from heat, and place in ice bath for 5 seconds.
• Transfer pan to a heat-proof surface, and let sit until thermometer registers 110°, about 45 minutes.
• Add vanilla, and using a wooden spoon (or electric hand mixer), stir fudge briskly until it thickens and begins to lose its sheen, 2 to 3 minutes (it may take a little longer to set up. Depending on the humidity in the air, it could take as much as 10 minutes).
• Stir in walnuts, if desired.
• Spread fudge into prepared pan with wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap; chill 30-60 minutes. Cut into 1-inch squares.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE 101

Steps:

• Butter an 8-inch square baking pan; line with parchment paper, allowing a 1-inch overhang. Butter parchment paper, and set aside. Check the calibration of the candy thermometer. Put butter into a large bowl, and set over a wire rack; set aside. Put cream, sugar, chocolate, corn syrup, and salt into a medium heavy saucepan.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved and chocolate has melted, about 10 minutes. Raise heat to medium. Bring mixture to a boil, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Attach warm thermometer to pan; continue to cook, without stirring, until mixture registers 238 degrees (soft-ball stage), 10 to 15 minutes.
• Immediately pour mixture into bowl with butter (do not scrape out the bottom of the pan). Attach thermometer to bowl. Let mixture cool, undisturbed, until it registers 110 degrees, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove thermometer. Transfer bowl to a work surface. Using a wooden spoon, begin to gently stir mixture.
• Continue to stir, gradually increasing speed until mixture thickens, lightens in color, and loses its sheen, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Pour into prepared pan. Using a small offset spatula, quickly spread fudge to sides of pan, and smooth top. Let fudge cool in pan on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Cover with plastic, and refrigerate until completely set, about 8 hours. Run a sharp knife around nonparchment sides to loosen; lift fudge out. Cut into 64 one-inch pieces. Fudge can be refrigerated between layers of parchment in an airtight container up to 1 week; bring to room temperature before serving.

SIMPLE CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Butter an 8-inch square baking pan; line with 2 crisscrossed pieces of parchment paper, leaving an overhang. Butter paper.
• In a large saucepan, combine butter, marshmallows, sugar, cream, and salt; cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until marshmallows are melted, 8 to 10 minutes. Off heat, stir in vanilla, chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup walnuts until chocolate is melted.
• Pour fudge into prepared pan, and smooth top; sprinkle with remaining walnuts. Let cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
• Using overhang, lift fudge onto a cutting board; cut into squares (6 rows by 6 rows).

MARSHMALLOW FUDGE

Steps:

• Lightly brush an 8-inch baking pan with butter, then line with parchment, leaving 2-inch overhang on two sides. Lightly butter parchment.
• In a medium saucepan, combine remaining 2 tablespoons butter, sugar, evaporated milk, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, then cook for 3 minutes more, until pale golden and thickened slightly. Remove from heat and stir in marshmallows until mostly melted, then add chocolate and vanilla. Stir until chocolate and marshmallows have melted completely and mixture is smooth. Pour into prepared pan; smooth top with a spatula.
• Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours. Remove parchment with fudge from pan and cut into 36 squares. Fudge can be stored refrigerated, covered with plastic, up to 1 week.