Brown Sugar Pecan Fudge Balls Recipes

BROWN SUGAR FUDGE, THE OLD FASHIONED WAY

Steps:

• Lightly grease an 8x8 inch pan and line it with parchment paper. (The size is important, see note)
• In a medium sized saucepan, melt the butter slowly over medium low heat.
• Add the white sugar, brown sugar and evaporated milk. Increase heat to medium.
• Bring to a gentle gentle, constant boil.
• Cook until the mixture reaches between 236 and 238 degrees F. Stir only very occasionally, perhaps just a couple of times. Over-stirring can cause crystallization of the sugar and your fudge will seize.
• As soon as the mixture hits the correct temperature, remove the pan from the heat.
• Quickly but gently stir in the vanilla extract.
• Allow this mixture to remain at room temperature until lukewarm. Do NOT try to speed this process up by placing in the fridge or freezer.
• When cooled to lukewarm, beat the fudge mixture with a wooden spoon until it loses its glossy appearance and begins to thicken more.
• Stir in the nuts at this point if you are adding them.
• Pour evenly into the prepared pan.
• Leave for several hours to set until firm.
• Lift the fudge out of the pan using the parchment paper and transfer it to a cutting board.
• Cut into 64 one inch squares, or larger if you prefer.
• Store in an airtight container. I do like to refrigerate mine once it is cooled completely and cut.
• If freezing fudge, cut the batch into 4 equal squares, and wrap each one tightly with plastic wrap before placing in an airtight container to freeze. This will allow you to take out one or two of the larger pieces and then cut them into portions as needed.

BROWN SUGAR-PECAN FUDGE BALLS

Steps:

• Coat inside of medium metal bowl with 1/2 teaspoon butter. Place remaining butter in same bowl; set aside.
• Combine sugars, half and half and salt in medium saucepan that's at least 4 inches deep. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir over medium-low heat until sugars are almost dissolved, frequently brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 12 minutes. Increase heat to medium. Continue to stir until syrup comes to boil, occasionally brushing down sides of pan, about 10 minutes longer. Attach candy thermometer. Boil syrup without stirring until candy thermometer registers 234°F, about 16 minutes (caramel will bubble vigorously in pan).
• Attach thermometer to bowl with butter. Pour caramel over butter (do not scrape pan). Add vanilla (but do not stir). Cool caramel just to 112°F, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat caramel until sheen just begins to disappear and mixture thickens slightly, about 4 minutes. Stir in chopped pecans. Cool mixture until thick enough to roll into balls, about 2 hours.
• Line 4 baking sheets with waxed paper. Using about 1 tablespoon mixture for each ball, spoon mixture in 48 mounds on 1 sheet. Press or roll each mound between palms of hands into ball. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Stir chocolate in medium bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until smooth and candy thermometer registers 115°F (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Remove from over water. Drop 1 ball into chocolate. Using fork, turn to coat. Using fork tines, lift ball from chocolate, allowing excess to drip into bowl. Using knife as aid, slide ball off fork onto second prepared sheet. Repeat with 15 balls, rewarming chocolate as needed to maintain temperature of 115°F. While chocolate is still wet, sprinkle with 1/4 cup sprinkles. Repeat with remaining fudge balls and sprinkles in 2 more batches, placing 16 balls on each of remaining 2 unused sheets.
• Chill balls until coating is firm, about 30 minutes. (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Refrigerate in covered containers.) Let stand 20 minutes at room temperature before serving.