Chocolate Fudge Presents Recipes

CHOCOLATE FUDGE PRESENTS

Steps:

• Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch pan. Sift cocoa powder and sugar into a medium bowl.
• Prepare an ice bath. In a small saucepan, combine milk and cocoa-powder mixture with a wooden spoon until a sandy, pastelike texture forms. Add chocolate, butter, and corn syrup. Cook on low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar has completely dissolved, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Using a pastry brush, wash down sides of pan with cold water. Increase heat to medium. When a candy thermometer registers 236 degrees 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 121 degrees, about 45 minutes.
• Using a wooden spoon, stir fudge briskly until it begins to lose its sheen, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in walnuts. Spread fudge into prepared pan with wooden spoon. Using your fingers, smooth fudge. Cover with plastic; chill 30 minutes. Cut into 1-inch squares.

OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Grease an 8x8 inch square baking pan. Set aside.
• Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. Do not stir again.
• Place candy thermometer in pan and cook until temperature reaches 238 degrees F(114 degrees C). If you are not using a thermometer, then cook until a drop of this mixture in a cup of cold water forms a soft ball. Feel the ball with your fingers to make sure it is the right consistency. It should flatten when pressed between your fingers.
• Remove from heat. Add butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Beat with a wooden spoon until the fudge loses its sheen. Do not under beat.
• Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Cut into about 60 squares.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Line an 18cm square tin with greaseproof paper.
• Put the milk, sugar and butter in a heavy-based saucepan. Heat gently, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted.
• Bring to the boil for 15-20 mins, still stirring all the time. The mixture will bubble up - when it does, take it off the heat and keep stirring it until it sinks back down. Then return it to the heat.
• Start to take the temperature after about 15 mins (continuing to stir or it will burn on the bottom). The time it takes to come up to temperature may vary, particularly in a cold kitchen. Once it reaches 115C on a temperature probe, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and a good pinch of sea salt. Leave to cool for 5 mins.
• Stir in the chopped chocolate and the mixture and keep stirring until the chocolate has melted. Quickly pour the mixture into your prepared tin and leave to set at room temperature.
• Before the fudge has completely set, you can add rows of different toppings like nuts, toffees or mini chocolate buttons - just scatter them over the surface and gently press into the fudge until they stick. Make sure the fudge is only slightly warm when you do this - if it's too hot the toppings can melt. Once set, cut the fudge into small pieces and store in a sealed container.