How do you make old-fashioned fudge?

Old-fashioned fudge is an American candy that dates back to the 1880s and is considered a drier form of fondant. Recipes have basic ingredients, such as chocolate, butter and sugar, that are combined and cooked on a stove. While it may look simple, it can be easy to undercook or overcook the batch when making fudge.

Old-Fashioned Fudge

This old-fashioned fudge recipe has similar ingredients to original recipes and omits more recent ingredients, such as corn syrup:

Prep time: 15 min.

Cook time: 30 min.

Total time: 45 min.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup dark unsweetened cocoa
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

1. Line a pan

Line a 8- to 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil.

2. Mix ingredients

Mix sugar, salt and cocoa in a 4-quart saucepan. Stir in the milk.

3. Cook the mixture

Cook the mixture over a stove set at medium heat. Make sure to constantly stir the mixture until it reaches a rolling boil.

4. Boil the mixture

Stop stirring and let the mixture continue to boil until it reaches 234 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be measured using a candy thermometer.

5. Remove from heat

Remove the saucepan from the stove. Add the butter and vanilla extract and let the mixture cool to 110 F. Do not stir during this time.

6. Beat mixture with a wooden spoon

Beat the mixture until it thickens and begins to lose its gloss.

7. Spread into the pan

Spread the fudge into the pan and let it cool completely. Cut the fudge into 36 squares.