Homemade fudge is really something special, isn’t it? It reminds me of family get-togethers, holiday treats, and those sweet afternoons I spent in the kitchen with my grandma. Making Old-Fashioned Fudge always makes me smile because it reminds me of all the times I helped Grandma stir the chocolate mixture while laughing at her silly stories and her secret ingredient: a pinch of love, of course!
This fudge recipe is just like Grandma’s: rich, creamy, and so good. There are no fancy things going on here; just a few simple ingredients that come together to make something amazing. This fudge is great for any occasion, whether you cut it into small squares to share or keep it all for yourself (no judgment here!).
What goes into Old-Fashioned Fudge?
Let’s look more closely at the simple but great ingredients that make this fudge a classic.
Cocoa powder is the main ingredient! The fudge has a rich chocolate flavor because it uses high-quality cocoa powder. I like to use Dutch-processed cocoa for deeper flavors, but regular unsweetened cocoa works great too.
Granulated Sugar: The thing that makes it sweet! This is what makes the fudge melt in your mouth. Don’t cut corners on this; it’s just the right amount to balance out the chocolatey goodness.
Butter: Ah, the thick, creamy part that ties everything together! I always use unsalted butter to keep the fudge from being too salty.
Evaporated milk gives it that creamy feel. You can’t just use regular milk; you need that concentrated creaminess to get the right consistency.
Vanilla Extract: A little bit of vanilla makes this fudge even better! For the best flavor, you should use pure vanilla extract. Don’t use any fake stuff.
Chopped Nuts (optional): I like to add walnuts or pecans for some crunch, but you don’t have to!
Is it good for you to eat old-fashioned fudge?
We can all agree that Old-Fashioned Fudge is a tasty treat, but we should be careful about what goes into it.
Cocoa powder has some antioxidants and can be good for your heart if you don’t eat too much of it.
Butter and sugar are definitely not the healthiest things on the show. Fudge is best enjoyed as a special treat every now and then, not every day.
Nuts add some protein and healthy fats, which makes the fudge feel more filling. Just be careful with how much you eat, though, because it’s easy to eat more than you planned!
Old-Fashioned Fudge Ingredients:
* Makes 12 to 16 pieces, depending on how big you cut them.
– 1 cup of cocoa powder
– 2 cups of granulated sugar – 1/2 cup of unsalted butter (1 stick) – 1 cup of evaporated milk (not sweetened condensed!)
– 1 cup of chopped nuts (optional, but recommended!) – 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
How to Make Fudge Like Grandma Used to
This is the fun part! You might think that making fudge is hard, but it’s not.
1. Mix the cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and evaporated milk in a medium saucepan. Mix well by stirring.
2. Put the pot on the stove over medium heat. Keep stirring until the mixture starts to boil.
3. When it starts to bubble, add the butter and turn the heat down to low. Keep stirring until the butter melts and mixes in completely.
4. Stir it every so often and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. The mixture will get nice and thick, as you can see.
5. Take the saucepan off the heat and stir in the nuts and vanilla extract, if you are using them.
6. Put the fudge mixture into a greased 8×8 inch pan and spread it out evenly.
7. Let the fudge cool all the way down to room temperature before cutting it into squares.
Fudge Fun Tips!
– Try adding different flavors to your fudge to make it more fun! Using almond extract instead of vanilla can add a nice touch.
– If you swirl in some peanut butter or even caramel that hasn’t set yet, it looks great and tastes great!
– Try putting some flaky sea salt on top before it cools down completely for a fun presentation.
This creamy Old-Fashioned Fudge is so good that I can’t even begin to describe how good it is! It reminds me of simpler times and family traditions, and I can promise you that when you make it, it will quickly become a favorite recipe in your home too.
So, get your ingredients together, think like a chocolatier, and tell me how your batch turns out! Have fun making fudge!
