When I was growing up, my grandpa was the Christmas Candy Man! Homemade fudge, homemade divinity, homemade caramel turtles. Wow! I still remember the tradition of being at grandma and grandpa's house on Christmas evening and after all the gifts were opened (and there were always SO MANY gifts!) grandpa would stand up from his recliner and would enter the cold storage room just off of the family room. He would come out with a platter of his delicious confections and the platter would get passed around to all. Such a sweet memory!
Sadly I never learned to make the divinity or the caramel turtles, but the fudge is a simple recipe that is perfect for the beginner candy maker. I have played with the recipe by adding andes mints in place of some of the chocolate to make a mint fudge (my hubbies favorite) as well as just placing chopped mints on top of the prepared fudge for a festive look. Festive or not, this fudge is a winner every time and it makes a great addition to any goodie platter that you may be preparing for the holiday season.
(a fun idea from pinterest:
cut the fudge into large triangles and then decorate the cellophane to make little fudge reindeer)
One Year Ago: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cup Bites
GRANDPA'S FUDGE 
printable version
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
7-ounce marshmallow creme
1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips***
1 tsp. vanilla
Prepare a 13x9 glass pan by buttering the sides and bottom generously. Set aside.
Place sugar, butter and milk in a large saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Cook for 5 minutes, still stirring. Remove from heat and add marshmallow creme and chocolate chips, combining by using a wooden spoon. Beat well with spoon for 5 minutes. Add vanilla. Pour into buttered 13x9 pan.
Allow to cool completely before cutting.
***I have substituted a portion of the chocolate chips with andes mints to create a mint flavored fudge with great results***
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
7-ounce marshmallow creme
1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips***
1 tsp. vanilla
Prepare a 13x9 glass pan by buttering the sides and bottom generously. Set aside.
Place sugar, butter and milk in a large saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Cook for 5 minutes, still stirring. Remove from heat and add marshmallow creme and chocolate chips, combining by using a wooden spoon. Beat well with spoon for 5 minutes. Add vanilla. Pour into buttered 13x9 pan.
Allow to cool completely before cutting.
***I have substituted a portion of the chocolate chips with andes mints to create a mint flavored fudge with great results***
Thanks for posting. This is one of my favorite Christmas memories as well. I make Grandpas turtles most years. Maybe we can each perfect one of his treats and carry on his tradition.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we need to plan a candy gathering one of these Christmas seasons! Good luck to the cousin assigned the divinity :)
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