A lot of fudge recipes require you to boil the mixture in a saucepan; this one does not! This recipe makes use of the microwave to create a delicious fudge that everyone will love. Make sure you check out our tips for making great fudge at the end of this article, so that your candy bar fudge will turn out just right!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup whole milk
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
30 caramels, unwrapped
1 Tbsp. water
2 cups peanuts
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
Directions:
1. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter, cocoa, brown sugar, and milk. Microwave on high until mixture boils, about 3 minutes.
2. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Pour into a greased 8-in. square-baking pan. In another microwave-safe bowl, heat caramels and water on high for 2 minutes or until melted.
3. Stir in peanuts; spread over chocolate layer.
4. Microwave chocolate chips on high for 1 minute or until melted; spread over caramel layer. Chill until firm. Makes 2 and 3/4 pounds.
Tips for Making the Best Fudge
Making fudge is fairly simple, but there are still a few tips you'll want to keep in mind to make it as good as it can be. Read these tips before making this fudge recipe, and keep them in mind when you make future batches.
Make sure you use the right saucepan. While this recipe uses the microwave, a lot of fudge recipes will ask you to boil the mixture. When you do this, it's important that you pick a heavy saucepan with tall sides. If the saucepan you choose is too small, the mixture will boil over and you'll have a mess on your hands. Make sure you always keep an eye on a boiling mixture to ensure it doesn't boil over.
Follow the recipe. Making changes to a recipe is fun and challenging, but it isn't the right thing to do the first time you make a new recipe. You have no idea how the final product will turn out. If you try to make changes the first time, you'll be going in blind. This could lead to the end product turning out poorly. Make the recipe as-is one or two times, and then make changes if you want.
Use a good spatula. Fudge mixtures get thick! If you use a poor spatula, you'll have a very hard time actually mixing the fudge. A wooden or silicone spatula works best. Wood spatulas are very sturdy, while silicone spatulas can withstand very high temperatures. Avoid spatulas that are brittle or made of plastic.
Use a candy thermometer. This may be a little bit of an advanced tip, but it's essential to making the best fudge, every time. A candy thermometer will let you measure your fudge mixture's temperature, so that you can cook it to just the right temperature. Fudge that is under-cooked won't set properly, while fudge that is over-cooked will be crumbly and hard. Make sure you buy a high-quality candy thermometer with good reviews.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©ksena32/ via Getty Images.