Recipe: Old-Fashioned Hershey's Cocoa Fudge
Julia
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 146Posts
June 14, 2010
With my mother's help, this was the first candy that I ever made and it brings back more memories than I can count. We always made fudge for Christmas for the family as well as for neighbors and as gifts for many people. We could never make it on a rainy day though as it wouldn't set up properly, so on rainy days, we made cookies.
There was a time when ladies took their well-behaved children and visited other mothers. They'd spend all afternoon making candies. Fudge, Divinity, and Sea Foam Candy. Much of it went into CARE packages for our men and women overseas, but we children could always look forward to having a few pieces in our Christmas stockings. Today, with such a bountiful array of every imaginable kind of candy so readily available at every drug and grocery store, we don't make homemade candy that much anymore. It's still the best candy in the world though, and every child should know the difference IMHO.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups sugar
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa (Hershey's)
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup butter (half stick)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp. Karo white corn syrup (or other white syrup)
Pookarina's Note:The syrup was not added when I was a child, but I learned in later years that it helped with over-crystallization of the sugar. It still remains an optional ingredient and is not absolutely necessary. The original recipe on the backside of Hershey's Cocoa cans did not mention anything about Karo syrup.
Directions:
Line an 8 or 9 inch square pan with aluminum foil, butter the foil.
Mix sugar, cocoa, and salt in a 4 quart saucepan, add milk and corn syrup (if using). Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a full boil. Boil without stirring until mixture reaches 234 degrees F on a candy thermometer (soft ball stage).
Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla; do not stir. Cool at room temperature to 110 degrees F.
Beat with a wooden spoon until fudge begins to thicken and loses its gloss. Spread quickly into pan, let cool to room temperature, then cut into squares.
Pookarina's Note: We used a buttered heavy platter for fudge. If I were making it today, I'd still use a buttered platter. The butter aided in being able to cut and remove the pieces from the platter. Today, you only have to lift the foil along with the candy, place it on the counter top and allow it to cool thoroughly.
Once in a while, we slipped up on the weather conditions, and our fudge wouldn't set up, so we ate it with spoons while watching one another like hawks to make sure no one got more than they were supposed to be getting. The boys were terrible little piggies.
| Servings: | 16 |
| Time: | 20 Minutes Preparation Time
35-40 Minutes Cooking Time |
Source: Hershey's Cocoa (back of the can in 1940)
By Julia from Boca Raton, FL
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littergitter
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December 21, 2011
I have been using this fudge recipe since 1961. It is a creamy type fudge and very easy to make.
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It's chocolate fudge, yum! It brings back memories of my childhood. It's very fattening, but we all deserve a little indulgence sometimes.
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Robin
Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 5,887Posts
May 11, 2007
Combine sugar and evaporated milk together in heavy pan and boil for 8 minutes. Pour the above mixture over the chips, butter, marshmallow creme, vanilla and nuts and stir.
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Judy = Oklahoma
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 509Feedbacks
February 1, 2010
This fudge is not smooth and creamy (equals slimy to me), it is the old fashioned stuff that was made before marshmallow creme. It is absolutely delicious and the grainy texture is not from the sugar not dissolving, it's made to be this way!
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Connie
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 361Posts
December 6, 2007
Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil and spray with non-stick spray. In saucepan melt butterscotch chips and stir in vanilla frosting. Stir in nutmeg and rum extract.
Read More...Question: Old Fashion Fudge Recipe?
I am looking for a recipe for easy old fashion fudge.
Answers
Hello
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 107Posts
December 8, 20180 found this helpful
this looks promising: www.thefedupfoodie.com/.../
Dad's fudge recipe since 1975.
FAQs
I suggest sticking with the regular version and skipping the fat-free kind. Make sure that you grab a can of sweetened condensed milk and NOT evaporated milk. Sweetened condensed milk is thick and sweet and will give you the proper consistency for this fudge.
What's the difference between fudge and chocolate fudge? ›
Although fudge often contains chocolate, fudge is not the same as chocolate. Chocolate is a mix of cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sometimes sugar and other flavorings and is hard and brittle. Fudge is a mixture of sugar, dairy and flavorings that is cooked and cooled to form a smooth, semi-soft confection.
What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›
While you ultimately want crystals to form, it's important that they don't form too early. The key to successful, nongrainy fudge is in the cooling, not the cooking. The recipe calls for heating the ingredients to the soft-ball stage, or 234° F, then allowing it to cool undisturbed to approximately 110° F.
Do you stir fudge while it is boiling? ›
Brush the sides of the pan with a wet brush at the beginning of cooking to dissolve sugar crystals stuck to the sides. Never stir the mixture during cooking or sugar could crystallize again. The mixture may seize and become grainy. Use a candy thermometer or conduct a cold water test to check if the fudge is done.
What is traditional fudge made of? ›
At its simplest, fudge is a dense, soft candy, often made with sugar and dairy products like butter and milk. Nowadays, fudge is usually flavored with chocolate, but you can utilize pretty much any flavor, such as peanut butter, pumpkin, even birthday cake.
Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of evaporated milk in fudge? ›
With its very similar consistency, 1 cup of heavy cream can replace 1 cup of evaporated milk in sweet and savory dishes. While the flavor will be blander than evaporated milk's unique caramelized tones, the texture will be noticeably richer.
Why is my condensed milk chocolate fudge not setting? ›
It sounds like your fudge simply wasn't heated enough. Fudge is basically a superconcentrated syrup, and it sets when sugar dissolved in the water (from the butter and milk) comes out of solution as the mixture cools and forms crystals.
Why is my old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›
Fudge Didn't Set
If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).
What is the ball method fudge? ›
According to most recipes, the ingredients of fudge are cooked to what is termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.
What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›
Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!
Fudge typically contains more sugar than chocolate, so it may not be the best choice for those looking to limit their sugar intake. On the other hand, dark chocolate is a good source of antioxidants and can provide health benefits when consumed in moderation.
What makes fudge taste like fudge? ›
Fudge (Chocolate and Otherwise)
Aside from these ingredients, fudge is generally comprised simply of milk, sugar, and butter as the base. To this basic recipe, one can add chocolate chips, butterscotch, peanut butter chips, white chocolate, or even espresso powder to create compelling flavor combinations.
Why is chocolate fudge so good? ›
Cream or milk, sugar, and butter are slowly boiled down until slightly thickened and light caramel-colored. This boiling-down process not only gives the sauce it's great gooey texture, but also contributes that special “fudgey” taste to the chocolate.
What makes high quality fudge? ›
You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).
What gives fudge its firm texture? ›
The key to creamy, luscious fudge is controlling crystal formation. If the sucrose (table sugar) crystals are small, the fudge will feel creamy and smooth on your tongue. But if the crystals are large, the fudge develops a crumbly, dry, or even coarse texture.
How can I firm up my fudge? ›
How do you fix fudge that is too soft? Bring the fudge back to a boil with 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of cream. If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream.
With my mother's help, this was the first candy that I ever made and it brings back more memories than I can count. We always made fudge for Christmas for the family as well as for neighbors and as gifts for many people. We could never make it on a rainy day though as it wouldn't set up properly, so on rainy days, we made cookies.