Chocolate Butter Fudge Food

CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
• Lightly brush the foil with butter. Lightly brush the bowl of a stand mixer or another large metal bowl with butter. Add 2 tablespoons cut-up butter, the chocolate, extract and salt; set the bowl aside.
• Heat the half-and-half in a medium pot over medium-high heat until hot but not boiling. Stir in the sugar and corn syrup and bring to a boil, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon; boil, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low; run a pastry brush dipped in warm water along the sides of the pan to dissolve any sugar crystals clinging to the pan. Clip a candy thermometer to the pan. Simmer the mixture, undisturbed, until the thermometer registers 234 degrees F to 238 degrees F, 20 to 30 minutes, watching the temperature closely as cooking times may vary. (This is the "soft-ball stage." To test for doneness, drop some of the mixture into cold water; you should be able to roll it into a soft ball.)
• Quickly pour the sugar mixture over the chocolate-butter mixture in the bowl (do not scrape the sides or bottom of the saucepan in case any sugar crystals formed). Clean the candy thermometer, then clip it to the bowl. Let the chocolate mixture cool, undisturbed, until it registers 110 degrees F to 115 degrees F, about 1 hour. (For faster cooling, set the bowl in a larger bowl of cold water.)
• Brush the paddle attachment or mixer beaters with butter. Beat the mixture on medium speed until just incorporated, about 1 minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat until the fudge just begins to lose its sheen and hold its shape, 5 to 15 minutes. Do not overmix or the fudge will become hard. Use a buttered rubber spatula to scrape the fudge into the prepared pan and pat into an even layer; smooth the top.
• Press one or more toppings into the fudge, if desired (about 3/4 cup total). Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour, then score the fudge into small squares with a knife. For the best texture, let sit at least 1 more hour before slicing. Wrap leftover fudge in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week at room temperature, or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.
• Toppings: Crushed sandwich cookies, crushed graham crackers, white chocolate chips, sprinkles, peanut butter drizzle, or mini marshmallows.

FUDGE

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter or margarine in large microwaveable bowl. Zap in microwave on medium until chips are melted, about 3-5 minute, stirring once or twice during cooking. Stir in nuts, if desired.
• Pour into well-greased 8x8-inch glass baking dish. Refrigerate until set.

COOKIE BUTTER FUDGE

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides; lightly coat the foil with cooking spray. Bring 1 inch of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Combine the white chocolate, cookie butter and salt in a large heatproof bowl and set it over the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. (Reduce the heat if steam sputters around the bowl - you want to prevent any water from getting in the chocolate and causing it to seize.)
• Remove the bowl from the pan and stir in the molasses. Wipe the water from the bottom of the bowl, then pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly with a rubber spatula and top with white nonpareils. Let set at room temperature, 1 to 2 hours. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled but not hard, about 30 minutes.
• Lift the fudge out of the baking dish and peel off the foil. Cut into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife. (If the fudge is too hard or starts to crack when cut, let soften slightly at room temperature, 10 to 20 minutes.)

CHOCOLATE BUTTER FUDGE

Steps:

• If your pecans aren't toasted, you'll want to do that first - you can do that by throwing them in a skillet with a couple tbsp butter (this is in addition to the butter needed for the fudge) and sprinkling them with brown sugar - cook them over medium heat until brown. Allow them to cool on wax paper while you make the fudge.
• Please note: if you decide not to include the pecans, consider doubling the recipe - if you don't, the fudge will only be a little over 1/2" deep.
• Grease an 8x8 pan.
• In large pot, put butter, cream, sugar, salt, and ground chocolate and over medium heat stirring frequently until boiling lightly.
• Reduce heat slightly - just enough to keep a low boil - and continue boiling for 5 minutes stirring constantly.
• After 5 minutes, remove from heat and stir in vanilla then powdered sugar (a little at a time).
• Beat until smooth (if you didn't sift your sugar - it won't go completely smooth, but will still taste great).
• Add pecans and pour into 8x8 pan.
• Cool for 30 min or until set (put it in the fridge for faster setting.
• Slice and enjoy :).
• A fun modification to the recipe is to prepare it without the pecans, allow it to set until soft, then roll into one inch balls, put them in the freezer until hard (about 30 min), and then roll them in melted white, milk or dark chocolate chips. Then allow them to set (the fridge can speed that up). The white chocolate set the best. See the picture above.

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with foil, pressing it into the corners and up the sides; leave an overhang on 2 sides. Brush the foil with butter.
• Combine 3/4 cup condensed milk, the chocolate chips and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Combine the remaining condensed milk, the peanut butter chips and a pinch of salt in a separate saucepan. Put both pans over low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chips are melted and smooth.
• Spoon the chocolate mixture into the prepared pan, leaving spaces between the spoonfuls. Spoon the peanut butter mixture into the gaps. Brush an 8-inch square of parchment paper with butter and lay it directly on top of the fudge; press to flatten evenly and fill any gaps. Refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes. Lift the foil to remove the fudge from the pan and cut into 1-inch squares. Store up to 1 week in an airtight container.

EASIEST CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

Steps:

• Mix sugar, cocoa and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a rapid boil and boil for exactly one minute. Pour over peanut butter and vanilla and nuts in a bowl and beat until thick -- this only takes about a minute. Immediately pour onto a buttered platter and allow to cool. Cut into squares.
• Tip: Have your peanut butter and vanilla already in a bowl before boiling the mixture as you need to pour it over the peanut butter immediately.

OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Grease an 8x8 inch square baking pan. Set aside.
• Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. Do not stir again.
• Place candy thermometer in pan and cook until temperature reaches 238 degrees F(114 degrees C). If you are not using a thermometer, then cook until a drop of this mixture in a cup of cold water forms a soft ball. Feel the ball with your fingers to make sure it is the right consistency. It should flatten when pressed between your fingers.
• Remove from heat. Add butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Beat with a wooden spoon until the fudge loses its sheen. Do not under beat.
• Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Cut into about 60 squares.