Five Pounds Chocolate 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.

FIVE POUND FUDGE

Steps:

• Combine first 3 ingredients in a large mixing bowl; set aside. Combine sugar and evaporated milk in a buttered Dutch oven. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches soft ball stage or candy thermometer registers 234 degrees F; pour over chocolate morsels mixture. Beat at high speed with an electric mixer or wooden spoon until mixture thickens and begins to lose its gloss. Stir in vanilla and pecans. Spread into a buttered 15- x 10- x 1-inch jellyroll pan. Cover and chill until firm. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

FIVE POUNDS OF FUDGE

Steps:

• Place chocolate, butter and marshmallow cream in large bowl. In heavy 4 quart saucepan bring to a boil milk and sugar, stirring constantly. When mixture reaches full rolling boil start timing and cook exactly 9 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour over chocolate mixture and beat until well blended. (I use a mixer for all of this) Beat in vanilla and stir in nuts. Pour into buttered 15x10x1 jelly roll pan and spread evenly. Refrigerate 12 to 24 hours.

THREE-CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1-in. pan with foil; grease foil with 1 tablespoon butter., In a heavy large saucepan, combine sugars, milk and cubed butter. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in marshmallows and vanilla until blended., Gradually stir in chocolate chips and chopped chocolate until melted. Fold in pecans. Immediately spread into prepared pan. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Remove foil; cut fudge into 1-in. squares. Store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container.

FIVE POUNDS CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; set it aside.
• Combine the sugar and evaporated milk in a buttered(very important)Dutch oven. (If you don't butter the sides, your sugar could crystallize and ruin the fudge.).
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches soft ball stage, or candy thermometer registers 234 degrees.
• Pour over chocolate chip mixture.
• Beat at high speed with an electric mixer or wooden spoon until mixture thickens and begins to lose its gloss. (I just use a spoon, you don't have to beat this very long.).
• Stir in vanilla and chopped pecans.
• Spread fudge evenly into a buttered 15 x 10 jellyroll pan. (I usually put in waxed paper and butter the waxed paper. It comes out very easily that way if you want to cut it out of the pan, not in it.).
• Chill until firm. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
• I cut it into 1" squares, so it makes 150 servings.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Line an 18cm square tin with greaseproof paper.
• Put the milk, sugar and butter in a heavy-based saucepan. Heat gently, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted.
• Bring to the boil for 15-20 mins, still stirring all the time. The mixture will bubble up - when it does, take it off the heat and keep stirring it until it sinks back down. Then return it to the heat.
• Start to take the temperature after about 15 mins (continuing to stir or it will burn on the bottom). The time it takes to come up to temperature may vary, particularly in a cold kitchen. Once it reaches 115C on a temperature probe, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and a good pinch of sea salt. Leave to cool for 5 mins.
• Stir in the chopped chocolate and the mixture and keep stirring until the chocolate has melted. Quickly pour the mixture into your prepared tin and leave to set at room temperature.
• Before the fudge has completely set, you can add rows of different toppings like nuts, toffees or mini chocolate buttons - just scatter them over the surface and gently press into the fudge until they stick. Make sure the fudge is only slightly warm when you do this - if it's too hot the toppings can melt. Once set, cut the fudge into small pieces and store in a sealed container.

5-INGREDIENT FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 9-in. square pan with foil; grease foil with 1-1/2 teaspoons butter., In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and remaining butter, stirring after 1 minute and every 30 seconds thereafter. Stir in milk and vanilla. Spread into prepared pan. Refrigerate until firm., Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Remove foil; cut fudge into 1-in. squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.