Addiction warning, I cannot stop eating this chocolate fudge! I’ve been giving away bags of it to anyone I meet, just to keep from eating the whole batch because it’s so crazy good. I like chocolate fudge with all kinds of stuff in it, especially nuts, but my boys are purists and just wanted unadulterated chocolate.
This recipe is made by boiling down evaporated milk until it reaches just the right temperature and poured over really great chocolate. No marshmallow fluff! I’ve done those recipes as well, but I like the texture of this better and the flavor is more intense and not as cloying. It requires a candy thermometer, but don’t let that scare you, it is really very simple and I’ll talk you through any possible sticking points.
Fudge Topping Ideas
- Walnuts, pecans, or any other favorite nut
- Mini Marshmallows
- Chocolate Chips (for extra chocolate!)
- Peanut Butter or Almond Butter (as a mix in)
Chocolate Fudge Step By Step
Follow along with the steps and get the full recipe below.
In a large sauce pot, fitted with a Candy Thermometer
Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the mixture reaches 234 degrees F. Stir once in a while and be sure to get behind the thermometer. This may take between 10-20 minutes depending on your burners power.
While the milk mixture is cooking chop up the chocolate and butter and place in a large bowl.
I don’t have the right sized pan so I made one using foil and parchment. It may not be the exact right size, but it worked just as well. That 13x9x2-inch pan is now at the top of my wish list.
Pour the hot mixture over the chocolate and whisk right away with a wooden spoon or stiff egg whisk
If your fudge looks as though it has seized (looks grainy, not smooth)…
Then add a tablespoon of the 1/2&1/2 and whisk in. Keep adding and whisking after each tablespoon of 1/2&1/2 until the fudge is smooth.
In the end it should look shiny and smooth. (Add the nuts now if you want them throughout the fudge.)
Spread into the prepared pan using a Spatula
make sure it is spread evenly.
Because my boys asked for pure chocolate fudge and didn’t want nuts on theirs I just pressed the nuts on top of half the pan before refrigerating it. Place it uncovered in the fridge until it is well cooled and set, then cover with plastic and return to refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
When I came back to cut the fudge I found a chunk taken out of the corner. Since it was on the side with nuts I knew it wasn’t the boys! 😉
Flip the fudge over, remove the parchment and flip onto a cutting board. Using a sharp knife dipped in a pitcher of hot water you will trim the edges and then cut into squares. I cut mine into 6 strips on the short end and 6 strips on the long end to make 36 pieces, less the couple of pieces my husband ate.
Enjoy and be sure to have lots of help to eat these treats. They make wonderful gifts to your family, friends and neighbors..
Here are some other candies you might want to try:
Ingredients
- 1 lb bittersweet chocolate
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter cut into small pieces
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 12 oz can evaporated milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 to 3 tbsp half and half
- 1 cup chopped peanuts or other toasted nuts
Instructions
- Prepare a 13 Inch x 9 Inch Baking Pan with foil or parchment. Spray the foil or parchment with a very light coat of oil.
- In a large sauce pot, fitted with a Candy Thermometer, whisk together the evaporated milk and sugar.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the mixture reaches 234 degrees. Stir once in a while and be sure to get behind the thermometer. This may take between 10-20 minutes depending on your burners power.
- While the milk mixture is cooking, chop up the chocolate and butter and place in a large bowl.
- Pour the hot mixture over the chocolate and whisk right away with a wooden spoon or stiff egg whisk, which is more open and will not clog up with the thick fudge. (If the milk mixture looks as though it has any lumps in it then strain it over the top of the chocolate. If it looks smooth then don’t bother.) Whisk in the vanilla.
- If your fudge looks as though it has seized (looks grainy, not smooth) then add a tablespoon of the half and half and whisk in. Keep adding and whisking after each tablespoon of half and half until the fudge is smooth.
- In the end it should look shiny and smooth. (Add the nuts now if you want them throughout the fudge.) Spread evenly into the prepared pan using a Spatula. Place it uncovered in the fridge until it is well cooled and set, then cover with plastic and return to refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
- Flip the fudge over, remove the parchment and flip onto a cutting board. Using a sharp knife dipped in a pitcher of hot water you will trim the edges and then cut into squares.
Hi and thanks for your awesome recipes.
Can I use sweetened condensed milk as a substitute for evaporated milk? cause we don’t have evaporated milk in the stores in my country. I know I can make evaporated milk myself at home but using ready sweetened condensed milk is faster and easier.
Thanks
Beautiful Beautiful Yummy
I just made the fudge, however, as I poured the milk and sugar mixture over the chocolate and butter the milk mixture hardened in areas touching the cold bowl. The mixture had tiny lumps everywhere and I continued to mix and I realized that the little lumps were parts of the sugar milk mixture and it hardened. So tiny pieces of hardened sugar candy were in it which did not make it a great texture so maybe I will add the butter to the milk and sugar once it reaches 234 degrees to soften the mixture then pour it over the chocolate.
Zoe,
we don’t have evaporated milk in Israel… what can I substitue it with? heavy cream (42%) or something else?
Hi Michal,
Evaporated milk is just milk that has been cooked down until the water has evaporated out of the milk. You can make it by simmering 2 1/4 cups milk until it measures 1 cup.
Thanks, Zoë
YUM! This fudge looks so delicious and chocolate-y!