Tips On Making The Best Chocolate Fudge

By Carol Powell


This sweet food, like many of the different iconic foods out there, has no known origin that can be verified. However, this has not stopped culinary experts and enthusiasts alike from discussing where they believe it came from, and this has resulted in one story that many people agree on. It was allegedly in Baltimore, Maryland, that a candyman made a mistake making French caramels, and accidentally invented what would become chocolate fudge.

In 1889, a letter was sent to a student at a women's college in Maryland containing the first known recipe and evidence of this confectionery. The recipient got the recipe from a relative of a friend, and she went on to make many huge batches of it for a senior auction. From there, more and more people started making their own recipes.

It can save a great deal of hassle and stress for the one in the kitchen when all of the ingredients, supplies, and cooking area are prepped and ready to go before embarking on a recipe. Certain supplies are ideal such as a heavy saucepan because it will help prevent scorching. A candy thermometer is also very useful, and a wooden spoon, baking dish, and knife are essential.

While it may be tempting to make some personal modifications to a recipe or to estimate on certain measurements or temperatures, it is important not to. Since there are chemical changes going on in the ingredients, the right temperatures have to be reached at the right time. Ingredients also must go in the correct order.

People who are quite experienced in the art and science of making candy know that taking the time to properly oil the saucepan is critical for a batch of any of the numerous types of fudges. The reason why this is so important is because it helps to prevent the whole mixture from boiling over. It also helps to stop the sugar crystals from sticking.

One very important thing to know about making this rich and indulgent candy is that there are critical times in the heating process in which stirring can ruin the entire batch. This is when the mixture reaches right around 237 degrees Fahrenheit, at what is commonly referred to as the soft-ball stage. On the other hand, stirring is very important earlier on in the process to dissolve the sugar and prevent any curdling.

There are a few ways of making this sweet that make it a little bit easier on the person making it and are a little less forgiving, which is quite useful for the beginner. Marshmallows, marshmallow creme, and corn syrup can all help contribute to giving the fudge a smooth texture. Condensed milk and cream are less likely to curdle than regular milk.

It is recommended that candy thermometers are used because they are usually marked with the proper temperatures, and precision is very important. However, if a thermometer can't be used, an alternative is to put a small ball of the mixture into cold water. If the ball can be squished easily, then the mixture should be taken off the heat and be cooled immediately.




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