Fudge?!

[Amwazable]

I've been working on improving a fudge recipe for weeks, and I *still* can't get it right.

I feel like the main problem is that I don't really understand what all the ingredients do specifically, and why you would or wouldn't include them, as well as the amounts/ratios of all of them.

I know for a fact that if I boiled some sugar and water for a while and then left it to cool, that it WOULD create something resembling fudge. So why does every recipe have other ingredients in it?! And how and why can every recipe have a different ratio between everything, even between the sugar and the milk - surely the most fundamental part!?

So, I would be incredibly grateful if anyone could answer any or all of these questions:
- What ratio should the milk and sugar be in? How much difference does it make, and what would happen to the finished product if you made it with an extreme ratio, would it boil down until it was the same anyway?
- What does the butter do when it is added to the recipe? Is it just for flavour? Either way, what amount of butter should be added (how much butter to sugar/milk)?
- Should the butter be added before or after boiling? Every recipe seems to say different, so in other words, what difference does it really make?
- What effect does using different kinds of sugar have? Why do some recipes have a mixture of different sugars, is it just flavour or something else?
- What heat/burner should the fudge be cooked at and for how long? I have a thermometer but it always seems to end up burning or taking a stupidly long time to cook.
- Does the weather *really* make a difference? Some things say that if the humidity is different the fudge will be different, but is it just a matter of taking a different time to cook and turning out the same anyway or something?
- Any other advice?

Please note - I'm not looking for a fudge recipe, I'm trying to learn what fudge IS so I can understand it and be able to do it myself - that's just how my brain works :p

 

[Chief Longwind Of The North]

Sugar, milk, and salt boil down to caramel, not fudge. The milk moderates the flavor, and adds a small amount of fat to the candy. The sugar melts and browns, giving it the characteristic caramel flavor. The longer it browns, the more intense is the flavor. Milk adds water to the candy as well. It is the ratio of sugar to milk that determines the texture of the candy. Temperature is used as a gauge to determine the texture. Boiling liquid remains at the same temperature until most of the water is evaporated. As the temperature increases (use a candy thermometer to determine the caramel hardness) the sugar becomes more concentrated in the mixture, and the water and have less of an effect in the candy.

Fudge, on the other hand, is a mixture of sugar, milk, fat (usually butterfat), and flavors. It may contain beaten egg white and starch as well. So, basically, you are creating a caramel that is made texturally more complex, and softer by adding a signigicant amount of fat, and air to the mixture. This creates a soft treat that melts at body temperature, and carries the flavor you want.

As to different rations in different recipes, consider this. Honey has no fat in it, but a lot of flavor. A honey based fudge would combine the flavor of honey, with the caramel texture of cooked sugar, milk for fat and water, and the fat from butter to create a rich, buttery, and sweet fudge. A little salt would round out the flavor profile.

Vanilla fudge is the same. It uses vanilla as the flavor, milk for flavor and water, butterfat to make it soft, and rich, and salt to enhance the flavor.

Chocolate fudge made from chocolate chips contains a significant amount of fat from the chocolate chips, and so requires less added fat to make it creamy-smooth. But still, some is required, along with the above players.

If you are using marshmallows in your fudge recipe, then you need only cook the sugar syrup to the right temperature (given in the recipe), and add the other ingredients. The marshmallows add air to the fudge, which again makes it smooth and creamy. If you don't add marshmallows, then the fudge should be worked to incorporate air into it.

Peanut butter, like chocolate, contains fat. So peanut butter fudge doesn't require as much butter.

So, fat combines with the sugar syrup to soften the fudge, and cause it to litteraly, melt in your mouth.

Salt, and flavorings make it taste good.

Milk adds fat and water to the caramilized sugar to turn it into a syrup, or candy, depending on the temperature that the mixture is cooked to.

As with all types of cooking, follow recipes until you are comfortable making them. Then start altering them so that you can understand what the alterations do. After a while, you will be able to create your own fudge recipes with the knowledge you obtain.

Any fudge masters out their, correct me if I've errored in any of this. But make sure that the corrections are born of knowledge, not because someone told you that "that's just the way it's done".

Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North

 

[Amwazable]

Thank you so much! That all helps a lot *bookmarks for future reference*

 

[Amwazable]

Anyone else got any tips?

 

[Amwazable]

Also, another thing is - should you stir it or not while it is boiling/simmering? Because when I've made it before, if I stop stirring for even a second while boiling it, it burns on the bottom and ruins the batch. So how are you supposed to leave it for 20 mins+ while it reaches the right temperature, and yet without it burning on the bottom? :S

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Are you using a double boiler?

Double boiler - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Amwazable]

Are you using a double boiler?

Double boiler - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm not.. would that prevent the burning if I stopped stirring while it boiled? Would it be able to be hot enough?

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Yes, to both questions. You don't have to kill yourself stirring for 20 minutes straight and it keeps a more even heat on the pan. I just use a metal bowl that fits on the top of a medium saucepan.

 

[Addie]

Definitely a double boiler. Until you are experienced enough to use a bowl over a pan, I would invest in one. It will come in handy for custards, and so many other foods. And the good ones often will have a steamer top for veggies. I bought a Revereware one about 40 years ago and it still serves me well. And to heck with polishing that dang copper bottom. My pans are out of sight, so who is going to see my nice shining pans. And I don't cook my foods on the bottom outside of the pan. Pure logic.

 

[Amwazable]

Yes, to both questions. You don't have to kill yourself stirring for 20 minutes straight and it keeps a more even heat on the pan. I just use a metal bowl that fits on the top of a medium saucepan.

Definitely a double boiler. Until you are experienced enough to use a bowl over a pan, I would invest in one. It will come in handy for custards, and so many other foods. And the good ones often will have a steamer top for veggies. I bought a Revereware one about 40 years ago and it still serves me well. And to heck with polishing that dang copper bottom. My pans are out of sight, so who is going to see my nice shining pans. And I don't cook my foods on the bottom outside of the pan. Pure logic.

Thanks Addie, what exactly *is* a double boiler? I thought it was just the name for what you do when you put a bowl over a pan..?

PS - When you put the bowl over the pan, is it meant to make the pan airtight, so there is no gap around the outside? And should the bottom of the bowl be touching the water or not?

 

[Addie]

A double boiler is actually two pans with a bottom pan that is larger than the top one. The top one has a rim around it to stop it from going down to far in the bottom pan. It does give a tighter fit, and the water should never touch the top pan. Because of the tight fit, you can lower the heat source to just a simmer and not lose any of the water to escaping steam. When you use a bowl over a pan of hot water, you lose a lot of the steam. It is the steam that will heat the top pan. The bottom pan has a thinner bottom than the bottom pan does.

 

[Amwazable]

A double boiler is actually two pans with a bottom pan that is larger than the top one. The top one has a rim around it to stop it from going down to far in the bottom pan. It does give a tighter fit, and the water should never touch the top pan. Because of the tight fit, you can lower the heat source to just a simmer and not lose any of the water to escaping steam. When you use a bowl over a pan of hot water, you lose a lot of the steam. It is the steam that will heat the top pan. The bottom pan has a thinner bottom than the bottom pan does.

I see, so the main reason you'd suggest getting a tailor-made one is that the steam can escape when the two pans aren't designed to fit together? I doubt I'll be able to afford/bother to buy a proper one, so if I am just using a bowl over a pan, what things do I need to look out for (obviously making sure not too much steam escapes)?

 

[Addie]

I see, so the main reason you'd suggest getting a tailor-made one is that the steam can escape when the two pans aren't designed to fit together? I doubt I'll be able to afford/bother to buy a proper one, so if I am just using a bowl over a pan, what things do I need to look out for (obviously making sure not too much steam escapes)?

Don't let the water be too high so that it is touching the top bowl. Keep the water to a slow simmer. If you have a three quart sauce pan, it should be tall enough to protect the bowl from the water. Place the water in the pan, put in the bowl and then take it out. If the bottom is wet, then you have too much water in the pan. Glad to be of help. I understand the cost factor.

 

[Chief Longwind Of The North]

This is a very simple fudge recipe that is nearly foolproof. It's the one my DW insists on. It's called the See's Fudge recipe, after the wonderful fudge from See's Candy shops out of California (they make the best blueberry and raspberry truffles ever!). Whether its the actual recipe they use, I don't know. But I do know that the resulting fudge is delicious.

Ingredients:
2 tbs. real butter
1 cup evaporated milk
1 large marshmallows, each cut into four pices
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (semi sweet or millk chocolate, your choice
1 cup of either chopped walnuts or pecans.2 tsp. vanilla

Melt the butter and marshmallows in a double boiler, or in a large glass bowl in your microwave oven. Stir to mix the two.

While the marshmallow/butter mixture is melting, place the sugar, vanilla, and evaporated milk into a sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a rolling boil and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring to keep it from sticking to the pan bottom and burning.

Place the chocolate chips and nuts into a large bowl and pour the contents from both the double boiler and the sauce pan into the same bowl. Stir until everything is well blended.

This recipe uses canned milk for the moisture and milk proteins and flavor. Real butter is used to give it a wonderfully rich flavor, and that "melt in your mouth" texture that is the hallmark of great fudge. The sugar has been completely dissolved into the canned milk, making a beautiful, grain-free syrup, again, making the fudge silky smooth. Vanilla, it's there to add just the right amount of vanilla flavor.

I would suggest making this fudge (your family will thank you), and then using the same recipe, but substituting maple syrup for the sugar, and white chocolate in place of the brown chocolate.

Another option would be to replace the chocolate chips with peanut butter, or half peanut butter and half chocolate chips.

If you want Rocky Road fudge, replace the wallnut/pecans with peanuts and add miniature marshmallow to the original fudge, mixing it just enough to distribute the mini marshmallows.

With all of them, place the hot fudge into a buttered, 9X15, buttered pan. Let cool, slice, and enjoy.

Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North

 

[Amwazable]

This is a very simple fudge recipe that is nearly foolproof. It's the one my DW insists on. It's called the See's Fudge recipe, after the wonderful fudge from See's Candy shops out of California (they make the best blueberry and raspberry truffles ever!). Whether its the actual recipe they use, I don't know. But I do know that the resulting fudge is delicious.

Ingredients:
2 tbs. real butter
1 cup evaporated milk
1 large marshmallows, each cut into four pices
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (semi sweet or millk chocolate, your choice
1 cup of either chopped walnuts or pecans.2 tsp. vanilla

Melt the butter and marshmallows in a double boiler, or in a large glass bowl in your microwave oven. Stir to mix the two.

While the marshmallow/butter mixture is melting, place the sugar, vanilla, and evaporated milk into a sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a rolling boil and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring to keep it from sticking to the pan bottom and burning.

Place the chocolate chips and nuts into a large bowl and pour the contents from both the double boiler and the sauce pan into the same bowl. Stir until everything is well blended.

This recipe uses canned milk for the moisture and milk proteins and flavor. Real butter is used to give it a wonderfully rich flavor, and that "melt in your mouth" texture that is the hallmark of great fudge. The sugar has been completely dissolved into the canned milk, making a beautiful, grain-free syrup, again, making the fudge silky smooth. Vanilla, it's there to add just the right amount of vanilla flavor.

I would suggest making this fudge (your family will thank you), and then using the same recipe, but substituting maple syrup for the sugar, and white chocolate in place of the brown chocolate.

Another option would be to replace the chocolate chips with peanut butter, or half peanut butter and half chocolate chips.

If you want Rocky Road fudge, replace the wallnut/pecans with peanuts and add miniature marshmallow to the original fudge, mixing it just enough to distribute the mini marshmallows.

With all of them, place the hot fudge into a buttered, 9X15, buttered pan. Let cool, slice, and enjoy.

Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North

Thanks, but I'm not really looking for specific recipes. As I mentioned in my opener, I want to try and learn about fudge for myself, so that I can create and edit my own recipes however I want, rather than just use existing recipes.

 

[taxlady]

This is a very simple fudge recipe that is nearly foolproof. It's the one my DW insists on. It's called the See's Fudge recipe, after the wonderful fudge from See's Candy shops out of California (they make the best blueberry and raspberry truffles ever!). Whether its the actual recipe they use, I don't know. But I do know that the resulting fudge is delicious.

Ingredients:
2 tbs. real butter
1 cup evaporated milk
1 large marshmallows, each cut into four pices
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (semi sweet or millk chocolate, your choice
1 cup of either chopped walnuts or pecans.2 tsp. vanilla

...

Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North

I'm going to have to try this. I have had very mixed results with fudge. I don't care if it's the real See's Candy recipe, if it comes out like their fudge, it will be lovely.

Is it really only 1 marshmallow?
Is it really evaporated milk, not condensed milk?

 

[PrincessFiona60]

It does not have to seal and the water should not touch the bottom.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I'm going to have to try this. I have had very mixed results with fudge. I don't care if it's the real See's Candy recipe, if it comes out like their fudge, it will be lovely.

Is it really only 1 marshmallow?
Is it really evaporated milk, not condensed milk?

I'm thinking it's 1 bag of large marshmallows and with the amount of sugar already in the recipe it is evaporated milk.

 

[Chief Longwind Of The North]

I'm thinking it's 1 bag of large marshmallows and with the amount of sugar already in the recipe it is evaporated milk.

It is evaporated milk, but 10 large marshmallows. Sorry about that.

And Taxlady; I find that starting with a good recipe is a great way to learn how to make something. I determine what the ingredients of the recipe do, and then start altering them to achieve different flavors and textures. This allows me to learn techniques much faster than if I re-invent the wheel. I do re-invent the wheel often enough though. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. It usually does.

Example: I learned to make custard pies such as lemon marange and key lime pie from recipes. Using the same techniques, I was able to craft a rhubarb pie that had the same texture as the other pies. I'm confident that I could now use virtually any citrus, and many fruit juices to make pies of any flavor that I might want.

Learning from others is a valid way to expand your knowledge. You just need to be observant while doing it.

Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North

 

[PrincessFiona60]

It is evaporated milk, but 10 large marshmallows. Sorry about that.

So, I'm only able to read half your mind...scary, huh?