Best Marthas Chocolate Fudge Recipes

MAKING FUDGE

Steps:

• Line 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with strips of waxed or parchment paper; coat evenly with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Combine sugar, salt, butter, cream, and marshmallows in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan. Set over medium heat; cook, stirring, until butter and marshmallows are almost melted, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Bring mixture to a boil; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. An adult should remove the pan from the heat.
• Add chocolate chips and vanilla to saucepan. Stir until chips are melted and combined. If you like, mix in 1/2 cup peppermints or nuts.
• An adult should pour hot fudge into the loaf pan. Top with remaining mints or nuts.
• Cool fudge in the pan, at room temperature, 3 hours. Grip paper, lift out fudge, and place on cutting board. Discard paper. An adult should cut fudge into squares. Pack in a box lined with waxed paper to avoid sticking.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Butter an 8-by-8-inch straight-sided baking pan. Line with parchment paper; set aside. Butter a large, shallow, stainless-steel bowl; set aside.
• In a 3-quart saucepan, whisk to combine the sugar, cocoa, and salt. Place over medium-low heat, and add corn syrup and milk, stirring until smooth. Add chocolate. Cook, stirring, until chocolate is melted and sugar dissolved before it reaches a boil. Brush down sides of saucepan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystallization. Increase the heat to high, and cook until it reaches 236 degrees (soft-ball stage).
• Pour into prepared bowl without scraping the sides of the saucepan. Dot top with butter. Let cool to 110 degrees to 118 degrees on an instant-read thermometer without disturbing, about 1 hour. Add vanilla. Using a plastic dough scraper, transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the paddle attachment, beat on low speed until the butter and vanilla are completely incorporated. Increase speed to medium, and beat, stopping occasionally, until fudge keeps its shape when dropped from a spoon and sheen is gone, 3 to 8 minutes. Using a clean plastic dough scraper, transfer to prepared baking pan, spreading evenly. Before fudge sets completely, score with a knife into 1-inch squares. Let stand until completely cooled.

MARTHA'S CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• You will need a candy thermometer. Make your fudge on a dry day. Too much humidity will keep the fudge from setting up properly.
• Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch pan and place it in the fridge. Alternately, use a loaf pan if you want really thick pieces.
• Sift cocoa powder and sugar into a medium bowl.
• Prepare an ice bath. I use my sink, filling it with approximately 2" of water, then adding a bunch of ice.
• In a small saucepan, combine milk and cocoa-powder mixture with a wooden spoon until a sandy, paste like texture forms.
• Add chocolate, butter, and corn syrup.
• Cook on med-low heat (don't let it boil yet), stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved completely (very important), 7 to 10 minutes.
• Using a pastry brush dipped in cold water, wash down any sugar crystals that form along the sides of pan.
• Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, making sure the tip of the thermometer does not touch the bottom of the pan.
• Increase heat a bit until the fudge starts to boil. When the fudge begins to boil, stop stirring and don't stir AT ALL for the rest of the cooking time or the fudge will be grainy.
• Keep the syrup boiling, being careful that it doesn't boil over.
• When the candy thermometer registers 236°, remove the pan from heat, and place in ice bath for 5 seconds.
• Transfer pan to a heat-proof surface, and let sit until thermometer registers 110°, about 45 minutes.
• Add vanilla, and using a wooden spoon (or electric hand mixer), stir fudge briskly until it thickens and begins to lose its sheen, 2 to 3 minutes (it may take a little longer to set up. Depending on the humidity in the air, it could take as much as 10 minutes).
• Stir in walnuts, if desired.
• Spread fudge into prepared pan with wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap; chill 30-60 minutes. Cut into 1-inch squares.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE 101

Steps:

• Butter an 8-inch square baking pan; line with parchment paper, allowing a 1-inch overhang. Butter parchment paper, and set aside. Check the calibration of the candy thermometer. Put butter into a large bowl, and set over a wire rack; set aside. Put cream, sugar, chocolate, corn syrup, and salt into a medium heavy saucepan.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved and chocolate has melted, about 10 minutes. Raise heat to medium. Bring mixture to a boil, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Attach warm thermometer to pan; continue to cook, without stirring, until mixture registers 238 degrees (soft-ball stage), 10 to 15 minutes.
• Immediately pour mixture into bowl with butter (do not scrape out the bottom of the pan). Attach thermometer to bowl. Let mixture cool, undisturbed, until it registers 110 degrees, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove thermometer. Transfer bowl to a work surface. Using a wooden spoon, begin to gently stir mixture.
• Continue to stir, gradually increasing speed until mixture thickens, lightens in color, and loses its sheen, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Pour into prepared pan. Using a small offset spatula, quickly spread fudge to sides of pan, and smooth top. Let fudge cool in pan on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Cover with plastic, and refrigerate until completely set, about 8 hours. Run a sharp knife around nonparchment sides to loosen; lift fudge out. Cut into 64 one-inch pieces. Fudge can be refrigerated between layers of parchment in an airtight container up to 1 week; bring to room temperature before serving.

EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE WITH PRETZELS

Steps:

• Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
• Place butter, chocolate chips, condensed milk, vanilla, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until chocolate just melts and mixture is combined and warm but not hot, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups pretzels. Transfer mixture to pan and smooth top; press 1/2 cup pretzels on top. Refrigerate until set, 2 hours (or up to overnight, wrapped). Using parchment, lift fudge from pan and cut into 36 squares.

FOOLPROOF HOLIDAY FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with two sheets of waxed or parchment paper in a crisscross manner (one lengthwise, one crosswise) so ends overhang sides of pan; coat evenly with cooking spray.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, cook sugar, salt, butter, cream, and marshmallows, stirring, until butter and marshmallows are almostmelted, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Bring mixture to a boil; cook, stirring occasionally,5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chips and vanilla; stir until chips are melted. Pour mixture into lined pan.
• Let fudge cool in the pan at room temperature,3 hours. Use edges of paper to lift out fudge; place on cutting board, and remove paper. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters, or cut fudge into bars. Sprinkle evenly with crushed candy.

CHOCOLATE-WALNUT FUDGE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides. Spray parchment.
• Pulse wafers in a food processor until finely ground, and transfer to a bowl. Add sugar and a pinch of table salt. Melt 6 tablespoons butter, and stir into crumbs. Press into bottom of dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Heat chocolate, condensed milk, whole milk, remaining 4 tablespoons butter, and a pinch of table salt in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, until melted. Stir in vanilla.
• Pour chocolate mixture over baked cookie layer, smoothing top with an offset spatula. Sprinkle walnuts and coarse salt over top, pressing slightly to adhere. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
• Remove fudge from dish using parchment to lift, and transfer to a cutting board; remove parchment. Trim edges of fudge with a sharp knife, and cut crosswise into six 2-inch-wide strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 3 equal bars, then cut each bar in half on the diagonal to form 36 triangles.

TRIPLE-CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT FUDGE

Steps:

• Butter an 8-inch square cake pan; line with parchment, leaving a 1-inch overhang on two sides. Butter parchment. Place butter in a large heatproof glass bowl set on a wire rack.
• Heat cream, sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa powder, corn syrup, and salt in a heavy saucepan over medium, stirring, until sugar is dissolved and chocolate is melted, about 10 minutes. Attach a candy thermometer to pan; bring mixture to a boil, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Boil, without stirring, until mixture reaches 238 degrees, about 15 minutes.
• Pour chocolate mixture into glass bowl (do not scrape saucepan). Attach thermometer to bowl; let stand (without stirring) until mixture reaches 110 degrees, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Stir in peppermint extract with a wooden spoon; continue stirring and folding until mixture starts to thicken, lightens slightly in color, and begins to lose its sheen, about 5 minutes.
• Pour mixture into prepared cake pan (do not scrape bowl); press evenly with your hands, then smooth top with a spatula. Sprinkle evenly with candies, pressing to adhere. Let cool 1 hour. Spread white chocolate over candies. Refrigerate until firm, at least 15 minutes and up to 3 days.
• Run a sharp knife around edges of fudge to loosen; remove using parchment. Cut into 1-inch squares. Fudge can be stored in refrigerator, between layers of parchment, up to 1 week; bring to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE FILLING

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Heat evaporated milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it just comes to a simmer. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate mixture; let stand until chocolate melts, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla, whisk until filling is smooth and well combined.
• Transfer chocolate filling to refrigerator; let chill until slightly firm, but still spreadable, about 2 hours.

MARSHMALLOW FUDGE

Steps:

• Lightly brush an 8-inch baking pan with butter, then line with parchment, leaving 2-inch overhang on two sides. Lightly butter parchment.
• In a medium saucepan, combine remaining 2 tablespoons butter, sugar, evaporated milk, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, then cook for 3 minutes more, until pale golden and thickened slightly. Remove from heat and stir in marshmallows until mostly melted, then add chocolate and vanilla. Stir until chocolate and marshmallows have melted completely and mixture is smooth. Pour into prepared pan; smooth top with a spatula.
• Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours. Remove parchment with fudge from pan and cut into 36 squares. Fudge can be stored refrigerated, covered with plastic, up to 1 week.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE PRESENTS

Steps:

• Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch pan. Sift cocoa powder and sugar into a medium bowl.
• Prepare an ice bath. In a small saucepan, combine milk and cocoa-powder mixture with a wooden spoon until a sandy, pastelike texture forms. Add chocolate, butter, and corn syrup. Cook on low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar has completely dissolved, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Using a pastry brush, wash down sides of pan with cold water. Increase heat to medium. When a candy thermometer registers 236 degrees remove the pan from heat, and place in ice bath for 5 seconds. Transfer pan to a heat-proof surface, and let sit until thermometer registers 121 degrees, about 45 minutes.
• Using a wooden spoon, stir fudge briskly until it begins to lose its sheen, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in walnuts. Spread fudge into prepared pan with wooden spoon. Using your fingers, smooth fudge. Cover with plastic; chill 30 minutes. Cut into 1-inch squares.

FUDGY CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan or heatproof glass dish. Line pan with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on 2 sides. Set aside. Place butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water; stir frequently until chocolate and butter are melted, about 7 minutes. Remove bowl from heat; let cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir sugar into cooled chocolate mixture until combined. Whisk in eggs one at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition. Whisk in vanilla. Gently fold in flour and salt.
• Pour batter into prepared pan, and smooth top with an offset spatula. Bake until cake tester inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Run a knife or offset spatula around the edges of the pan. Using parchment, lift brownies out of pan and onto the rack. Transfer to a cutting board; cut into 2-inch squares.