Dad’s Old Fashioned Fudge recipe has been in my family since about 1975 and is an absolute must-make every Christmas and Easter. With just 5 ingredients, it turns out rich, creamy and a complete crowd pleaser! We served this homemade fudge at my Dad’s funeral reception and the plate was wiped clean in minutes.
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Evaporated milk is milk that has been cooked to reduce its water content. It is more stable than regular milk and it can be cooked at high temperatures without curdling, a real benefit to fudge. Unfortunately, there is no substitute for it in a fudge recipe.
How To Make Old Fashioned Fudge Without a Candy Thermometer
- Lightly grease a 8 x 10 or 9 x 13 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper making sure parchment overlaps sides for easy removal later. Set aside.
- In a 8 quart pot combine sugar, evaporated milk, half & half and vanilla. Place pan over medium heat stirring constantly for approximately 6 1/2 mins. Mixture should come to a rapid boil for a full 2 mins. Once it comes to a rapid boil, start your timer for 2 minutes and continue stirring consistently.
- Take off heat. Add butter and continue stirring while adding in chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is completely smooth. Stir in walnuts.
- Pour chocolate mixture evenly into lined pan. Cool completely at room temperature and then chill for at least 2 hours.
- Once chilled gently run butter knife along sides of pan to loosen. Carefully remove fudge and loosen parchment from sides. With a large sharp knife carefully cut into small pieces. Keep refrigerated for a longer shelf life of up to 1 month.
If you’re looking to experiment with different nut varieties in your walnut fudge recipe, there are several options that can work well. Here are a few nut suggestions that can complement the flavors of the fudge.
- Pecans- Pecans have a buttery and slightly sweet flavor that pairs wonderfully with chocolate.
- Almonds- Almonds offer a slightly milder and subtly sweet taste.
- Hazelnuts- Hazelnuts have a distinct and robust flavor that complements chocolate well and bring a combination of nuttiness and creaminess to the fudge.
- Cashews- Cashews have a creamy and slightly sweet taste. While they are milder in flavor compared to walnuts, they can add a pleasant texture and a touch of sweetness to the fudge.
- Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts have a rich, buttery flavor and a creamy texture and create a nice contrast with the chocolate.
- Cool Completely- Allow the fudge to cool completely at room temperature before storing it. This ensures that it sets properly and maintains its desired texture.
- Refrigeration- For longer shelf life, it is recommended to store the walnut fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The chilled environment helps preserve the fudge and prevents it from softening or melting.
- Layering and Separation- To prevent the fudge pieces from sticking together or separating, place parchment or wax paper between the layers when storing them in the container. This will make it easier to separate the pieces when serving.
- Proper Sealing- Ensure that the container is tightly sealed to prevent any moisture or odors from affecting the fudge’s taste and texture.
- Shelf Life- Walnut fudge, when stored properly in the refrigerator, can typically last for up to 1 month. However, its quality may gradually decline over time, and it’s best to consume it within the first few weeks for optimal taste and texture.
- Freezing-Leave uncut and wrap tightly in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. When properly stored, homemade Old Fashioned Fudge can last up to 2-3 months without significant loss in quality. To use, defrost in the refrigerator and then cut into individual pieces. If freezing individual pieces, the fudge will last about 6 weeks in the freezer before declining in quality.
Reason for the Panic
Here is the background to my complete panic.
Last year I had told my dad that we should work on a post for the blog making his fudge recipe.
He proceeded to dive into deep explanation in a way that only my dad could do about how the evaporated milk sizes have changed over the years, thereby altering the way the recipe would have to be written.
I encouraged him, that since he was a scientist, I couldn’t think of a better person for rewriting the recipe with today’s proportions in mind. And he did just that, but my dad worked on his own time frame and didn’t get the rewritten recipe to me until January.
So I I tucked it away for the 2017 holiday season.
Sadly my dad passed and I completely forgot about it until that panic stricken moment. I had complete fear that I had lost the last hand written recipe my father had done for me.
Not only was it the last hand written recipe but HIS fudge recipe… I shot up out of my desk and tore through my notebooks with my heart pounding.
Thank God it took but just a few minutes to find.
I saw those beautiful hand written words shining up at me and my tears began. Once the flood gates opened I think I cried for a good 4 hours straight.
I am so thankful that my father gifted me with this recipe so that I can carry on the tradition. We made this for his funeral reception and it was literally gone in a heartbeat. I am filled with joy over this because I can just see my dad right now. Grinning from ear to ear knowing that he made so many people happy for a moment while enjoying his fudge.
Easy Homemade Fudge using Evaporated Milk #fudgerecipe #easyrecipe
FAQ
What is the purpose of evaporated milk?
What happens when you use evaporated milk instead of condensed?
Can you use evaporated milk in Fudge?
Why use evaporated milk in fudge? Evaporated milk is milk that has been cooked to reduce its water content. It is more stable than regular milk and it can be cooked at high temperatures without curdling, a real benefit to fudge. Unfortunately, there is no substitute for it in a fudge recipe.
Is condensed milk better than evaporated milk for Fudge?
After looking at a lot of recipes for fudge, a lot contain condensed milk as opposed to evaporated. Would it depends on the sugar you use as to which tinned milk would match the flavour best as one is sweeter and more caramelised than the other.
How do you make fudge taste better?
Choose Pure Vanilla Extract- For a wonderfully rich and robust flavor, pure vanilla extract is recommended over imitation vanilla. Use Evaporated Milk- Make sure to use evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk. If you accidentally use sweetened condensed milk your fudge will be incredibly over the top sweet.
Is there a substitute for evaporated milk in Fudge?
Unfortunately, there is no substitute for it in a fudge recipe. While you can use evaporated milk in place of regular milk in many circumstances, the same is not true in reverse. Also, be sure you do not confuse evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk, as they are two entirely different products.