Easy Christmas Candy Fudge Recipes

Everyone, or so it seems, loves fudge. However, not everyone knows that fudge comes in flavors other than chocolate, so holiday dinner guests and partygoers are in for a delightful surprise when they sample these creamy confections.

Guidelines for Making Fudge

There are certain things that people should keep in mind when making fudge in order to ensure that the end result is of the highest quality:

• Proper control of the crystals affects quality, so the crystals in fudge should be small.
• Fudge can either be poured into a buttered pan to harden or poured onto a buttered surface and kneaded.
• Fudge can be kneaded immediately or covered with a damp cloth and allowed to stand for 20 minutes.
• Kneading makes fudge creamier, but it must not be over kneaded.
• Once kneaded, the fudge should be pressed into a buttered pan or dish, covered with waxed paper, and allowed to stand until firm enough to cut.

Recipe for Quick and Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Note: This is an especially easy fudge to make since no cooking is required, making it the ideal candy to prepare for unexpected parties or last-minute gifts.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 one-pound box confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts or both)

Preparation:

1. Place butter or margarine in a bowl and soften with a wooden spoon.
2. Blend in corn syrup, peanut butter, salt, and vanilla, mixing until creamy.
3. Stir in confectioners’ sugar.
4. Turn candy onto a pastry board and knead until blended and smooth.
5. Gradually add chopped nuts, pressing and kneading them into the dough.
6. Grease 8-inch square pan.
7. Chill at least 1 hour.
8. Cut into serving-sized pieces.

Recipe for Yule Tide Butter Rum Fudge

Ingredients:

• 4 cups sugar
• 1 large can evaporate milk
• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 2 six-ounce packages semisweet chocolate pieces
• 1 pint marshmallow crème
• 1 teaspoon rum flavoring
• 1 and 1/2 cups walnut and pecan pieces

Preparation:

1. Mix sugar, milk, and butter or margarine.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until begins to form a soft ball.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add chocolate pieces, marshmallow crème, rum flavoring, and nuts.
5. Pour onto a buttered 9x9x2 inch pan or large cookie sheet.
6. Score top immediately into squares but do not cut all the way through.
7. Cool then finish cutting through the squares.

Recipe for Christmas Cherry Crème Fudge

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of sugar
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup marshmallow crème
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped candied cherries

Preparation:

1. Combine sugar, half-and-half, butter or margarine, corn syrup, and salt in a 4-quart saucepan.
2. Bring ingredients to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Set pan in cold water and cool mixture until lukewarm.
5. Add vanilla and marshmallow crème.
6. Beat until mixture is at the setting stage.
7. Pour into a well-buttered 8 or 9-inch pan.
8. Cut into squares when firm.
9. Decorate with pecan and cherry halves.

All of these delicious fudge recipes are relatively simple to make and are the ideal Christmas gifts for friends and neighbors, as well as the perfect Yule Tide treats for parties and family gatherings.