When I was a kid, my mother often made fudge from the recipe
on the side of the Hershey’s Cocoa can. I can still see her sitting on the old wooden
porch swing, beating the fudge until it was creamy. One side of chain holding the old swing
broke, and Mom never missed a beat as she slid down to the opposite side of the
swing.
She often made this as icing on a yellow cake, and it was so
yummy we kids would eat the icing off and she would have to make a second batch
for the cake. This happened so often that finally Mom started poking holes in
the cake so the icing would not be so easy to steal.
Over the years, I have made this many
times, occasionally overcooking it to sugar and just as often, not cooking long enough and
having chocolate syrup. Either way, the evidence was yummy.
Below is the recipe- Enjoy!
Hershey’s Fudge Recipe
Ingredients
3 cups sugar
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Line an 8 or 9-inch square pan with foil. Generously grease
the foil with butter. (We never used foil, we just buttered a plate)
Combine the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a large, heavy
saucepan over medium heat. Mix well. Using a wooden spoon (do not use a whisk),
stir in the milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until the milk comes to a full,
rolling boil. Let it boil without stirring until it reaches 234 degrees F on a
candy thermometer (soft ball stage, drop a small amount in very cold water to
test it - it should form a soft ball that flattens when removed from the
water).
Remove the pan from the heat. Add the butter and vanilla to
the saucepan but DO NOT STIR. Just let the mixture sit until it has reached
110-120 degrees F.
Once cooled, beat the fudge with the wooden spoon until it
thickens and has lost some of its glossiness. Quickly spread the fudge in the
greased pan. Let cool slowly (do not rush the cooling process or it may not set
up) then cut into squares when completely cooled. Store the fudge wrapped
loosely in foil in the refrigerator.
My brother makes this fudge at Christmas and gives away pounds and pounds over it, each one more delicious than the last. Although our mother's specialty was divinity, this was 2nd on the list. And now I want some...
ReplyDeleteI love divinity too - and peanut patty - but those were primarily at Christmas- where the fudge was year round- Do not make the fudge- it’s so ridiculously easy- it makes it addictive! 🥰
DeleteThat's the recipe my mother used until my aunt (a great cook) convinced Mom to try her recipe for "Million Dollar Fudge." I love that candy! My husband really prefers the old Hershey's recipe. My mom made the best divinity at Christmas. She also made peanut brittle. December is the only time she made candy, but she was great at making it.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Million Dollar and Fantasy Fudge came along, I thought I was high falutin - marshmallow cream was the bomb! I still love the old fashioned one too though ;)
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