Home » Collaborative Christmas Cookbook For Sam, 2008

Trina's Grandpa's Crumbly Fudge

From the Kitchen of: Trina Clickner
trina@palmtoppublishing.com


About this Recipe

My Grandfather's restaurant in downtown Rochester, NY stands no longer but it was a busy place that served a basic, American fare - there was nothing fancy about it.

It seems that my Grandfather saved his best Greek heritage cooking and his spectacular sweet-tooth specialties for our own family. This is his fudge recipe and it has been a family, Sunday night favorite for as long as I can remember.

This fudge is similar in consistency to maple sugar candy - it is not a gooey, soft fudge. My Grandpa's Crumbly Fudge is unusually creamy yet crumbly and extremely sweet - and very delicious. Once it's made, we can can't stop eating it until it's gone. Maybe you will have more willpower than we do!


Ingredients

  • 3 heaping Tbs Hershey's cocoa powder
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 stick butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1-1/2 cup milk
  • pinch of salt


Method

    Cooling the fudge by submerging the pan bottom 1/2" to 1" in cold water and stirring while it cools is key. Be careful not to get the water in the fudge.

    A candy thermometer is helpful but you can also determine when the fudge is ready to come off the heat by dropping a spoonful into a glass of cold water.

  1. Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in a heavy sauce pan.
  2. Stir in milk.
  3. Heat on high until mixture begins to boil, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add butter.
  5. Stir until butter melts.
  6. Cook the bubbling mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
  7. Fill sink with 1" cold water.
  8. Heat to 220 degrees or until the soft ball mark on a candy thermometer - the mixture will start to turn darker brown.
  9. Remove from heat and submerge bottom of pan in water.
  10. Stir until mixture begins to thicken to an ice-cream sundae sauce texture.
  11. Add vanilla.
  12. Stir until mixture becomes dull and begins to harden.
  13. Spoon into a buttered pie plate.
  14. Cool slightly and cut into squares with a knife.


Serving, Prep Suggestions

Makes a great, thoughtful, and personal gift for the sweet-tooth on your list!