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Classic Fruit & Nut Chocolate Fudge

Classic Fruit & Nut Chocolate Fudge

Published on June 2, 2016 • Last updated January 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Atia
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Classic Fruit & Nut Chocolate Fudge

I made fudge!

Proper fudge!

This is not such a grand achievement, I know, but wait until you hear why this is such a big thing for me.

I was 12 the last time I made fudge. Proper fudge, I mean, you know, fudge that has never seen a tin of condensed milk (I’ve made plenty of that kind of fudge over the years – that fudge is safe fudge!).

I was 12 and I was standing over a pan of boiling sugar syrup waiting patiently for when it looked like it was ready to try the soft ball test. My grown up self is rather impressed that my 12 year old self knew what the soft ball test was. You know, you drop a bit of the molten fudge into a glass of cold water and then roll it in between your fingers to test if it’s at the right consistency.

Classic Fruit & Nut Chocolate Fudge

It was ready.

I was that eager to taste the fudge I’d made so I popped that little soft ball of fudge into my mouth.

It promptly stuck to a giant silver filling in the back of my mouth and pulled it right out.

Oh the nauseous stomach inducing horror!

Back in Canada in the early 90’s dental treatment was free for children up until the age of 12. After that you had to pay, and regular readers will know I’ve made no effort to hide the fact that I grew up in poverty in a single parent household. There was no money for dental treatment. That, and the fact I was terrified of the dentist, so I don’t even know if I told my mother that I’d just lost a filling. I just ignored it.

Classic Fruit & Nut Chocolate Fudge

I ignored it for nine years.

Not one of my most intelligent moves, I know, but the fear of the dentist and his needle was strong, and then there was the money issue.

Eventually the pain became that unbearable I went to see a dentist. A different dentist, one I was told was very gentle and kind. She filled that gaping hole in the back of my mouth but she said it was really large and there was a 50-50 chance it wouldn’t work.

That filling lasted for five years until one night, completely out of the blue, I experienced the most agonising searing pain I have ever, ever had.

I’ve had three children. I know pain.

Classic Fruit & Nut Chocolate Fudge

It turned out that the nerve was dying. I had to wait an entire weekend in absolute agony while my dentist gave me a course of antibiotics as he thought I had an abscess. The antibiotics did nothing. It was the nerve. I was in that much pain I just begged for him to pull the tooth out to make it stop hurting.

So yes. That’s what happened the last time I made fudge. I’ve avoided making it ever since, until recently, now that I own a SuperFast Thermapen® 4 digital thermometer that takes less than 3 seconds to read temperature.

This classic fruit and nut chocolate fudge recipe is adapted from one found on The Kitchn website – I doubled the cocoa powder (I like a proper chocolate flavour) and added some coarsely chopped raw almonds and some sultanas.

On the whole I’m really rather impressed with it! It’s melt-in-the-mouth smooth with a delicious rich chocolate flavour. My kids were rather impressed with it too. Win! I will be experimenting a lot more now with fudge flavours. Watch this space!

Classic Fruit & Nut Chocolate Fudge

Classic Fruit & Nut Chocolate Fudge

A deliciously moreish melt-in-the-mouth smooth, crumbly, fruit and nut packed chocolate fudge.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 20 squares
Author: Elizabeth

Ingredients

  • 500 grams granulated sugar
  • 50 grams cocoa powder
  • 0.5 tsp Shetland sea salt
  • 225 ml full fat milk
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tsp Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste
  • 50 grams raw almonds coarsely chopped
  • 50 grams sultanas
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Instructions 

  • Measure the sugar, cocoa powder, salt and milk and pour into a heavy bottomed saucepan.
  • Bring to the boil over a medium-low heat, stirring very occasionally. Keep the heat low so you don't burn the mixture.
  • After the mixture has been boiling for about eight minutes start to check the temperature. When it reaches 112.7 C/ 235 F it is ready.
  • Meanwhile, lightly grease a dish - I used a 4 x 9 inch silicone bread pan.
  • Fill your sink with a few inches of cold water.
  • When the fudge has reached the desired temperature carefully place the pan into the sink of cold water and beat in the butter and vanilla. Continue to beat until the fudge begins to thicken.
  • Stir in the fruit and nuts and spoon into your prepared dish.
  • Leave to set at room temperature for an hour before cutting into small squares.

Environmental Information

Tried this recipe?Mention @TangoRaindrop or tag #elizabethskitchendiary - we'd love to see what you've been making!

Click here to view the nutritional information for this recipe.

OTHER FUDGE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Baileys, Pistachio & Cranberry Fudge by Foodie Quine
Vodka Chilli Truffle Fudge by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Vanilla Penda by Gujarati Girl
Cadbury Creme Egg Fudge by Fuss Free Flavours
S’mores Chocolate Fudge by Kerry Cooks

 

With thanks to Thermapen for the SuperFast Thermapen® 4 digital thermometer RRP £60 and to The White Company for the gorgeous mini lidded cake stand RRP £35. This is not a paid post and all thoughts and opinions expressed are our own.

Category: All Manner of Sweet Things, Chocolate, RecipeTag: chocolate, fudge, Thermapen

About Elizabeth Atia

Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rachel

    August 27, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    Oh my goodness, just when my sugar craving is at an all time high, I read this!

    Reply
  2. Becky wilkinson

    August 13, 2016 at 9:25 pm

    This looks so delicious! I am a new baker of cheats fudge (condensed milk…who knew it was so easy!) I don’t think I would dare make it this way! I loovvee baking but I must admit I’m a bit of a wimp in the kitchen!

    Reply
  3. Gem Cook

    July 24, 2016 at 1:46 pm

    I’ve got to make these for my family. Thank you for sharing.
    I love reading your blogs.
    Keep up the amazing work.

    Reply
  4. Someone's Mum (Danielle)

    July 14, 2016 at 1:47 pm

    Oh Goodness! I don’t think I would be brave enough to face fudge again if that had happened to me! I also really, really hate the dentist. I must say though, this looks like a pretty awesome recipe to return to fudge with. It looks sooo delicious!

    Reply
  5. Heather Haigh

    July 12, 2016 at 9:08 am

    My hubby is a big fan of fudge and we both love fruit and nut — I must have a go at this.

    Reply
  6. Jessica McDonnell

    July 11, 2016 at 8:47 pm

    I love fruit and nut chocolate and this recipe looks yummy!

    Reply
  7. Rhian Westbury

    June 12, 2016 at 12:48 pm

    Wow this fudge looks seriously amazing, I’ve actually never tried making my own before x

    Reply
  8. Ickle Pickle

    June 11, 2016 at 8:49 pm

    Ouch – there is nothing quite like tooth ache – and I have had four children! This fudge looks absolutely delicious. Kaz x

    Reply
  9. Angela Milnes

    June 11, 2016 at 4:40 pm

    This recipe looks yummy 🙂 I’ve never made home made fruit and nut fudge but imagine it would be a big hit!

    Reply
  10. Anosa

    June 6, 2016 at 4:00 pm

    I am a huge chocolate fudge lover but never tried it like this both but it does look really delicious. Thanks for the recipe

    Reply
  11. Miss Kitty Kaos

    June 5, 2016 at 6:59 am

    This looks so so good I love fudge but have never had it like this before x

    Reply
  12. Jessica

    June 4, 2016 at 10:17 pm

    Fudge! I love the taste as it melts in the mouth smoothly. Heavenly feeeling. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Tanya Brannan

    June 4, 2016 at 2:25 pm

    What a fabulous recipe! It looks so easy, yet so tasty! Thank you for sharing it, I have already passed it on to a couple of friends!

    Reply
  14. Zoë IKIWN

    June 3, 2016 at 5:45 pm

    Oh my word, it’s impressive that you ever tried to make and eat fudge again after that happened to your tooth! This does look so delicious though, I love vanilla fudge and haven’t actually tried any of the chocolate variety…. yet…. something tells me this will be changing very soon 🙂 x

    Reply
  15. Hannah

    June 3, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    I have never made anything like this but I will have to give it a try!

    Reply
  16. Stella

    June 3, 2016 at 11:54 am

    OMG!! I could eat all of these. Chocolate/Fruit/Nut fudge cake sounds right up my street

    Reply
  17. Sarahjane

    June 3, 2016 at 8:23 am

    After that traumatic story I am surprised you can stand to look at fudge! This recipe looks amazing, I’ll have to give it a go for my next cake Friday at work! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Leanne

    June 3, 2016 at 8:15 am

    This is so spooky as I was contemplating making some fudge this weekend! Now I have a recipe to follow!

    Reply
  19. Ana De- Jesus

    June 3, 2016 at 5:22 am

    Well hello gorgeous how did you know it was my birthday lol! Just kidding but I love fruit and nut fudge.

    Reply
  20. Johanna GGG

    June 3, 2016 at 4:03 am

    ouch – I am not sure I have ever made fudge that has not seen condensed milk! unfortuantely I have had some bad experiences with dentists and tooth pain so I feel your pain (though at least I haven’t had dental treatment ath has given me a black eye like my partner). The fudge looks lovely – I was interested to talk to the people making fudge in the fudge kitchen in royal mil when we were in edinburgh a few months back and being told that the stiring is important to make it creamy rather than sugary!

    Reply
  21. Melanie Edjourian

    June 2, 2016 at 11:01 pm

    I love making fudge, probably because i love eating it. This sounds fabulous. Need a taste tester?????

    Reply
  22. nicol

    June 2, 2016 at 10:57 pm

    ive never made fudge but ive seen fudge being made when i was in york! it looks so delish

    Reply
  23. Emma

    June 2, 2016 at 8:48 pm

    Yum! These have got my stomach rumbling. Chocolate fudge is one of my favourite desserts.

    Reply
  24. Olivia

    June 2, 2016 at 8:36 pm

    This looks so insanely good and although I don’t like nuts on their own I bet they’d taste lovely in this <3

    Reply
  25. Agata

    June 2, 2016 at 8:00 pm

    I am off my chocolate lately but I have to admit this looks totally delicious!

    Reply
  26. Angela Milnes

    June 2, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    Well this looks delicious. i have had one piece of chocolate in ten weeks and this is making me crave more!

    Reply
  27. Sarah Bailey

    June 2, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    Oh my goodness YES PLEASE! I have to admit I am a total fudge addict and this sounds amazing. x

    Reply
  28. Life as Mum

    June 2, 2016 at 6:14 pm

    This sounds very interesting and looks so delicious.

    Reply
  29. Rachel

    June 2, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    There are times when I want to reach through the screen and grab food, like now, this sounds just divine x

    Reply
  30. solange

    June 2, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    I was given a fudge kit for christmas some time ago. The whole process looked so terrifying that I never gave it a go. So with your history, I really admire your fudge making.

    Reply
  31. Nikki

    June 2, 2016 at 10:30 am

    This sounds delicious! I love anything that has nuts in it 🙂

    Reply
  32. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    June 2, 2016 at 10:20 am

    I haven’t made fudge since I was about 12 too, and it was in a school cooking class. We eat a lot of it at Christmas time though, so maybe I will try making it myself next time.

    Reply

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About Elizabeth

Adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Loves bikes. Calls Shetland home. Read More…

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“Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.”

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