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ThisBrown Sugar Fudge Recipe requires only 4 ingredients, 10 minutes, and a little patience until the first sweet, heavenly bite. It’s a gourmet fudge recipe, but also one of my favorite simple fudge recipes!
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Hi friends, I’m Katrina from Kitchen Trials and I’m so happy to be sharing one of my favorite fudge recipes with you. I love to BBQ, just like Wendy does…so come on over and say hi, but first…let’s talk about this fudge!
I had no idea that brown sugar fudge was such a thing until the husband and I started frequenting a little breakfast place years ago (read: years before kids came into the picture). We would gorge on crepes and French toast, piles of bacon, sausages, and hash browns, and giant bowls of fresh fruit. At the end of the meal, when you couldn’t possibly think of eating another bite, they would bring out a little plate of brown sugar fudge. Just two tiny bites for each of us. I mean, you wouldn’t think that fudge was what one needed at 11am in the morning, but it was ABSOLUTELY what I needed.
I never forgot how great that fudge was. Two little bites of sweetness turned out to be the perfect, decadent way to end a morning brunch. Their brown sugar fudge was a bit of a different texture than your typical fudge. This kind just sort of melted in your mouth.
It also brought back some really great memories I had of my grade seven French and history teacher, Mrs Pollitt. We were learning about Canadian history and she brought in a homemade brown sugar pie. If you were from Quebec, I’m sure this was normal to you, but to me it was such a crazy good combination, it’s stuck with me for the last 23 years. This fudge brought that flavour rushing back into my mind. I had to make it myself. Ever since then, it’s been a staple in my Christmas baking, or just whenever I want to make a really special brunch for the family.
Simple Fudge Making Tips for Brown Sugar Fudge
The brown sugar fudge recipe is incredibly easy to make, too. Seriously. Just four ingredients and ten minutes is all you need to whip it up – and then the patience to let it chill and firm up before digging into it. I mean, you could just leave a couple bites worth in the pan or on the spatula, because that will firm up real quick. Not that I do that. Every single time I make this.
All you do is butter a glass baking dish (6”x10” is your best bet if you have it for nice thick squares). Then, add some butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream to a medium pot. Whisk is all together while the butter melts. When it just starts to boil around the edges set a timer for 5 minutes and keep whisking off and on. Once the five minutes is up you move it off the heat, beat in the icing sugar, then pour it into the buttered dish. That’s it!
Make sure to check out all of Wendy’s simplegourmet fudge recipestoo! She might just be a bigger fan of fudge than I am.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup butter (+ 1 tablespoon for greasing the dish)
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup powdered sugar (icing sugar)
Instructions
- Butter a 8” x 8” glass baking dish and set aside.*
- Put 2/3 cup butter, heavy cream, and brown sugar into a medium pot set over medium heat. Whisk continuously until the butter has melted. As soon as the edges start to bubble and boil, set a timer for 5 minutes. Whisk occasionally, and turn to medium-low when it comes to a rolling boil.
- Immediately remove the pot from the heat when the five minutes are up, and add the icing sugar. Whip with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into the prepared dish and chill for 1 hour before cutting and serving.
Notes
*Instead of buttering the pan, you can line the pan with foil with some hanging over the edges so the fudge can be lifted out easily and cut.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 64Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 65Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 18mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 10gProtein: 0g
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See all of my simple gourmet fudge recipes here
FAQs
The key to creamy, luscious fudge is controlling crystal formation. If the sucrose (table sugar) crystals are small, the fudge will feel creamy and smooth on your tongue. But if the crystals are large, the fudge develops a crumbly, dry, or even coarse texture.
Why is my brown sugar fudge grainy? ›
– There are a number of reasons why the fudge was grainy. It might be that you haven't dissolved all the sugar before boiling the fudge mixture. It could be that there just wasn't enough fluid or fat to enable the sugar to dissolve or it might even be that the fudge wasn't beaten long enough or hard enough.
What is the secret to non grainy fudge? ›
Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.
What's the difference between penuche and fudge? ›
What sets penuche apart from other fudge is the brown sugar -- most fudge is made with white sugar. The brown sugar lends butterscotch and maple tones to this New England favorite, which may be enhanced by adding actual maple syrup in some cases.
What not to do when making fudge? ›
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
- Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
- Stirring the Sugar. ...
- Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
- Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
- Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
- Scraping the Pot. ...
- Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer
Another key part of a successful fudge texture is when you stir the mixture. Stirring the sugar and milk during the initial stages of cooking allows the sugar to dissolve. However, once the mixture comes to a boil, it's time to put the spoon down.
What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›
Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!
Why is my old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›
Fudge usually behaves this way when it's not cooked to a high enough temperature (due to oversight or a faulty candy thermometer).
When to stop beating fudge? ›
The fudge should be warm but not burning hot. Stop beating when the surface of the mixture starts to look dull or matte. Pour immediately into a mould that has been buttered or lined with parchment paper and let cool completely.
What happens if you boil fudge too long? ›
Too cooked
The result is hard and brittle fudge. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 45 to 60 ml (3 or 4 tbsp.) of 35% cream and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely melted. Then let it boil without stirring until the thermometer reaches 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).
Options for what you can do with your unset fudge:
OPTION 1) Depending on how runny it is, you can either use it as a frosting for cakes, or a sauce for ice-cream. OPTION 2) Freeze it overnight. Cut it into squares.
How to prevent sugar crystals in fudge? ›
If the melting sugar splashes onto the sides of the pan, it turns back into crystals and causes the fudge to seize up. To avoid this issue, swirl the pan instead of stirring it with a spoon. You can use a wet pastry brush to wipe down any sugar that sticks to the sides of the pot.
What is American fudge? ›
Fudge is a type of confection that is made by mixing sugar, butter and milk. It has its origins in the 19th century United States, and was popular in the women's colleges of the time.
Why is fudge a Michigan thing? ›
By most accounts, the first batch of fudge was concocted in Baltimore in the 1880s. By the turn of the century, fudge-making arrived on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan, which today has a legitimate claim as the modern day fudge capital.
What is soft ball fudge? ›
making of fudge
termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.
What gives fudge its firm texture? ›
Cooking. Cooking is necessary to dissolve sugar crystals and to evaporate part of the water in the cream. The length of this step has a direct impact on the firmness of the fudge. As water gradually evaporates, sugar is concentrated and the temperature of the mixture rises above 100°C (212°F).
What makes fudge moist? ›
The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.
Can you beat fudge in a stand mixer? ›
If you beat it by hand with a wooden spoon, crystallization can take between 5 to 15 minutes. The process is much faster with an electric mixer, just 2 to 3 minutes.
