2013-12-15



My friend texted me the other day wondering about the need for a candy thermometer when making Eggnog Fudge. I know that certain recipes like  fudge and my personal favorite, English Toffee, pretty much require a candy thermometer. It took me an entire day and about 6 pounds of butter to finally produce an acceptable toffee. It’s no easy task – it’s an art, and it’s not possible without a candy thermometer.

Basically, I only use my candy thermometer in December. Literally.



Baking and sweets are just not my strong suit.

I’m not good at following recipes as they are written. I like short-cuts and low-fat ingredients.

It doesn’t always work.

Last week Wednesday I was teaching my monthly diabetes cooking class. I had trialed both the snickerdoodle and peanut butter cookie recipes…twice. Both turned out great…both times. During my class, however, I was trying to speed things along to keep within my 1 hour class and I failed to refrigerate my snickerdoodle dough long enough. The cookies ran together into a flat SHEET of cookie. They were paper-thin and just…not snickerdoodles.



Last month, I broke eggs all over myself trying to show off egg tricks and this month my cookies were a flop. Next month, I must save face. Good thing I’m not easily embarrassed, but ideally, I wouldn’t mess up a recipe every class I teach.

Some recipes require patience. They are written with specific instructions for a reason. Candy thermometers exist…for a reason. One of those reasons being fudge – a favorite holiday sweet of mine. There’s something uniquely special about an almost too-sweet piece of melt-in-your-mouth goodness that can feature one of many flavors. I’ve made Peanut Butter Fudge, Egg Nog Fudge, White Chocolate Cranberry-Pistachio Fudge, and now, White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge. Don’t make me choose a favorite!

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White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

Prep time: 
1 hour

Cook time: 
10 mins

Total time: 
1 hour 10 mins

Serves: 81

 

With a candy thermometer, this fudge is simple to make. Nothing says Christmas like a sweet bite of chocolate and peppermint! This stuff is dangerously addicting.

Ingredients

¼ cup + 2 tsp unsalted butter, softened, divided

2 cups sugar

½ cup low-fat sour cream

12 oz white baking chocolate, chopped

1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow cream

½ cup crushed peppermint candy

½ tsp peppermint extract

Instructions

Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and grease with 2 teaspoons of butter, coating the bottom and sides; set aside.

In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, sour cream and remaining ¼ cup butter. Cook, stirring often, over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a rapid boil; cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 234° (soft-ball stage), about 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat; stir in white chocolate and marshmallow creme until melted. Fold in peppermint candy and extract. Pour fudge into prepared pan and using a spatula direct the fudge evenly to the sides and corners. Refrigerate fudge until firm, about 1 hour.

Cut fudge into 1-inch square pieces. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

Recipe from Taste of Home

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 piece Calories: 58 Fat: 1.9 Carbohydrates: 10.3 Sugar: 8.7 Sodium: 7 Fiber: 0 Protein: 0.1 Cholesterol: 0.5

3.2.2124

Weekly Menu: December 15th – 19th

Sunday: Harvest Festival Chili

Monday: Winter Salad with Pear Vinaigrette and seared scallops

Tuesday: leftovers

Wednesday: out for dinner with my team

Thursday: Crab-Stuffed Portabellos

 I had nothing on the agenda yesterday. I have nothing on the agenda today.

Be well,

            
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