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This Reese’s Fudge tastes just like the inside of Reese’s Pieces! It’s so easy to make and uses only 3 simple ingredients!
Have you ever played the “I’ve Never…” game?
I tried playing it with the fans on my Facebook page a week or two ago and didn’t really get much of a response. But I think it’s a really fun game, so I thought we could try playing it here on the blog instead 🙂
All you do is finish the sentence, “I’ve never ___________.” And of course, the point is to try and think of something sort of outlandish that you’ve never done, something that people wouldn’t guess about you.
For example, on Facebook I told my fans that I’ve never had a serious boyfriend. You might not guess that about me since I’m married and have a child, but it’s the truth! My husband and I basically went from kinda-sorta-maybe-dating to engaged in a pretty wam-bam way. And he’s the only serious relationship I’ve ever been in (happily married for 7+ years by the way, although I still can’t believe our folks let us do it!).
Anyway. That’s my shocker one. But I’ll give you a few more to keep the ball rolling, and then you can leave your answers in the comments! Sound good? Ok, here we go:
I’ve never… been outside of the U.S. Not even Canada.
I’ve never… quit a job. I’ve had to leave jobs due to moving or, you know, having a baby, but I’ve never really quit a job.
I’ve never… taken less than an hour to write a post. Even a silly one like this one.
I’ve never… made fudge that requires more than like… two ingredients.
Like that smooth segue into recipe talk? 😉
Seriously though. I love two-ingredient fudge. Call me lazy or cowardly or closed-minded– I wouldn’t mind a bit. This fudge is good, and I don’t see the point in messing with a system that works just fine! It’s simple, quick, and it works every time. You can mix up the chocolate you use and add different mix-ins or toppings to create a million different flavors, so you really never have to make the same fudge twice!
Although you might want to. Especially if you’re a peanut butter lover! Did you know Reese’s brand makes peanut butter chips? You can find them in the baking aisle, next to all the other chocolate chips. And if you can’t find the Reese’s brand, you’re okay to use any other kind of peanut butter chips. But I think the Reese’s chips make this fudge taste like the inside of Reese’s Pieces!!
Which reminds me– think Reese’s Pieces when you eat this fudge. Not Reese’s Cups. You Reese’s connoisseurs know what I’m talking about: there’s a big difference in peanut butter flavor. So if you’re expecting it to taste like a Reese’s Cup, you’d be in for a surprise. Although…
I’ve never… been disappointed in a Reese’s surprise!
Your turn! Tell me something you’ve NEVER done!
Reese’s Fudge
Ingredients
3 cups Reese's peanut butter chips (this was 2 bags for me)
14.5 oz sweetened condensed milk
1 cup milk chocolate morsels
Instructions
Line an 8x8 (or 9x9) baking dish with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, stir the peanut butter chips and sweetened condensed milk over low heat until melted and smooth.
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Use a spatula to smooth it if needed.
Microwave the chocolate morsels in a small bowl for 1 minute. Stir until melted and smooth (heat for an additional 30 seconds if needed). Pour melted chocolate over the fudge, and use a spatula to gently spread it.
Let cool at room temperature for 4-5 hours before cutting into 1-inch pieces.
Speed set the fudge in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes, but expect condensation if you try to serve it at room temperature.
Don’t miss a bite!
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Check out these other great recipes from me and my friends!
You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).
The fudge needs to cool undisturbed at room temperature until it's completely set. Moving it to the fridge too soon or not letting it set long enough can result in a soft fudge.
Fudge, like tablet, is beaten as it cools to help it thicken. Behan suggests allowing it to cool a little before doing this, but I can't see that it makes much difference, apart from making it dangerously tempting to sample (still not a good idea, however tough you think your tongue is).
As water gradually evaporates, sugar is concentrated and the temperature of the mixture rises above 100°C (212°F). If there is too much evaporation, when the cooking time is too long, there will not be enough water left in the fudge and it will be too hard.
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.
Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a boil, do not stir it. If you do, the sugar can crystallize, giving your fudge a gritty texture. As you beat the fudge, pay attention to color and texture. Once the fudge loses its sheen and thickens, put down your spoon.
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.
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.
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. Cover each square thickly in melted chocolate, ensuring no part of the fudge is exposed.
In his book On Food and Cooking, food scientist Harold McGee writes, “A metal spoon can induce crystallization by conducting heat away from local areas of the syrup, cooling them and so leaving them supersaturated [causing crystallization].” He recommends using a wooden spoon, which doesn't conduct heat.
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!
The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.
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.
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.
Tiny microcrystals in fudge are what give it its firm texture. The crystals are small enough, however, that they don't feel grainy on your tongue, but smooth. While you ultimately want crystals to form, it's important that they don't form too early.
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Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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