Recipe of the Day: Marshmallow Fudge *National Fudge Day*

Marshmallow Fudge

Ingredients
1-1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup fat-free sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/3 cups miniature marshmallows
2 whole reduced-fat graham crackers, broken into bite-size pieces

Directions
Line an 8-in. square pan with foil and coat with cooking spray; set aside. In a small heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips with milk; stir until smooth. Remove from the heat; cool for 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Fold in marshmallows and graham crackers.

Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Discard foil; cut into 48 pieces. Yield: 4 dozen.

Recipe found here: Marshmallow Fudge

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Recipe of the Day: Nut Fudge *National Nutty Fudge Day*

Nut Fudge

Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter, divided
12 ounces German sweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow creme
4-1/2 cups sugar
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
2 cups pecans or walnuts, chopped

Directions
Line a 13×9-in. pan with foil; butter the foil with 1 tablespoon butter and set aside. Break German chocolate into 1-in. pieces; place in a bowl. Add the chocolate chips and marshmallow creme; set aside.

In a large saucepan, bring the sugar, milk and remaining butter to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slowly pour over chocolate mixture; stir until mixture is smooth and blended. Stir in nuts.

Pour into prepared pan. Let stand at room temperature until cool. Cut into squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Yield: 2-1/4 pounds.

Recipe found here: Nut Fudge

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Recipe of the Day: Rich Cocoa Fudge

Rich Cocoa Fudge

Ingredients

3 cups sugar
2/3 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa or HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
1/8 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1 Line 8-or 9-inch square pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Butter foil.

2 Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in heavy 4-quart saucepan; stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to full rolling boil. Boil, without stirring, until mixture reaches 234°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water, forms a soft ball which flattens when removed from water. (Bulb of candy thermometer should not rest on bottom of saucepan.)

3 Remove from heat. Add butter and vanilla. DO NOT STIR. Cool at room temperature to 110°F (lukewarm). Beat with wooden spoon until fudge thickens and just begins to lose some of its gloss. Quickly spread into prepared pan; cool completely. Cut into squares. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature. About 36 pieces or 1-3/4 pounds.

NOTE: For best results, do not double this recipe. This is one of our most requested recipes, but also one of our most difficult. The directions must be followed exactly. Beat too little and the fudge is too soft. Beat too long and it becomes hard and sugary.

VARIATIONS:
NUTTY RICH COCOA FUDGE: Beat cooked fudge as directed. Immediately stir in 1 cup chopped almonds, pecans or walnuts and spread quickly into prepared pan.

MARSHMALLOW-NUT COCOA FUDGE: Increase cocoa to 3/4 cup. Cook fudge as directed. Add 1 cup marshmallow creme with butter and vanilla. DO NOT STIR. Cool to 110°F (lukewarm). Beat 8 minutes; stir in
1 cup chopped nuts. Pour into prepared pan. (Fudge does not set until poured into pan.)

HIGH ALTITUDE DIRECTIONS:
– Increase milk to 1-2/3 cups
– Use soft ball cold water test for doneness OR Test and read thermometer in boiling water, subtract
difference from 212°F. Then subtract that number from 234°F. This is the soft ball temperature for
your altitude and thermometer.

Recipe found here: Rich Cocoa Fudge

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Recipe of the Day: Peanut Butter Fudge *National Peanut Butter Fudge Day*

Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1-1/3 cups peanut butter
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow creme

Directions
In a saucepan, bring sugar and milk to a boil; boil for 3 minutes. Add peanut butter and marshmallow creme; mix well. Quickly pour into a buttered 8-in. square pan; chill until set. Cut into squares. Yield: 3-4 dozen.

Recipe found here: Peanut Butter Fudge

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Recipe of the Day: Cookie Dough Truffles *National Candy Day*

Cookie Dough Truffles

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1-1/2 pounds dark chocolate candy coating, coarsely chopped

Directions
In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour, alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Shape into 1-in. balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.

In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip balls in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. If desired, remelt remaining candy coating and drizzle over candies. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 5-1/2 dozen.

Recipe found here: Cookie Dough Truffles

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Recipe of the Day: Cinnamon Peanut Brittle *National Nuts Day*

Cinnamon Peanut Brittle

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 cups salted peanuts
1 teaspoon butter
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In a 2-qt. microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. Heat, uncovered, on high for 3 minutes; stir. Heat 2-1/4 minutes longer. Stir in peanuts, butter and cinnamon.

Microwave, uncovered, on high for 20-30 seconds or until mixture turns a light amber color (mixture will be very hot). Quickly stir in baking soda and vanilla until light and foamy.

Immediately pour onto a greased baking sheet and spread with a metal spatula. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until firm; break into small pieces. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 1-1/4 pounds.

Editor’s Note: This recipe was tested in a 1,100-watt microwave.

Recipe found here: Cinnamon Peanut Brittle

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Recipe of the Day: Penuche Fudge *National Penuche Fudge Day*

Penuche Fudge

Ingredients
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions
Butter an 8×8 inch square dish.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, white sugar, cream, corn syrup and salt. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. Remove from heat and let cool without stirring until bottom of pan is lukewarm. Pour in vanilla and beat until creamy. Stir in nuts. Pour into prepared pan.

Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Recipe found here: Penuche Fudge

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Recipe of the Day: Pecan Pralines *National Pralines Day*

Pecan Pralines

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup milk
8 large marshmallows
2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash ground cinnamon

Directions
Lightly butter two baking sheets or line with waxed paper; set aside. In a saucepan, combine the sugars, milk and marshmallows. Cook and stir over low heat until marshmallows are completely melted. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 234°-240° (soft-ball stage).

Without stirring or scraping, pour hot liquid into another saucepan. Add the pecans, butter, vanilla and cinnamon. Stir rapidly until mixture is thickened and creamy, about 3 minutes. Drop quickly by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared pans. Flatten slightly. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container. Yield: about 2 dozen.

Editor’s Note: We recommend that you test your candy thermometer before each use by bringing water to a boil; the thermometer should read 212°. Adjust your recipe temperature up or down based on your test.

Recipe found here: Pecan Pralines

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Recipe of the Day: Taffy *National Taffy Day*

Taffy

Ingredients
2 pounds sugar
4 pounds corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cups milk
3 drops red or peach coloring
2 teaspoons peach flavoring, for taste
Cornstarch, for sprinkling on pulling table
Special equipment: 4 (15 1/2 by 10 by 1-inch) well-buttered baking pans; table or marble slab, for pulling; yardstick; waxed paper, cut into 2 by 4-inch rectangles, for wrapping and twisting

Directions
In a saucepan, mix together the sugar, corn syrup and butter, stirring over high heat until mixture reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Reduce heat and slowly add milk and cook until thermometer reaches 248 degrees F.

Pour mixture onto the 4 buttered baking trays. When taffy is cool enough to handle, butter your hands and bring corners to the center to form into a ball. Take all 4 balls and form into 1 large ball.

Place onto a table or marble slab so you and a helper can start the pulling process. Start folding and stretching your taffy ball. You should pull the taffy from your friend, fold over and over in your hands, then let your friend pull the taffy from you, repeating this process until the taffy turns light in color. Pulling the taffy adds tiny air bubbles throughout the candy, making it lighter and chewier.

Place the taffy on your pulling table/slab, add the color and flavoring, and start the pulling process all over again until the liquids are well incorporated and the taffy is the color you want.

Now you can lay the taffy on the table that has a small amount of cornstarch to keep it from sticking. While still soft, press into a 3/4-inch thick sheet. Take a yardstick and cut a straight line with buttered scissors or knife. Continue cutting the taffy into 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide strips. Cut strips into pieces that you want to wrap, about 2-inches. Begin wrapping the pieces in the waxed paper and twisting the ends.

*Cook’s Note: will keep for 6 months in airtight container at room temperature.

Recipe found here: Taffy

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Recipe of the Day: Microwave Peanut Brittle *National Peanut Lovers Day*

Microwave Peanut Brittle

Ingredients

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup salted peanuts
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

Butter a cookie sheet. Combine sugar and corn syrup in a 2 quart glass bowl and microwave on high 4 minutes. Stir in peanuts and microwave on high 3 1/2 minutes more, then stir in butter and vanilla and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.

Stir in baking soda until light and foamy. Pour onto cookie sheet and spread thin. Cool completely and break into pieces and serve.

Recipe found here: Microwave Peanut Brittle

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