Adapted ever so slightly from A Spicy Perspective
Fudge that is rich and chocolaty, with a festive holiday peppermint crunch on both sides. And it’s super simple and speedy to make too!
It is the day after Thanksgiving and I do not care if it is not quite December yet, I am officially declaring it Peppermint Season. It’s the time of year when all the candy canes start to appear, Christmas music plays almost everywhere you go, there are lovely Christmas lights everywhere and I want all my favorite things turned peppermint.
I love growing peppermint in my garden in the summertime and reveling in the scent of it on my fingers when I rub the leaves between my fingers. Every year I try to bring a little peppermint inside for winter, but it just doesn’t want to grow inside in the winter. Well, no matter, I’m not going to let that stop me … there is peppermint extract and there are candy canes to help flavor the goodies this time of year.
This holiday season I am making fudge. I know, it’s not super healthy, but it is full of childhood memories, memories of trudging through snow in the woods to find the perfect Christmas tree, getting dad to cut it down for us, bringing the tree home and filling it with lights and beautiful decorations (and candy canes!), our house thick with the heady holiday scent of pine. Memories of wrapping presents, hanging the stockings, and begging dad to make his special holiday fudge, which was oh so rich and chocolaty.
Taking time to remember special holiday traditions (like fudge!) and create new holiday memories is healthy because it reconnects us to our family, builds strong relationships and helps us remember what is truly important in life. Yes, we should all strive for a healthy weight, but we should also indulge (just a bit!) every once in a while and take time away from the television and all of our electronic devices to enjoy a few moments to relax and connect with our loved ones. Even the littlest helpers can make this easy fudge. Let them stir or measure or sprinkle … so they can take part in creating this year’s holiday magic.
PrintEasy Peppermint Fudge
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: About 25 pieces of fudge 1x
Ingredients
For the fudge:
- 1 – 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 pound good quality dark chocolate chips/chunks
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (I used 1/2 teaspoon)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the top/bottom:
- 1 cup Andes Peppermint Chunks
- 1 peppermint candy cane, crushed
Instructions
- Line a 9x9x2-inch pan with wax paper, then spray the wax paper with cooking spray. Spread 1/2 cup of the Andex peppermint chunks across the wax paper, trying to get it as evenly distributed as possible.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, stir together the fudge ingredients. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir well, watching to see how well the chocolate is melting. Microwave another 30 seconds, stir again, trying to get all the chocolate to melt just by stirring. If necessary, microwave another 30 seconds and stir some more and repeat until the chocolate is all melted and the mixture is shiny and smooth.
- Once all the chocolate is melted and the mixture is the texture of a very thick cake batter, pour into the pan, trying to get parts of it all over the pan. Use a spatula to spread the fudge evenly over the pan, then sprinkle with the rest of the Andes peppermint chunks and the crushed candy cane. Press down gently with your hand on the candy to push the candy into the fudge. The Andes chunks will melt a bit–this is good.
- Put in a cool place (such as the fridge) until the fudge is completely cooled, at least two hours or longer. Cut into 1-inch squares using a knife heated under hot tap water, rinsing the knife again in hot water between cuts.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to eat.
Notes
Total time does not include cooling or cutting time for the fudge.
RECIPE SOURCE: http://www.sumptuousspoonfuls.com/
© Copyright 2014, Sumptuous Spoonfuls. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to publish any of my images, please ask first. If you want to republish this recipe as your own, please re-write the recipe in your own words or link back to this post for the recipe.
This recipe was shared at Foodie Friends Friday, Weekend Potluck, What to Do Weekends, Mostly Homemade Monday and Hearth & Soul Bloghop.
8 comments
Looks fantastic!! I want a big bite now!! Nettie
I’ve never made fudge, but the peppermint is winning me over. I will definitely give this a try. Thanks so much for sharing with Foodie Friends Friday this weekend. Pinned/sharing this wknd.
It’s so easy, Joanne! I think you’re going to love it 🙂
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