Fudge FAQs | Old Danish Fudge Kitchen (2024)

Fudge FAQs | Old Danish Fudge Kitchen (1)

Why does our fudge not melt?

There are two main reasons. First, we use ingredients not prone to melting. Specifically, we use heavy cream instead of butter. Second, we slice our fudge while still warm so that each slice forms a firm outer shell. The shell protects the softer, creamy interior. Thus, as long as you do not cut or break into the slice, we guarantee the fudge will not melt under “reasonable” circ*mstances. “Reasonable” does not include microwaving or leaving on a sun drenched dashboard!

What makes our fudge different?

Unlike other producers of fudge, we do not use trans fats (i.e., partially hydrogenated oils) or similar ingredients to preserve our fudge. We use only all natural ingredients. The bad news is that our fudge won’t last into the next century like those other fudges. The good news is that our fudge is far healthier for you. When you consider the antioxidant powers of cocoa and its scientifically proven benefits to vascular health, our fudge is “practically” health food! It is our humble medical opinion that you should eat a slice a day!

Is our fudge fresh?

Our fudge is ALWAYS fresh. We make our fudge most days of the week, starting in the early morning for best results.

How long does our fudge stay fresh?

It is usually best to eat our fudge within 10 to 14 days. Although our fudge can remain edible for some time after that, if you wait too long to eat it, you can always retain a slice for use as a paperweight or doorstop.

What is the best way to take care of our fudge?

It is generally best to keep our fudge at room temperature as packaged, and to “cut as you go”, using a sharp knife. DO NOT REFRIGERATE OUR FUDGE since that tends to dry it out faster. Wrapping a slice in plastic is risky since that can lessen the effectiveness of the hardened shell, but can also extend its freshness. Our fudge can be frozen should you wish to keep it for an extended period of time. If you do so, wrap the fudge very tightly (e.g., saran wrap, then foil and finally place in an airtight freezer bag).

Does weather affect the texture of our fudge?

Absolutely! Weather greatly affects our fudge. Cold weather and/or low humidity makes the harder outer shell more pronounced and the fudge less moist. Hot and/or humid weather makes the shell less effective and the interior of the fudge more creamy. Since our weather in Solvang fluctuates greatly (sometimes even during a given day), you will find the texture of our fudge similarly fluctuates. Some flavors are affected more dramatically than others. Come visit us or order online throughout the year to see for yourself! Do so for the sake of science to lessen the guilt!

Fudge FAQs | Old Danish Fudge Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to perfect fudge? ›

Valuable tips for successful fudge
  • Don't stir during cooking. Fudge can be cooked on the stove or in the microwave. ...
  • Avoid crystallization. During cooking, sugar crystals can stick to the sides of the pan. ...
  • Let cool before beating. After being cooked, the sugar must crystallize again to create fudge. ...
  • Beat the mixture.

What would cause fudge not to harden? ›

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.

How to fix oily fudge with condensed milk? ›

Making the perfect piece of fudge is by no means easy. One of the most common problems that arises making this delicious treat is when the fudge ends up overly oily. Fortunately, fixing the issue is fairly simple. Put the greasy mix back into a pot, add a few tablespoons of water, and stir the fudge on a low heat.

Why is my peanut butter fudge not setting up? ›

If your fudge isnt setting up, cut the amount of butter in half. The problem is the fat from the peanut butter added with the butter adds way to much fat.

Should you stir fudge while it's cooking? ›

Don't stir!

Once the fudge reaches soft-ball stage on the candy thermometer, remove from the heat and let the temperature drop to 110°F. Keep that spoon or spatula out of the pot until this happens. If you stir too early in the process, you'll make the sugar crystals too big and end up with grainy fudge.

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

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 to do with failed fudge? ›

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.

Why won't my 3 ingredient condensed milk fudge set? ›

Why won't my 3 ingredient fudge set? This often happens when the condensed milk and chocolate chip mixture isn't hot enough to start. Everything must be completely melted before it is transferred to the pan to cool.

Can you reboil fudge that hasn't set? ›

How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.

Why is my peanut butter fudge dry and crumbly? ›

If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature. Don't throw out the whole pan, because you may be able to melt the fudge down and try again.

How do you fix peanut butter fudge that is too soft? ›

How do you fix fudge that is too soft? Bring the fudge back to a boil with 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of cream. If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream.

What consistency should fudge be before setting? ›

Remove the ball from the water and check its consistency with your fingers. For perfect fudge, the syrup should form a soft ball that can be picked up, but easily flattened.

How to make fudge more solid? ›

there is too much leftover water in the syrup and the resulting fudge is soft. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 15 to 30 ml (1 or 2 tbsp.) of 35% cream and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely melted. Then let it boil until the thermometer reaches 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

Why is my fudge not setting properly? ›

Fudge Didn't Set

If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).

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!

How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›

How long does it take to make fudge:
  1. about 18 min to reach boiling.
  2. about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
  3. 60 minutes to cool.
  4. 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
  5. 4 hours to set.

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