Quick Fix For Fudge That Didn't Set Properly?
by Cheri
(California)
I have never made homemade fudge before and I thought I'd read up on it enough. However, this morning when I took it out of the fridge it was a gooey mess.
It tastes fantastic! It just can't be cut...Should I just give it to my neighbors in a bowl instead of the cute Christmas plates I bought? The recipe called for a bag of choc. chips, a can of evaporated milk, 3 cups of sugar, a cup of butter, marshmallows and vanilla.
I did the whole boiling thing for 10 min. before I added the chips and the marshmallows. Can it be fixed or should I pass out spoons?
Hi Cheri,
I'm sorry to say, for a long time I didn't know of any quick fix for fudge that didn't set properly.
In many cases, the sugar, butter, and milk mixture needed to be cooked longer or to a hotter temperature. That's usually the culprit when fudge doesn't set.
You can try reheating your fudge mixture by adding a little more evaporated milk and bringing it slowly back to the boil. This time be sure to test the mixture either with a candy thermometer, or with the cold water test, to see that you've reached the correct
candy syrup stage for fudge, which is the soft ball stage (235 degrees F.).
Another suggestion made by one of our fellow fudge makers is to make a small mix of water and cornflour and add it to the fudge when heating to help thicken it (much like you would do when making gravy).
Finally, the suggestion that most people seem to report working well for them is to add some powdered sugar to the fudge and stir it through.
Whatever method you choose, you definitely want to stir, stir, stir, when it comes off the heat. Your arm may well feel like it's falling off, but it could be the difference of firm or soft fudge. The pain we endure for good fudge! :)
I'm glad at least your fudge still tasted good! :) If the fudge isn't too soft, and you don't want to try to revive it with one of the above suggestions, perhaps you could scoop the fudge into balls and enrobe them in melted chocolate or roll them in crushed nuts, etc.
Otherwise, as you suggested, pass out the spoons! :)
Merry Christmas!
Angie
***Edited to add more suggestions based on trial and error in an effort to help more fudge-makers achieve success. :)