Old Fashioned Fudge Recipe. This Award Winning Fudge Recipe has been in our family for generations. This fudge recipe won a Division Sweepstakes at the Kansas State Fair and made our NaNa very proud.
My mother made batch after batch of this chocolate fudge every single Christmas that I can remember. For box after box of gifts to give to friends, neighbors, school teachers, mail delivery guys, … bus drivers.
Actually fudge wasn’t the only candy style recipe on the menu for Christmas gifts. There was cinnamon candy, Boston Cream, popcorn balls, divinity … Christmas cooking was full of candy recipes.
Hard Ball, Soft Ball Stage for Candy
I remember watching her with intent, due to the precision of getting the sugar mixtures at just the right temperatures to make candy recipes work. She’d drop a small teaspoon of the boiling sugar into a glass of cold water. If the sugar formed into just the right ball consistency, the candy was ready to form.
I’ve tried that method and it’s difficult to get just right. And a great skill to know … if you know how to do it. Owning a candy thermometer can be a very valuable tool when it’s time for candy making. And an easier method for precision. Candy thermometers aren’t expensive and a valuable tool to have around the holidays.
Most candy thermometers display the different temperature stages, but if you have one that doesn’t, jeere’s a list of temps to help you out.
Candy Temperature Chart
- Thread – 230 – 234
- Soft Ball – 234 – 242
- Firm Ball – 243 – 249
- Hard Ball – 250 – 269
- Soft Crack – 270 – 294
- Hard Crack – 295 – 319
- Light Caramel – 320 – 325
- Dark Caramel – 326 – 350
The recipe has been passed down from my great great grandmother, to my grandmother, and to my aunts. Now it’s up to us kids to keep this recipe alive and well. It’s an old fashioned fudge recipe, using evaporated milk and marshmallow cream. It’s easy to make and always a crowd pleaser.
My cousin Brooke even entered this Christmas Fudge recipe in the Kansas State Fair when she was 11 years old and ended up winning the Junior Division Sweepstakes.
The recipe was published in “A Century of Good Cooking, Kansas State Fair” cookbook, and she won 30 pounds of sugar. 🙂
So with all of that said here’s that award-winning recipe.
Recipe for Old Fashioned Fudge
I hope you give this old fashioned fudge recipe a try. And if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a comment about your experience.
And if you have a homemade fudge recipe, or a favorite Christmas Candy Recipe let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
- 1 stick butter
- 4 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 1 12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 12 ounce bag milk chocolate chips
- 14 ounces marshmallow creme
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- Mix butter, sugar and milk in saucepan. Turn heat on high. Continually stir and bring to rolling boil. Continue stirring for about 5 minutes or until it gets to a "soft ball" stage. Remove from heat; stir in the vanilla, chocolate chips, and marshmallow creme. Mix until well blended then add nuts. Pour into a buttered 9 x 13 inch pan. Cool and cut into squares. I don't have a candy thermometer, so "soft ball" stage means that when you drop a small amount of the candy liquid into a cold cup of water, it will form into soft ball
Nana’s Old Fashioned Fudge Recipe …It’s What’s For Christmas
I also like to make this at the Holidays, another family favorite:
Cream Cheese Cherry Christmas Dessert
Judy says
December 20, 2009 at 2:24 amFudge is so perfect for Christmastime. This is a great recipe. Thanks for sharing.
leaannbrown says
December 21, 2009 at 1:20 pmI agree Judy, and thanks for stopping by
Patty says
December 20, 2009 at 3:37 amSounds wonderful!! Hope to try it very soon. I am getting ready to make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles.
Merry Christmas
Patty
leaannbrown says
December 21, 2009 at 3:15 pmOh man, I recently saw a recipe for Cookie Dough Truffles. They looked fabulous. Thanks Patty – so glad you finally made a comment! Keep em coming.
Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella says
December 20, 2009 at 12:47 pmThankyou for sharing this recipe! Especially as it sounds like a rather special one and an award winning one at that! 🙂
buffalo dick says
December 20, 2009 at 1:50 pmI’ll be making this for a pot luck this week!
leaannbrown says
December 21, 2009 at 1:18 pmAs always thanks for stopping by BD
The Little Teochew says
December 20, 2009 at 2:21 pmI am very partial towards recipes that came from Nana … or Aunt or Mom or Grandpa! They are always more delicious, more special. Maybe because they are from the heart? Whatever the case, I’d love that bar of fudgy goodness!
leaannbrown says
December 21, 2009 at 1:17 pmI agree! Thanks so much for stopping by
George says
December 20, 2009 at 2:28 pmLea Ann, what a wonderful post and tribute to your grandmother. My grandmother, who we called Nannie, was a “one-treat pony” when it came to cooking. But that one “treat” was her fudge. For all our special occasions, you were sure that a plate of her fudge would be there. I guess she never had to learn to cook, due to her mother’s amazing cook, Aunt Carrie ~ who I have mentioned in various post. But Nannie’s fudge was just like yours… rich in chocolate flavor, loaded with nuts and sweet as I am sure both our grandmothers were.
Thanks for stopping by “A wink and a nod…” and I look forward to reading through your creative post. Happy Holidays and a Joyous Healthy New Year!
leaannbrown says
December 21, 2009 at 3:17 pmHappy Holidays to you too George! 🙂
Vickie says
December 20, 2009 at 3:17 pmThat looks delicious – and I love the cookbook photos!! I’m still chuckling at the prize – that would get one through all the holiday baking I suppose. 🙂
Very sweet post! Happy Holidays!
My Year on the Grill says
December 20, 2009 at 6:03 pmhow funny… 30 pounds of sugar
aand what a great time of year, only time I see fudge… my favorite (but SOOOOO Bad… Merry Christmas, all things in moderation)
Joanne says
December 20, 2009 at 2:41 pmI have never attempted fudge before because the high heat makes me nervous. Seeing as how this is award-winning, however, I don’t think I can pass up trying it. Looks amazing!
leaannbrown says
December 21, 2009 at 1:14 pmThat high heat thing made me a little nervous. I have a gas range, so can quickly adjust the heat if things were to get out of hand. Wasn’t a problem at all.
girlichef says
December 20, 2009 at 2:42 pmYUM! And oh my, what a prize…30 lbs. of sugar, LOL!!! 😀
anncoo says
December 20, 2009 at 3:15 pmMmmm…the fudge looks perfect and great for Christmas party 🙂
peanutts says
December 21, 2009 at 2:37 amHello, thanx for visiting my blog. Lovely looking fudge 🙂 whats a marshmellow creme?
leaannbrown says
December 21, 2009 at 1:29 pmMarshmallow Crème can be found on the baking isle. It’s a gooey high fructose corn syrup white product that seems to be alive. It’s some sort of marshmallow type oozing thing. 🙂
Julie says
December 24, 2009 at 3:48 amThe fudge looks delish! I just wish someone would make some fudge without nuts. 🙂 I’m nutty enough. Found you via Kim Welker. 🙂 Love what you’ve done here.
Sanjana says
December 28, 2009 at 11:43 pmHey, thanks for visiting me! Oh my gosh, Nana’s fudge looks AMAZING. I’m a fudge addict so you know I HAVE to make this!! Thanks for sharing!
leaannbrown says
December 29, 2009 at 2:22 amThanks for stopping by Sanjana!
Kerrianne Lovelace says
February 1, 2014 at 3:18 pmThe recipe doesn’t state what size can of evaporated milk or how much vanilla. Want to make it tomorrow. Please help. Thanks!
Lea Ann says
February 1, 2014 at 3:33 pmThanks so much for this question. I’m thinking there’s only one size can of evaporated milk. It would be similar to a 15 ounce can of vegetables. If I wasn’t in the middle of a snow storm I’d run to the store and compare. Sorry I’m not much help.
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
November 5, 2014 at 6:22 pmWhat an easy and wonderful fudge recipe – and I love the story of how you got the recipe. Thanks for stopping by our Happy Holidays Link Party – be sure to join us again this week (beginning on Saturday at 7 pm ET) and every week through the holidays.
Lea Ann Brown says
November 6, 2014 at 4:48 pmThanks Laura, and thanks for a great party.
Kelly says
February 4, 2017 at 6:03 pmHow much vanilla?
Lea Ann Brown says
February 11, 2017 at 5:34 am2 teaspoons
192-168-1-254 says
February 13, 2018 at 1:50 pmAward Winning Fudge aka Grannie’s Fudge aka There’s No Other Fudge For Me. I m going to try this one.