Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe - Audrey's Little Farm (2024)

FAQs

Why did my peanut butter fudge not get hard? ›

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.

If it doesn't boil, your fudge will end up too mushy, and if it cooks for too long, you'll end up with a dry, crumbly mess. This is why many recipes recommend using a candy thermometer, so you know exactly when to remove your mixture from the heat.

OPTION 4) If you think the reason it didn't set was because you didn't heat it to the right temperature, you could try putting it back into the pan and re-cooking.

Evidence of this is shown in copies of chocolate caramel formulas that date back to the 1880s. Early recipes of fudge are quite similar to chocolate caramel mixtures. It has never been exactly clear when peanut butter fudge was first created. It is believed to have come from experiments with peanut butter.

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.

Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a boil, do not stir it. If you do, the sugar can crystallize, giving your fudge a gritty texture. As you beat the fudge, pay attention to color and texture. Once the fudge loses its sheen and thickens, put down your spoon.

Let the mixture cool before beating. The temperature at this point should be 43°C to 45°C (110°F to 113°F). The fudge should be warm but not burning hot. Stop beating when the surface of the mixture starts to look dull or matte.

Undercooked. This fudge was cooked until the temperature reached only108 °C (226 °F). At this temperature, the sugar is not concentrated enough... there is too much leftover water in the syrup and the resulting fudge is soft.

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. Stir the fudge as it heats, but only until the sugar in the chocolate is completely melted again.

Why won't my 3 ingredient condensed milk 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. Heat in 30-second bursts in the microwave, stirring well between each to ensure everything is melting evenly.

1908. Krema Products Company, in Columbus, Ohio, began selling peanut butter. They are the oldest peanut butter company still in operation today.

Fudge's story began in the United States around the 1880s. The first documented instance of fudge being made was at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York when a student named Emelyn Battersby Hartridge heard of a fudge recipe and made 30 pounds of it for a senior auction.

The ingenious flavor combination in each of these treats can be traced back to 1928, when H.B. Reese, an employee of The Hershey Company, created REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups in his basem*nt. The Hershey Company supplied Reese with the chocolate coating for his candy and eventually purchased his business in 1963.

After your fudge has completely set (this usually takes about four hours on the counter top), remove it from the foil and cut it into squares. If you use a rounded baking pan, cut off just enough of the edge so that the fudge no longer has a rounded edge. Doing this will give every piece of fudge a nice flat bottom.

Grab the saucepan that you initially used to cook the fudge and toss the fudge back in along with 1 ½ cups of water and a splash of cream. Adding some cream of tartar is a helpful way to keep the sugar crystals at bay as well — it's not essential, but if you have some, definitely pour a little in.

We like to set this fudge in the freezer to make it quicker! Once you add the fudge to your pan it will need just 30 minutes in the freezer to set.