Karp Family Recipes

Vermont Maple Fudge

Category: Desserts, Fudge

Ingredients:

2 cups Grade B Amber Maple Syrup 1 tablespoon light corn syrup 3/4 cup light cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Line an 8×8-inch dish with heavy-duty aluminum foil and butter the foil well. In a heavy 4-quart pan over medium heat, combine the maple syrup, corn syrup and cream and stir constantly until the mixture begins a full boil. Clip on your calibrated candy thermometer and cook the syrup until it reaches 236 degrees (F). Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool undisturbed until the mixture reaches 110 degrees (F). Add the vanilla extract to the mixture. Begin to stir/fold the fudge gently with the wooden spoon. This is a stiff mixture, and it will take some time to finish to the proper consistency. Stir thoroughly, but it is not necessary to beat or to stir continuously. I take frequent breaks for 30 seconds or a minute at a time. Periodically, scrape the spoon, the pot bottom, and the pot sides no more than 1/3 of the way up from the bottom with the buttered spatula. Continue stirring for approximately 15 to 20 minutes (and the drier the day, the quicker setup will occur). Toward the end of this stirring phase, you’ll notice several changes. The fudge will stiffen slightly and begin to lose its gloss. It will “snap” with every stroke of the spoon, and you may feel it give off heat. When the gloss begins to leave and the mixture begins to “snap”, quickly stir in the nuts just until evenly distributed, and turn into prepared pan, scraping out the bottom of the pot and the sides no more than 1/3 of the way up from the bottom. It is helpful to butter your hands lightly and press the fudge out to make an even layer in the pan. Cool completely to room temperature. To cut, lift out block of fudge, still in foil, from the pan. Peel back foil sides. Use a large, very sharp, heavy, straight-edged knife to cut the fudge into 36 or more pieces; it will be necessary to clean the knife frequently under hot water, then dry it off, to keep the cuts neat. I wrap each piece individually in plastic wrap so it will not dry out. Store between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or freeze for longer storage. Always allow the fudge to come to room temperature before serving.