How to Make Fudge and Freeze It, According to a Dietitian | Livestrong.com (2024)

How to Make Fudge and Freeze It, According to a Dietitian | Livestrong.com (1)

Freezing your fudge is the key to a hardened result.

Image Credit: pamela_d_mcadams/iStock/GettyImages

If you're struggling to get your fudge to harden just right, you may be missing one key step. Preparing the perfect fudge will require some chilling time (and patience).

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This Chocolate Maple Almond Fudge, crafted by Christy Brissette, RD and president of 80 Twenty Nutrition, is quick to prepare and will give you the firm, fudgy consistency you're looking for.

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How to Make Hard Fudge

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup no-sugar-added almond butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

Makes 12 servings

  1. Line your container:​ Line a medium glass or ceramic food storage container with parchment paper. You can also line mini muffin tins with muffin liners if you want to keep your serving sizes small.
  2. Combine the ingredients:​ In a small saucepan over low heat, combine your almond butter and coconut oil. Once the oil melts, stir in the cocoa powder, vanilla and salt. When the mixture looks shiny and smooth, stir in the maple syrup.
  3. Pour the fudge:​ After you've added the maple syrup, pour the fudge mixture into your prepared container or mini muffin tins.
  4. Harden the fudge:​ Place your container or tins in the fridge for 2 hours, which is the time it takes for the fudge to set. Once it's hardened, cut the fudge into 12 pieces or remove it from the muffin tins. Store in the fridge or the freezer (if you don't devour it right away).

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Can You Freeze Fudge?

If you prefer harder fudge, freeze it for about 1 or 2 hours after pouring it in a container, Brissette says.

Using a mini muffin tin or silicone candy mold can also help your fudge firm up faster. Thanks to their smaller surface area, they'll help fudge harden much more quickly than if you pour it all into one larger container.

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Storing Fudge in the Freezer

Fudge can last you about 7 days in the fridge — but it's best stored in the freezer because the fat (from the coconut oil) helps prevent a crystallized consistency, according to the USDA.

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Fudge can last about 2 to 3 months in the freezer, per the USDA. Just make sure to store it in an air-tight container.

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Smart Fudge Ingredient Swaps

Almond Butter

This upgraded fudge recipe swaps butter for almond butter and coconut oil, which not only makes this a plant-based recipe but also gives you a little more healthy, unsaturated fat and protein.

Almond butter packs heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats, which may help lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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Almond butter also adds some fiber to your fudge, which regular butter doesn't supply. With about 3 grams of fiber per 2-tablespoon serving, almond butter offers about 12 percent of your daily recommended fiber intake, according to the USDA.

Fiber helps keep you feeling full for longer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Maple Syrup

Brissette's dessert also trades refined sugar for maple syrup, which adds sweetness plus some important nutrients, including potassium, manganese and magnesium, and packs fewer grams of sugar than refined forms of the sweet stuff.

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How to Make Fudge and Freeze It, According to a Dietitian | Livestrong.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to freeze homemade fudge? ›

Freezing Fudge

Wrap your fudge in an air-tight container. Several layers of saran wrap, vacuum seal, Tupperware should all keep the moisture locked in pretty good. A couple hours before you would like to enjoy your fudge, take it out of the freezer and allow it to thaw out on your counter.

How do you preserve homemade fudge? ›

Storing fudge in an airtight container is your best bet. Cut the fudge, and then store it in separate layers with waxed paper in between. If you intend to enjoy your fudge relatively quickly, it's best stored at room temperature short-term. If you plan to keep your fudge for longer, the freezer will be your best bet.

How to harden homemade fudge? ›

Freezing your fudge is the key to a hardened result.

Can you freeze fudge made with sweetened condensed milk? ›

Yes, you can also freeze fudge with condensed milk.

The first being, you'll need to wrap the fudge into cling wrap. You can also use plastic wrap. Just make sure you cut the fudge into appropriate sizes so that they fit into your freezer.

Does fudge with condensed milk need to be refrigerated? ›

No, fudge doesn't need to be refrigerated. Store it in an airtight container (with wax paper between layers) at room temperature for one to two weeks.

Does hot fudge freeze well? ›

To Freeze: Cool completely then store this easy hot fudge in a freezer safe jar or bag for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator then reheat slowly in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Be careful not to let it get too hot or burn.

What is the secret to perfect fudge? ›

The key to creamy, luscious fudge is controlling crystal formation. If the sucrose (table sugar) crystals are small, the fudge will feel creamy and smooth on your tongue. But if the crystals are large, the fudge develops a crumbly, dry, or even coarse texture.

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 causes fudge not to get hard? ›

Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture. Pay attention to the timetable specified in the recipe, and you'll get the hang of it after a batch or two.

What happens if I use sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated milk in fudge? ›

Don't Substitute One for the Other

Thus, using condensed milk in a recipe that requires evaporated milk will yield an overly sweet dish.

Why won t my condensed milk fudge set? ›

The most common culprit behind unset fudge is inaccurate temperature control. If the sugar mixture hasn't reached the correct temperature, your fudge won't set. Ensure you use a reliable candy thermometer and follow temperature guidelines meticulously to achieve the desired consistency.

Why doesn't sweetened condensed milk freeze? ›

You can freeze condensed milk, but bear in mind that sweetened condensed milk will not freeze solid. This is due to its high sugar content. Also, never freeze tins of condensed milk as they may explode – the milk must be transferred to a suitable container first.

Do you set fudge in the fridge or freezer? ›

The ratio of chocolate to condensed milk needs to be just right, otherwise you might end up with fudge that is too soft or too hard. Do not freeze the fudge to set it. Best way is to just be patient for a couple hours and set it in the fridge. If your fudge hasn't set, then you've gone wrong somewhere else.

How do you keep fudge from seizing? ›

Brush the sides of the pan with a wet brush at the beginning of cooking to dissolve sugar crystals stuck to the sides. Never stir the mixture during cooking or sugar could crystallize again. The mixture may seize and become grainy. Use a candy thermometer or conduct a cold water test to check if the fudge is done.

Can you freeze fudge that didn't set? ›

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.

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