To me, life and its experiences have always been intrinsically tied to the food we create and consume together. Food has a way of wrapping around our hearts, stirring up magic, and unlocking memories. And have you noticed how everyone’s favorite recipe has a story? I always feel like it’s such a privilege to hear these stories from a dear friend or beloved family member while they’re cooking or serving the dish. So as a special holiday treat, I asked a few of the Behaviorists to share their own holiday stories along with a favorite recipe.
This week Rachel’s sharing her family recipe for melt-in-your-mouth fudge, and she swears it disappears within minutes! I can’t wait to try this one. Read on for her recipe and some sweet memories from growing up with this fudge.
December is one of my absolute favorite times of the year! It means climbing up into the attic to pull out boxes upon boxes of Christmas lights, ornaments, and decorations. It means cranking up those Christmas carols, decorating the tree, and repeatedly watching “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Home Alone,” the original of course. It means wearing matching pajamas, drinking eggnog, and giving gifts. It’s such a wonderful time of the year!
It also means baking and cooking up delicious holiday treats!
My mom is a wonder in the kitchen. Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit as much of that quality as I would like. Instead the cooking gene went to my brother, who is also a phenomenal chef and comes up with some incredibly tasty creations (I’ll have to share one of those recipes another time).
One of the many delicious treats we enjoy every year is my mama’s rich, chocolate-y, melt-in-your-mouth fudge. Growing up, she’d make batches and batches of fudge every year for our family to enjoy and for my brother and me to pass out to our teachers and classmates. Nowadays we pass it to our bosses and coworkers. And it’s always a huge hit!
She sent a tray of fudge just last week for me to share at the office and it was gone in minutes. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and you’ll find yourself going back time and time again for just one more sliver!
- 1 ½ sticks margarine
- 3 cups sugar
- 5 oz evaporated milk
- 7 oz marshmallow crème
- 12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
- Combine margarine, sugar, and milk in heavy saucepan.
- Cook and stir over a medium-high heat to boiling.
- Reduce heat to medium, continue boiling, and stir constantly for 5 minutes.
- Remove saucepan from heat and let cool 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in chocolate chips until melted.
- Add marshmallow creme, vanilla, and nuts. Mix well.
- Pour mixture in 2 8x8-in or 1 9x13-in pan(s) and spread evenly.
- When firm, cut into squares.
Be aware that this fudge will go fast!
Or you can tie it with a bow and make someone very happy this holiday season!
This recipe is near and dear to my heart, so I hope your family or friends enjoy it every bit as much as mine have.
If you’d like to keep this recipe for future use, be sure to download Holly’s recipe card. Then jot down the ingredients and the recipe so you can make this delicious fudge every year!
Have a fantastic holiday and happy New Year!
