Christmas fudge are irresistible treats, really easy and quick to prepare, perfect for bringing all the magic of the holidays to the table. The base is that of classic fudge, with dark chocolate and condensed milk, a creamy combination that melts in your mouth and always wins everyone over.
To make them even more special, I covered them with a colorful and tasty mix of walnuts, pistachios, dried cranberries, and a pinch of flaky salt, which enhances the chocolate flavor and gives an elegant and festive touch. They keep for several days, so they are perfect to prepare in advance, give as a gift, bring to a dinner, or serve as a sweet treat after holiday meals.
You can customize the fudge with other nuts to your taste, creating always new and super tasty combinations.
Try the Christmas fudge too, and let yourself be won over by their simplicity and their soft, chocolatey heart!
Here are more delicious ideas:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 16 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Bain-marie
- Cuisine: American
- Seasonality: All seasons, Christmas
- Energy 190.55 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 16.12 (g) of which sugars 10.78 (g)
- Proteins 4.51 (g)
- Fat 12.29 (g) of which saturated 7.03 (g)of which unsaturated 4.09 (g)
- Fibers 3.17 (g)
- Sodium 52.23 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 35 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz dark chocolate
- 10.5 oz condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (to taste)
- 4 walnuts
- 1 tbsp pistachios
- 1 tbsp dried cranberries (or raisins, to taste)
- Maldon salt
Tools
- Baking pan rectangular or baking dish
- Bowl
- Saucepan
- Plastic wrap or parchment paper
- Spatula
- Knife
Preparation
Break the chocolate into pieces and place it in a bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan with an inch of water, place it on the burner at the lowest setting, and melt the chocolate in a bain-marie.
When melted, remove the bowl from the heat and let it cool for about ten minutes.
In the meantime, chop the shelled walnuts and pistachios with a knife, and set aside.
Add the condensed milk, vanilla extract to the chocolate and mix (1). The condensed milk should be at room temperature or slightly warm, not cold, otherwise lumps will form.
Line a baking pan (or glass dish) with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Pour in the mixture and smooth it well with a spatula.
I used a square baking dish with a side of 6.3 inches, a rectangular one is also fine as long as you can form a layer 1.2-1.4 inches thick.
Sprinkle the surface of the dessert with the walnuts, pistachios, and cranberries (2).
Cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set.
At the end, remove the fudge from the mold, using the plastic wrap or parchment paper.
Place it on the work surface and cut it into squares (3). Finally, add a few flakes of salt on top.
The Christmas fudge is ready, if you like you can decorate them with small meringues or glittery sugars. If you don’t serve them immediately, store them in the refrigerator in a closed container.
Tips and notes
I used 70% dark chocolate, but if you prefer it less bitter you can use chocolate with 50-60% cocoa.
You can also cut the fudge with Christmas molds (trees, stars, etc.), in this case, I recommend using a wider baking pan to reduce the thickness.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
How long do Christmas fudge keep?
They keep in the refrigerator for several days (even 10-15), in a well-closed container.
Can I substitute the walnuts and pistachios?
Of course, you can add other nuts on the surface, such as toasted hazelnuts or almonds. Alternatively, you can leave the fudge plain, but I recommend adding some grains of salt, as it contrasts perfectly with the sweet taste of the chocolates.
