Can we talk about fudge...and other candies.

Melting chocolate has been my Achilles heel. My fudge always turns out grainy. I'll be watching for tips. My stove tends to run really hot or really low so i have a hard time controlling the temp.

That's my problem, grainy fudge!!

I don't make fudge but I do love it   The south west of England makes sublime creamy yet crumbly fudge and whenever we go there we bring home a fair few bags!

Uh oh...I'm at home today and feel some baking coming on

I do, but I shouldn't, that's the trouble lainey!   I have a Mum of the Bride dress to find and fit into!

If you want great fudge do not use condensed milk or any recipes that call for your microwave.

This blog The Project Princess Chocolate Fudge has step by step instructions for making chocolate fudge that comes out like the old fashioned fudge you buy in candy stores in slices.

And THIS page has her variations for making Maple Nut Fudge, Orange Dreamsicle, Eggnog, Pumpkin Pie, Peanut Butter, Vanilla and adding variations.

Make sure you read the how to instructions on the Chocolate Fudge page and then you can use those instructions to make the other flavours.

Buy quality ingredients. Real butter. A good brand of corn syrup, not one that contains HFCS.
Karo is a good choice as theirs is HFCS free. 

**edited to clarify - sorry 

And make sure that your pot is a thick one! Also, someone else said it; humidity affects candy.

The recipie linked above is similar to the one my grandma and dad used to make every year. Except we only used cocoa not chocolate squares and we beat it by hand not. Mixer. Usually if the fudge sugars you have over cooked it and the humidity is high. It takes more muscle and patience but the texture is so much smoother and it just melts in your mouth!

I make peanut butter fudge that is pretty good. It reminds me of the center of an Easter peanut butter egg.

My mom and I have made fudge in the microwave for decades and it turns out perfect every time.  Anyone who eats it raves about it.  It's super easy.

Melt the chocolate and butter, add eggs, vanilla and powdered sugar, nuts if you want and done.  Super creamy, not grainy.

This is the best fudge on the planet fudge
The family sold the Murdick name, but not the recipe to another company and that fudge is awful- grainy, overly sweet. Aaron Murdick's fudge is creamy goodness. I think the deadline to order for Christmas is this Friday, if I'm not mistaken. You choose your ship date - 12.12 or 12.19.

I don't usually make fudge, but if you want a taste tester, I'll PM you my address!

My kids and I make a lot of peppermint bark, cookie bark, homemade marshmallows as gifts. This was a strategy when they wanted to give presents to their friends inexpensively, but now it's tradition. I also make a bourbon caramel (recipe is on Bon Appetit's website) that is yum.

I haven't made it in years, but I was on a kick of making pb fudge for a while and I remember using a proper candy thermometer was a must.