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Looking for an easy homemade gift idea? The holidays are the perfect time to mix up a scrumptious batch of homemade fudge. Tucked away inside a decorative tin, it makes a thoughtful gift for neighbors, family, and friends. I love making homemade gifts--especially the edible kind--and this recipe for chocolate fudge calls for a secret ingredient that's sure to provide a tasty surprise!
What's the surprising ingredient in this chocolate fudge recipe? Well, I'll give you a clue. I grew up with my mom using it as the "secret" ingredient in a marinade and in a recipe for a frosted chocolate cake. Any guesses? It's Coca-Cola! Yes, this batch of ooey-gooey fudge has Coca-Cola cooked right in.
Recently, I modified my mother's traditional cake recipe for Coca-Cola Cake to makeCoca-Cola Cupcakes. What is it about Coca-Cola that makes baked goods so sugary sweet and moist?! And since I know it's delicious baked in chocolate cake and cupcakes, I decided to try it in fudge and make Coca-Cola Fudge. I love adding my own twist to my family's beloved recipes, and it just wouldn't be Christmas without a batch of homemade fudge. Paired with a glass of Coca-Cola, it's a treat that even Santa would choose over milk and cookies. Wanting to enjoy this holiday treat for yourself? Keep reading for the full recipe!
For my family, it also wouldn't seem like the holidays without an icy cold Coca-Cola. It's been a beverage staple at our holiday meals for as long as I can remember--right up there with the sweet tea and my momma's Christmas punch.Poured over ice or enjoyed straight out of the nostalgic glass bottles, it's a holiday favorite! Perhaps that stems from growing up here in the South with several of those years being spent in Atlanta where Coca-Cola is headquartered.
Back when my sister and I were kids, my mom recorded some of our favorite holiday movies onto a VHS tape. Anyone remember watching Mickey's Christmas Carol, the 1964 version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, or A Muppet Family Christmas? Along with several holiday movies, she also recorded the commercials. At the time, having those on the tape probably seemed like an inconvenience. Years later, they are just part of the recording's charm. She had the tape transferred to a DVD several years ago and now my kids can continue to enjoy those classic films year after year--commercials and all. One of the commercials is for Coca-Cola. It shows an elf tacking up a Christmas countdown poster with Santa's beard on it. Anyone remember that one? My sister and I would always want a taste of Coca-Cola after watching that commercial. Kinda like wanting chocolate when watching Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. That's a story for a different day though. I guess the commercial was effective because it worked it's magic on us. All of this to say that our family history with Coca-Cola at the holidays goes way back.
That's why I'm loving the limited edition holiday packaging for Coca-Cola this holiday season. It features a vintage Santa and sweet polar bears that bring back memories of holidays from years ago. And now I get to share those memories and traditions with my own children.
It just made sense to pair two of our holiday favorites--fudge and Coca-Cola--together into one tasty treat. I made a run out to Family Dollar to grab my "secret" ingredient and tested a couple different variations. The whole family was very eager to be my taste testers and tell me which they thought was the best. That's the recipe I'm sharing with you today. From our family to yours, here's our recipe for Coca-Cola fudge!
Coca-Cola Fudge
Ingredients
- 1 container (7 oz) marshmallow cream
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2/3 cups evaporated milk
- 1/4 cup Coca-Cola
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 bag (12 oz) chocolate chips (You can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- In a large pot, combine marshmallow cream, sugar, evaporated milk, Coca-Cola, and salt.
- Bring to a full boil, stirring constantly over medium heat.
- Boil the mixture for five minutes still stirring constantly. Tip: It is very important for it to boil for the full five minutes. Set a timer for this step.
- Remove from heat. Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted.
- Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Pour into a buttered 8" pan. Let the fudge cool and set completely. Slice and enjoy!
I hope your family enjoys this recipe as much as mine did! Make up a batch to gift to others this holiday season or just add it to the table at your own holiday festivities. Either way, it's sure to bring on many chocolate-smudged smiles this season!
Shop!
For more tasty recipes, gift ideas, and ways to save this holiday season, visit the Family Dollar on their website, Facebook, or Pinterest. It's a great place to shop the limited edition holiday Coca-Cola packaging to enjoy with your own batch of Coca-Cola Fudge.
More baking inspiration!
Love this fudge recipe? Enjoy another treat with Coca-Cola baked inside! Click here for my recipe for moist and delicious Coca-Cola Cupcakes.
Happy holiday baking!
FAQs
Tips for Making Fudge
- Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
- Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
- Beat Thoroughly.
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 makes high quality fudge? ›
You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).
What to do with failed fudge? ›
My advice to you is to just pour it in a jar, call it something else delicious, and pretend you meant for it to be that way. The nice thing about my “failed” fudge is that it tastes absolutely delicious! A spoonful of the delectable treat will make you want for more.
Why won't my 2 ingredient fudge set? ›
The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.
How do I get my fudge to harden? ›
Fudge Didn't Set
If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).
Should you stir fudge while it's cooking? ›
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.
Why is my old fashioned fudge not hardening? ›
Fudge usually behaves this way when it's not cooked to a high enough temperature (due to oversight or a faulty candy thermometer).
How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›
How long does it take to make fudge:
- about 18 min to reach boiling.
- about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
- 60 minutes to cool.
- 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
- 4 hours to set.
While fudge was not invented on Mackinac Island, it most certainly – and most deliciously – was perfected here.
Humidity can cause fudge to boil over in the pan or stay soft when set, so try to avoid working on humid days if at all possible. If waiting for a less humid day isn't feasible, you'll need to boil your fudge at a slightly higher temperature than usual — or just order some delicious fudge from Wockenfuss!
Why did my fudge come out like taffy? ›
If the temperature is too low, the fudge will be too soft and sticky, and if it's too high, it will turn into a hard, crumbly mess. The ideal temperature to cook fudge is between 232-234 degrees F (111-112 degrees C).
How to rescue fudge that won't set? ›
OPTION 3) Sieve together some powdered sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually work this into your unset fudge until it reaches the consistency of dough, then roll out and cut into squares, or shape into balls and then roll in powdered sugar (roll the balls in icing sugar, not yourself).
Can I reboil fudge that didn't set? ›
How can you fix soft fudge? Put it in a microwave safe bowl that is large enough that it won't boil over. Reheat it to the boiling point and cook for about 3 more minutes. Then you can beat some powdered sugar into it if this doesn't make it set.
Why didn't my fudge work? ›
– The most likely explanation is that your fudge didn't quite reach the full temperature it needed to be. If the mixture only ever reaches 110 or 112 degrees celcius it will always be soft. Our advice would be to buy a candy thermometer and take the guesswork out of the fudge making.
What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›
Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!
What is the ball method fudge? ›
According to most recipes, the ingredients of fudge are cooked to what is termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.
What would cause fudge not to harden? ›
Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set
If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.
How do you keep fudge smooth? ›
So, the key to smooth yet firm fudge, pralines, and fondant is to first bring the mixture to a high enough concentration and then let it cool off somewhat before starting to stir. And once you do start to stir, stir fanatically and without stopping for the finest, creamiest texture.
