This Holiday Recipe I Gifted Last Year Was So Good I Now Have A Waitlist For It
My family and friends are specially requesting extra batches.
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
During the holidays, food is always at the forefront of Southerners’ minds. Not just at the many family meals between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, but also for hostess gifts, holiday parties, potlucks with friends, and every small gift needed or occasion planned in between. Food is how we show our love and appreciation, and as soon as I was equipped with my own kitchen and a slightly better understanding of baking, I was set on delivering homemade goodies to friends and family as a way to bring a little dose of holiday cheer to their homes. I loved the idea that whenever there was a craving for “a little something sweet,” they’d be set with a tasty bite—whether it was in between trips to the mall, while decorating the Christmas tree, or after dinner when there’s no dessert in the house.
Now, I’ve tried many different holiday dessert recipes for this purpose, all of which were received and eaten with good reviews. For a few years, Saltine Cracker Toffee was the biggest resounding hit amongst my family and friends. However, last year it was officially replaced with another Christmas treat recipe, and I couldn’t believe that something so simple could have made such an impression.
As of more recently, the reputation of Christmas fudge has almost made it seem overdone and too expected—like a nostalgic tradition that people got tired of. This was the only explanation I could gather as to why I couldn’t recall the last time I had eaten a single piece of homemade fudge or received fudge as a holiday food gift. And so, I decided to make it, mainly because I was craving it and thought other people might be too. Turns out, I was right. It was such a success with my loved ones that I basically have a running waitlist this year for people who have requested a batch.
The Best Christmas Fudge Recipe
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
Fudge is simple, not requiring many ingredients. Yet that means that it can be boring, lackluster, or dreadfully grainy if you even slightly veer off the projected path. As a novice Christmas candy maker, I started with a classic recipe for Million Dollar Fudge, also known as Mamie Eisenhower’s Chocolate Fudge. It seemed like the perfect bet, thanks to just 8 ingredients, little hands-on time, and high reviews. I would describe it as the perfect chocolate fudge from your fondest memories, like something your grandmother would have made and kept in an old Tupperware on the kitchen counter. I added a hearty pinch of salt, as instructed, which helped cut the sweetness perfectly. Additionally, I made half the batch plain without nuts, and half with hunks of Georgia pecans (from a grove just a few minutes from where I grew up). Both were highly enjoyed.
Akin to myself, it seems that many other folks haven’t been eating much fudge either, because my loved ones couldn’t call or text fast enough to tell me that they had already finished off their batch. At Thanksgiving this year, I had multiple people ask if I was making it again, and even more reach out later. Since I’m kind, I’ll oblige. However, I’m planning to make one batch of Million Dollar Fudge, while also trying my hand at a couple of other recipes as well to keep up with the demand from my family and friends, which I’ll list below for anyone else who wants to receive rave reviews this year.
Other Fudge Recipes To Try
Salted Caramel Fudge Recipe
Frederick Hardy II; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
I cannot wait to try this salty, sweet recipe that feels like a fun update to classic chocolate fudge, and I can already tell it will be my mother’s favorite of the bunch.
Marbled Brown Sugar Fudge Recipe
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Without fail, we all have people in our lives that “don’t love chocolate.” While that will always seem illogical to me, in the spirit of the Christmas season, I’m willing to try out this beautifully marbled, less chocolate-y recipe.
When in doubt, whip up a batch of one of our best fudge recipes, and wrap the container in a pretty bow. Just be willing to have refill requests next year!
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