Ma’s Cocoa Fudge
This is very likely a recipe from Grandmother Alma Paulsen. My mother, Grace, often made a batch in the evening for us to snack on. It is the best fudge ever.
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 6 tbsp cocoa
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 dash salt
- 1/2 cup crushed walnuts optional
Instructions
- Mix cocoa, sugar, salt, and water in a medium-sized sauce pan until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add butter and cook on medium-high heat (without stirring much) until the "soft-ball" stage. (Or, I've never tried this, but you can use a candy thermometer and cook until the mixture it hits 235 degrees).
- Remove from heat and cool a few minutes before adding vanilla.
- Beat until mixture is creamy and beginning to set on the sides and bottom of the pan.
- Pour into a buttered dish or brownie pan. Cool for a few minutes, and cut into pieces while still warm, but mostly set.
- Don't forget to scrape the pan and lick the spoon!
Notes
This fudge turns out very well as a sugar-free option if you substitute 1 3/4 cup of xylitol for the sugar. Or, reduce the sugar by using a combination of sugar and xylitol.