Fudge. I can't believe I actually made fudge yesterday. That is the danger when watching a bit of the Food Channel…you see something that looks amazing and figure then that you have to make it, regardless of the fact that it is essentially considered candy and will go straight to your waistline. I decided in my head that it was a treat I was making for Robert when he comes home…at least that is what I told myself.
I watched Eat, Shrink and Be Merry and they made this fudge that didn't seem at all like your regular fudge. Normally fudge is so sweet and can be a bit grainy and requires cooking at specific temperatures and lots of babying. This fudge is no-bake, no-cook and it sets in the fridge. The name of the fudge is Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Fudge and believe me…there is no reason to be afraid of it other than the fact that you may eat too much of it. They managed to take out lots of the fat and quite a bit of the sugar and replaced it with some peanut butter and cream cheese. These are smooth silky little chocolaty pieces of heaven that melt in your mouth.
I replaced the chocolate chips with 2 thin bars of really good 70% dark chocolate and added in 1 cup of semi sweet dark choc chips. I don't like milk chocolate so I didn't put any in. I cut back on the sugar by a full cup and I would probably cut down even more next time I make it. Maybe only 3/4 cup of sugar would do the trick so I figure mine have less calories than what is indicated here.
Per piece: 132 calories, 7.5 g total fat (3.1 g saturated fat), 2.5 g protein, 14 g carbohydrate, 0.7 g fiber, 4 mg cholesterol, 36 mg sodium
Yield: 24
Ingredients
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Fudge
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips (such as Hersheys Special Dark)
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup light peanut butter
- 1/2 cup (4 oz/120 g) light cream cheese (in a brick, not in tub)
- 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup 1% milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups icing sugar (confectioners sugar)
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
Directions
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Fudge
- Melt chocolate chips (on defrost setting of microwave or over double boiler). In a medium bowl, beat together peanut butter, cream cheese and butter on medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add melted chocolate and beat again. Add milk and vanilla and beat until smooth.
- Gradually add icing sugar and beat after each addition, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Stir in walnuts using a wooden spoon.
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with wax paper or parchment paper and spoon fudge into pan. Spread to edges. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.
- Remove fudge from pan and cut into 36 squares. Store fudge covered in refrigerator. It will soften if left at room temperature.