Throughout my primary school ‘career’ my mother made chocolate and caramel fudge for my school fetes. She specialised. None of this branching out into coconut ice or toffees and the like. No, she remained true to her talent and my brother and I would lug ice cream containers FULL of fudge into school during fete season.
Many of my friends LOVED my mother’s fudge. I wish I could claim a long-held family recipe handed down from generation to generation, but… on a visit to my hometown this weekend we ‘delved’ into our family’s history to ascertain the origins of the aforementioned fudge.
And… would you believe it – my most favourite fudge – her ‘Russian Caramel’ actually came from a now disintegrating Good Housekeeping lift out?! And we think the just-as-loved chocolate fudge recipe evolved from a recipe book which accompanied her first Sunbeam mixmaster (circa late 1960s).
On this particular visit I played the ‘daughter’ card and begged asked my mother nicely if there was any way she would consider making a batch of russian caramel fudge for, well,… for me. And yes… emotional manipulation still DOES work when you’re over 4o years old it seems!
So, compliments of Good Housekeeping 1958, I present to you, my mother’s very-delicious caramel fudge; and having watched and (again) participated in the preparation I’m thinking that even I could make this.
Method
Melt 1lb (2 cups) sugar in 1/4 pint (1/2 cup) milk in a saucepan on the stovetop.
Add 1 tablespoon golden syrup and 2 oz (6o grams) butter and stir until the sugar granules have disappeared.
Increase heat until the mixture boils and allow to bubble away for about 2 minutes.
Stir in 1/2 tin of condensed milk (we used light condensed milk and it was fine).
Allow to boil again. Stir. Stir more. And stir more again.
Once boiling allow to simmer as the mixture thickens and darkens (this takes about 20 minutes, but continue to stir during this time).
Test thickness by stopping spoonfuls of liquid into icy cold water.
When the mixture is firm – but still soft, remove from the heat.
Allow to sit for a few minutes to cool, then beat (by hand if you still live in the 1970s as my mother does and have a groovy handbeater – providing fun for the whole family as everyone gets a go to beat the bejesus out of the mixture).
When the mixture becomes thick (but pour-able) pour into a greased tray… a tenuous process as you need to do this before it starts setting.
Once the mixture starts setting slice into small squares. Turn out when cool.
Eat as desired, but exercise caution as (I know from experience that) projectile vomiting may ensue if entire pounds of fudge are eaten at once.
I took my inspiration from an Ernie and Bert milk and cookies sketch last night as it cooled.
SUPPOSEDLY one tray was for me (me, me, me. Yes, it’s all about me!) and the other was for my niece (ie. for my brother to transport home to his almost-16 year old). To make sure it all remained even I kept taking equal amounts out of both trays… cos that’s the kind of considerate girl (and aunt) I am. I mean, I’d hate my niece to miss out at all.
So there you have it. I’m not much of a cook. (Or a cook of any kind really!) So recipe posts are few and far between (this is the first in this blog in 3.5 years!).
I swear that this caramel fudge is delicious another than the subjective judgement bits required at the end, it’s bloody easy to make. Plus (take it from me) the icy water tasting testing stage is fun for the whole family. Not to mention the licking of the beater and pot. Etcetera.
July 15, 2012
OMG!! That looks DIVINE! I must make.
July 16, 2012
It’s delicious and actually quite easy!
July 16, 2012
Given that I just (re)joined weight watchers, I probably shouldn’t read this 🙂
July 16, 2012
No, very true. But, I’d describe it as ‘sometimes’ food. Definitely not a staple!
July 19, 2012
I just don’t think you can go wrong when you combine golden syrup and condensed milk! YUM!!
July 19, 2012
Oh so true. So… are you still pregnant or have I missed some news?!?!
September 27, 2012
Thanks for sharing! Just made some and it is so yummy. I’m allergic to pretty much everything, and I haven’t been able to find a store bought fudge without a hundred different chemicals and preservatives or gelatin and corn syrup.
This recipe is just great.
Cheers
September 28, 2012
Glad you enjoyed it. It’s always been a favourite of mine!
Deb
November 15, 2012
I just made some, my first fudge ever. I now have a delicious caramel crumble that I’m not quite sure what to do with, but the person I made it for seems happy to have it despite the fact that it’s a delicious-tasting failure of a fudge. Oh well, I had fun cooking it. I think it would be incredibly useful to have instructions at what sort of temperature to have the stove at, and what the purpose of the dropping the caramel into the water is- how do you know when it’s ready? I think that last bit was why mine failed.
April 26, 2013
I’m defitely going to try this, was it as good as you remembered?? You will laugh, but guess where I am?? At Jaz’s Basketball trainin, she absolutely lives it! When you are in town next you will have to see if you can squeeze some time in to watch her!
April 27, 2013
The fudge was scrumptious Tiff. I’ve always loved mum’s fudge – and it’s okay for me to say that as I’m not biased as it’s not her recipe but just one that came with her mixmaster all of those years ago. (It must almost be time to make it again!)
July 5, 2014
This fudge was an absolute fail. It didn’t set and even when frozen, it was too sticky. Waste of my resources as I had to throw it out!
July 5, 2014
Oh no! We don’t even refrigerate it at all! If anything I have to be careful not to cook/beat it for too long as it starts to set early!
August 29, 2014
I just made it and it was so easy, I actually made a double batch. I will definately be making it again.
August 29, 2014
Great to hear!