I’ll never make a hand model. Apart from my gargantuan knuckles (which in the wrong light make my hands look distinctly transvestite-esque), they are also covered in scars. Mostly kitchen war wounds, selflessly gathered on my many missions to feed the masses. Some are less heroic. I have a particularly Scar Face style one gained whilst washing up wine glasses in a drunken fashion. I often get an urge to tidy after a few drinks. It’s odd, I know.
One of my many scars was acquired making Christmas fudge. The boiling fudge spat at me and Oh My Goodness, it hurt. This fudge is for those who like fudge but also reserve the right to consider a hand modelling career at some point in the future. Quick to make, oh so moreish, and all without a sugar thermometer in sight… makes a great Easter gift too.
Ingredients:
- 200g marshmallows
- 70g butter, cut into cubes the size of a thumb nail
- 200g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- Zest of one orange (no pith though!)
- 100g Natural Selection crimson raisins
- 40g Natural Selection crystalised ginger chopped finely
- Small sugar eggs if you so wish
Place the marshmallows, butter, dark chocolate, ground cinnamon and orange zest into a saucepan. Heat on a low hob until completely dissolved, stirring regularly. Don’t be tempted to hurry it by turning up the heat – the chocolate will burn!
Remove from the heat and add the raisins and ginger, stir well and pour into a tin (approx. 24cm x 24cm) lined with greaseproof paper. (Don’t wait about as it starts to set sharpish.) Push small sugar eggs into the top if you wish (try and leave some clear lines to aid cutting) then refrigerate for 2 hours. Cut into squares and serve. I warn you, this stuff is addictive.
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Holly Bell 
Hi Holly, this looks so scrummy. Haven’t yet made my own fudge due to lack of a thermometer so pleased this doesn’t need one! How long will these keep for a gift and how should I store it? Thanks for another fab post, Carolyn x
I would say this lasts for 5 days and I would keep in the fridge until you need it as it can become a little tacky when in a very warm atmosphere. No need to keep in fridge though. It also has the MOST AMAZING texture. Love it. x
Thanks very much
Holly, That idea you had about the hot clingfilm rice bags for the mini tarts! I tried it and it was great but I did what you said about baking at a low temperature but the tarts were much better than normal. I think every body has that strange thing in baking as I do this nuts thing with grease proof paper to get it to fit my trays, basically I use a paper and stationary guillotine to get straight even corners!! Very strange, but it works for me! :)
Dear Holly,
I have just made the Easter spiced fudge and used a 23cm square tin. My fudge came out very thin (about 1cm) and not chunky like the ones in your photo.
I melted everything very slowly and didn’t overmix, what could I have done wrong?
Diana – does it taste good? Has it set okay? If so you have done nothing wrong. The home economist who made the fudge for this pic may have used a smaller tin. My fudge is often thin in appearance. I will amend the post to make this clear.
Yes, the fudge has set ok. Thank you Holly.
Made this with our 6yr old daughter. A very easy straight forward recipe for daughter to feel like she is ‘cooking herself!’
It was sooooo yummy and very moreish!
Loving the recipes Holly.
Thanks lovely – it’s a bit of a problem making this in our house as I keep eating it straight from the fridge!! Oops. x
I’m making this for my dad for Easter – he may only end up with a few bits – I’ll tell him its expensive to make ha ha!!!! Thanks Holly genius recipe for someone not very skilled like me?!
Oh my Holly this is delish – my dad is gonna be in heaven!! What other flavours would u suggest – I have a cinnamon ginger hating husband (the fool boy is he missing out)!!!!
You could just make it with orange, or even with peppermint? Xx
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oh yum.
I have enormous feet – 8.5, which always make me feel a bit tranny-ish. I like to think their narrowness makes them a bit more delicate and ladylike. If I were to indulge in all these tasty morsels my feet would be the only narrowish part of me…
I have silly feet too – half a size smaller than you! I spent many years trying to hide them from boys, which is actually quite hard to do. Now I try and convince myself that in the right light they make my legs look longer. Total tosh of course. X Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Chocolate orange is the ultimate Easter flavour for me – we always used to ask for chocolate oranges instead of Easter eggs when we were little. Yours looks absolutely delicious and I’ll definitely be whipping up a batch very soon!
Love choc orange as an Easter tradition. It’s our Christmas one! X Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
This is my kind of fudge, tasty yet easy to make. No sugar thermometer required is a bonus as I tend to steer away from them. Hence I have never made macarons! But this I can do :0
Yet another Mmm and my children wanted to make fudge so this could be perfect! I love the natural selection cranberries they ask to be eaten everytime I open the cupboard :-)
They’re yum aren’t they? Their blueberries are ace too. X
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This looks so tempting, I have not made fudge since my failed attempt to make an apricot and cinnamon combo. – Or as my husband said, Il have another peice of sugar lump please ;)
Scars are tattoos of the brave!
Oh no! Proper fudge is a bit tricky I think. This works everytime! Which is a good thing but also bad as very easy to knock a batch up!! X Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Yum! Fudge is my favourite favourite sweet! Never had it flavoured with chocolate orange before but why not?
It’s good… I think it would be rather nice without too though. X Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange