It’s Day 1 of Fudge Week! I’ve teamed up with the fabulous and incomparable Gayle from Pumpkin N’ Spice. We’re bringing you fudge today, Wednesday and Friday, just in time for you to make some fabulous food gifts this holiday season. Be sure to check out Gayle’s blog! She has this amazing peanut butter fudge going today!
I’m starting off the week with my all-time favorite fudge recipe. This one knocks my socks off every single time, and I make it only once a year. Otherwise, well, I’d never eat anything else.
The flavors in this fudge are incredibly complex and complementary. The process starts with caramelizing smoked almonds (I know!) in butter and brown sugar. By themselves, they’re dynamite. In fudge, I can only describe the effect as mind-blowing.
To really set off the smoky caramel of the almonds, I use Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips as the fudge base. This is not the kind of fudge a 2 year-old will go for, most of the time. I’ll do something lighter and more colorful later this week for that! But this fudge is the perfect dish to bring to a grown-up holiday party. Because the only thing better than eating this fudge is doing so with a glass of champagne in your other hand.
Other than caramelizing the almonds, which is a very easy process, the fudge base for this is made in the microwave. So not only is this an impressive recipe, but it also takes a lot less time than a dish of this caliber would ordinarily cost you. That means you have more time to eat fudge and watch sappy holiday movies. Who wants to stand over a stovetop with a candy thermometer? Not me. Never me!
It’s only the first day of Fudge Week, so there’s more holiday joy to come. Stay tuned for more fun from my bloggy friend Gayle and me, as well as a couple of ideas for how to wrap and present fudge as a gift. We’re here to serve!
Smoky Salted Almond Fudge
Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
6 oz. can smoked almonds
12 oz. dark chocolate chips
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free)
sea salt, for garnish
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8 square pan with aluminum foil, letting the foil hang over the sides, and coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium nonstick skillet, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and stir. When the mixture becomes bubbly, stir for one more minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the smoked almonds. Spread the hot almonds out on a big plate or piece of waxed paper to cool.
- Make the fudge. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate chips with the condensed milk for 2 minutes. Remove from the microwave and stir until smooth.
- Mix the caramelized almonds into the chocolate mixture and pour into the prepared pan, evening out the top. Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Chill for 2 hours until firm. Remove from the refrigerator and let the fudge come to room temperature. Cut into small squares with a sharp knife and store in an airtight container.
3.1
https://justaboutbaked.com/smoky-salted-almond-fudge/
I love how your caramelized these almonds for the fudge. I had no idea such a thing was possible. Awesome that you and Gayle paired up for “fudge week” I know I will be staying tuned =)
Laura recently posted…Must Have Tools For The Serious Gardener
Thanks so much, Laura! You’ve gotta try the caramelized nuts. SO good!
chocolate heaven! chocolate and almonds are one of my favorite combo’s this looks so dense and welllll …FUDGY! absolutely delicious Mir 😉
Michele @ Two Raspberries recently posted…starting the new year right!
Thanks, Michele. I’m a fan of anything fudge!
This looks fantastic. I love almonds and chocolate together, so this is right down my ally.
Shannon @ Bake. Frost. Repeat. recently posted…Peppermint Brownie Bites
Try it, Shannon! It’s so great with the smoked almonds!
This fudge looks delicious Mir! I love the smokey almonds in it! 🙂
Renee@Two in the Kitchen recently posted…Holiday Cut-Out Cookies
Thanks, Renee! Bizarrely, they really work in this.
Love this fudge, Mir! It’s so creative! I love that you caramelized the almonds…sounds amazing! And even better that the fudge base can be made in the microwave. Such a perfect fudge, friend!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
Thanks so much, Gayle! Your fudge was pretty darn awesome, too!
Day 1 of Fudge Week!!!! woot woot!! I’m excited!! I’m all about fudge over the holidays. . and maybe I shouldn’t be admitting this, but I’ve never made my own fudge at home!! gasp!!! Will definitely be back here later this week for more recipes!! love!! and happy holidays to you, Mir!! 🙂
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Chocolate Merlot Cake
You’ve gotta make fudge, Alice! It’s so much fun. And it’s one of those things that seems hard, but isn’t. Happy holidays to you, too!
Almonds and chocolate are awesome together! Love that you caramelized the almonds, super yum!!
Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Royal Icing
One of my favorite combos, seriously. Thanks so much, Manali!
Love the idea of fudge week!!!! Great recipe!
Karen recently posted…marinated baked white kidney beans
Thanks, Karen! Fudge always seems like a good idea…
Caramelized almonds in dark chocolate fudge?! That sounds incredible Mir! Pretty sure my kids would go for that too, but I’d probably hide it from them to keep more for me! 🙂
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. recently posted…Soft and Chewy Ginger Cookies
I have totally been hiding it, Stacey! My 2 year-old actually loves this. I was kind of surprised!
It’s official, I am SO over sweet and salty. Smoky all.the.way. I bet this fudge is ridiculously addictive!
Mary Frances recently posted…Healthy Cranberry Orange Blueberry Loaf
It’s strangely addictive, Mary Frances! I need to be where it is not. Otherwise…yep.
This fudge looks delicious Mir! Never tried it with smoked almonds! Can’t wait to see your other fudge recipes and Gayle’s, too 🙂 Pinned!
Mira recently posted…Slice And Bake Chocolate Orange Cranberry Cookies
Thanks so much, Mira! We’re having a good time over here. 🙂