Buttermilk Fudge not setting
My grandma used to make buttermilk fudge for us every year for Christmas. I have tried and tried to make it and it never sets up. It tastes great if you want to eat it with a spoon.
The recipe is
2 c sugar
2 c buttermilk
1/4 c butter
1/3 c dark karo
1 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 c nuts
Cook till forms a medium soft ball. First cool a while and add vanilla and nuts. Beat by hand.
I remember grandma always saying something about the shine. Oh why didn't I pay more attention?! What am I doing wrong?
Best Answer
I would bet that the "something" your grandma said about shine was "beat it until it's not shiny anymore." The likely reasons that your fudge isn't setting are that you're either not heating it hot enough to begin with, not waiting long enough before you start beating, or you're not beating it until it loses its shine.
Here's how I'd re-write your recipe's instructions to make them a bit more detailed.
Version 1 (you don't own a candy thermometer):
Heat the first 5 ingredients until medium soft ball stage.
Remove from heat and cool without disturbance for about 10-15 minutes.
Add vanilla and nuts beat until the candy begins to lose its shine.
When it is beginning to thicken and becomes opaque, pour/scrape it into a prepared pan.
Version 2 (you own a candy thermometer):
Heat the first 5 ingredients until 240 F.
Remove from heat and cool without disturbance until candy reaches 140 F.
Add vanilla and nuts beat until the candy begins to lose its shine.
When it is beginning to thicken and becomes opaque, pour/scrape it into a prepared pan.
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How do you get fudge to harden?
You can also add powdered sugar. Heat the fudge until it is very soft and almost liquid and add enough powdered sugar to stiffen it up. You need to cook your fudge longer so the sugar will 'set.Why is my fudge too soft?
If there is too much evaporation, when the cooking time is too long, there will not be enough water left in the fudge and it will be too hard. Conversely, if the cooking time is too brief and there is not enough evaporation, too much water will remain and the fudge will be too soft.Can I put fudge in the freezer to set?
The best way to get your fudge set faster is to put it in the freezer. The freezer will get the job done in less than half the time it takes for it to set in the refrigerator. I've found that there's no difference in taste or quality when I've set my fudge in the freezer.Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Yan Krukov, Yan Krukov, Ketut Subiyanto, Ketut Subiyanto