What do you do about fudge that hasn’t set? (2024)

What do you do about fudge that hasn’t set? (1)

This is where it all started. On my other blog, I wrote a post entitled ‘What DO you do about fudge that hasn’t set?’. That post ended up having the highest number of views out of all my posts. Months after I posted it, visitors were finding their way to that post every day in search of solutions to their fudge setting problems, and thus the idea for this site was born. These were the tips I gave on that post…

Options for what you can do with your unset fudge:

OPTION 1) Depending on how runny it is, you can either use it as a frosting for cakes, or a sauce for ice-cream.

OPTION 2) Freeze it overnight. Cut it into squares. Cover eachsquare thickly in melted chocolate, ensuring no part of the fudge is exposed. Cross your fingers and hope that the chocolate sets firmly before the fudge starts to thaw, and later impress your friends as you present them with your soft-centred chocolates.

OPTION 3) Sieve together somepowdered sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually work this into your unset fudge until it reachesthe consistency of dough, then roll out and cut into squares, or shape into balls and then roll inpowdered sugar (roll the balls in icing sugar, not yourself).

OPTION 4) If you think the reason it didn’t set was because you didn’t heat it to the right temperature, you could try putting it back into the pan and re-cooking.

How to make sure you get it right next time:

– Follow the recipe exactly. Cooked fudge, like any candy-making, is a pretty exact science, so ensure you measure ingredients carefully, add them in the right order, and heat to the right temperature (don’t guess, use a candy thermometer).

– Use a heavy based pan to prevent it burning on the bottom, and heat the mixture up to the required temperature nice and slowly.

– Once it has reached the required temperature, keep it on a rolling boil until it reaches the soft ball stage (a small amount dropped into cold water turns into a pliable ball).

– When you remove it from the heat, leave it in the pan to cool by a couple of degrees before stirring it or pouring it out.

If everything fails:

Give up on making cooked fudge, and search online for the many delicious recipes for no-cook fudge available. Yes, I could have posted some of those here, but I’m not going to do ALL the work for you.

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PHOTO CREDIT:

Kasey Albano –http://superfloss.deviantart.com/

Sourced from –http://www.sxc.hu/

What do you do about fudge that hasn’t set? (2024)

FAQs

What do you do about fudge that hasn’t set? ›

Options for what you can do with your unset fudge:

How to fix fudge that is too runny? ›

If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream. Stir the fudge as it heats, but only until the sugar in the chocolate is completely melted again.

Why is my fudge not setting up? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

How to fix dried out fudge? ›

You have one option to make it soft, which is you have to put the fudge pieces in a plastic bag along with the paper towel or a bread slice. Secure the bag and leave it overnight, next day you will get a softened fudge.

How do you make fudge set up faster? ›

One or two degrees can make all the difference. The syrup can cool down slowly, by staying in the saucepan at room temperature, or you can speed up the process by putting the saucepan in a sink filled with cold water.

Do I put fudge in the fridge to set? ›

Let the fudge rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before placing in the refrigerator, uncovered. Refrigerate until the fudge is firm, about 2-3 hours (or overnight), before slicing and serving.

Should you stir fudge while it's boiling? ›

You should mix the cream, butter, and sugar when making your fudge, but put down the spoon once it has reached its boiling point. Stirring while your sugar mixture is boiling will only form sugar crystals and make your fudge crunchy rather than silky smooth.

What to do if fudge doesn t get hard? ›

Fudge Didn't Set

If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).

Can I freeze fudge to make it set? ›

We like to set this fudge in the freezer to make it quicker! Once you add the fudge to your pan it will need just 30 minutes in the freezer to set.

How long does it take for fudge to fully set? ›

Proper fudge will set after sitting at room temperature for about 4 hours. Understand that cooking the fudge properly is the skirmish before the war. The real test of your mettle will occur when you beat the fudge, and learn to master the fine art of turning and pouring. And if it doesn't work out it's okay!

Why is my fudge so dry? ›

If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature. Don't throw out the whole pan, because you may be able to melt the fudge down and try again.

How to keep fudge from drying out? ›

Fudge is best stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 weeks wrapped up in its original wax paper. NEVER REFRIGERATE your fudge as this will draw out the moisture and leave you with dry, crumbly fudge.

Can you save overcooked fudge? ›

The solution? A fudge do-over. Even though it set up properly, I threw it back into a saucepan with about 1 1/2 cups of water and gently heated the mixture to dissolve the fudge into the water. From there, I pretty much re-did the whole cooking process.

What happens if you stir fudge too early? ›

That smooth, creamy melt-in-your-mouth fudge texture is achieved with small sugar crystals. If the mixture is stirred too soon — when it is warmer than 110 degrees — the crystals will be large and make the fudge grainy.

How long does it take for fudge to thicken? ›

Beat the mixture until it just loses it's shine and becomes very thick (this should take about 5-10 minutes). The longer you beat once it starts to thicken then the more crumbly the final fudge will be. If you like it smooth - beat it only until comes away from the sides of the pan and sticks well to the spoon.

Why won't my 3 ingredient condensed milk fudge set? ›

This often happens when the condensed milk and chocolate chip mixture isn't hot enough to start. Everything must be completely melted before it is transferred to the pan to cool. Heat in 30-second bursts in the microwave, stirring well between each to ensure everything is melting evenly.

How long does it take fudge to thicken? ›

Leave the fudge to set overnight.

How to thicken hot fudge? ›

Tips & Tricks. For a thicker chocolate sauce, truer to the consistency of hot fudge, use heavy cream, whole milk, or half and half in place of water.

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