Fudge is a soft, dense, creamy sweetmeat made from sugar, milk and butter. It can be flavoured with all manner of ingredients, from vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, to fruit, nuts and coconut. Fudge is usually served in slabs or small pieces. English fudge is very similar to a Scottish confection called tablet. In Mexico, fudge made with nuts (and sometimes coconut) is called penuche or panocha.
Peanut Butter Fudge
125g/4½oz butter 500g/1lb 2oz dark brown sugar 120ml/4fl oz milk 250g/9oz crunchy peanut butter 1 vanilla pod, seeds only 300g/10½oz icing sugar
Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat.Stir in the brown sugar and milk, and bring to the boil for 2-3 minutes, without stirring.
Remove from the heat, and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla seeds.
Place the icing sugar in a large bowl, and pour the hot butter and sugar mixture on top.
Using a wooden spoon, beat the mixture until smooth.Pour into a 20cm/8in square baking tray, and set aside to cool slightly, then place in the fridge to chill completely.
Cut the fudge into squares with a sharp knife, turn out of the tin and store in an airtight container.