When I was in college, I had a friend named Susan. She had a philosophy regarding dessert. Basically, if it wasn't chocolate, then it wasn't dessert.

This year, my mom had planned to bring all the desserts for our Christmas get together, but she is the opposite of Susan...she really doesn't care for chocolate. Since I am, well, more in Susan's camp than my mom's regarding dessert, I was looking for a quick and easy chocolate dessert to bring to Christmas. I found a recipe for fudge at Cooking--Add A Pinch, and I loved the idea of a peanutty fudge...but I had to change the method. Robyn made her version of this fudge in the microwave. But I was too chicken to do it her way. You see, I have been burnt to many times by trying to melt chocolate in the microwave (pun definitely intended). I guess I get too impatient and try to run the microwave too long. The chocolate becomes too hot in places, and I ruin the texture and the flavor.

More power to you if you can use the microwave to make this fudge recipe, but if you're like me, and view chocolate too precious a commodity to waste, then my version of this recipe uses the tried-and-true method of making fudge in a double boiler. And honestly, if you start boiling the water before you gather your ingredients, it really won't take more than 10 minutes longer than the microwave version.

My version of this recipe also doesn't use sea salt for garnish like Robyn's does. I used cocoa for garnish (more chocolate the better, right?). I also thought it would be nice to garnish with chopped dry roasted peanuts.

Ingredients

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
cocoa (or other garnish)

Start a small pot of water boiling, or a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler (which I do not) you will need a metal bowl that will fit on top of the pot.

Line a square baking pan (either 8x8 or 9x9) with parchment paper, letting some excess hang over either side. Use cooking spray to lightly grease the parchment. Set aside.

Once the water is boiling, add chocolate, peanut butter and butter to the metal bowl (or double boiler insert) and set on top of boiling water. (The bottom of the bowl should not touch the boiling water.) Stir constantly until melted.


Add sweetened condensed milk and vanilla and stir well.

Pour into the prepared pan. Smooth by gently tapping the pan on your counter.

Set into your freezer for 5 minutes, then garnish with a dusting of cocoa (or other garnish as desired).


Put back into your freezer for about 30 minutes, and then cut. I used a bench scraper to cut my fudge, and it worked great. Cut into 1 inch squares and then use the parchment to lift out of the pan. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.


If you're looking for a quick sweet treat to take to a party tonight (you know, before all those resolutions kick in), this is the treat for you. Especially if you believe it has to be chocolate to be a dessert.

Enjoy!