What better way to celebrate National Peanut Butter Fudge Day then with Peanut Butter Fudge.

I have used crunchy peanut butter for this fudge, you can of course use smooth peanut butter, I like to added texture the crunchy peanut butter gives.

With fudge making it is important to use a cooking thermometer to achieve the correct temperature and uninterrupted time during the boiling and stirring process is also essential.

This gets really hot so take care at all times!

You will need:

Your largest saucepan.

A cooking thermometer. I use both the thermometers that clip onto the side of the sauce pan and a thermometer spatula, both are good and it’s up to you which you prefer.

• 445g Granulated Sugar
• 300ml Water
• 140g Tube of Liquid Glucose
• 140g Butter
• 397g Can of Condensed Milk
• 140g Crunchy Peanut Butter

Method:

• Line a 20cm x20cm square tin with greased greaseproof paper and put to one side.
• Heat the water and the sugar gently to dissolve the sugar.
• Add the glucose and stir VERY slightly to blend, then put the spatula down.
• Turn up the heat and boil until the syrup is 116C/240F. DO NOT STIR during this part of the heating process. A clip on thermometer it useful here to keep an eye on the temperature.
• Meanwhile gently warm the condensed milk and butter until the butter has melted (don’t over heat the milk and butter or it will burn!), keep this warm until the correct temperature of the water and sugars has been reached.
• Turn down the heat of the water and sugar syrup and add the milk and butter to it.
• The mixture will expand, this is why you need your largest sauce pan and one that is bigger than you think you are going to need.
• Turn the heat up whilst stirring gently and constantly. If you do not stir constantly then the fudge will burn on the bottom of the pan and spoil.  This is where a thermometer spatula can be good.
• The fudge mixture should now start to turn a golden brown.
• Continue to heat and stir gently until the temperature is back up to 116C/240F the soft ball stage.
• Once the correct temperature has been reached turn the heat off.
• Beat until graining occurs. By beating I have found you do not need to wear yourself out, you do need to keep the fudge moving while it cools (but remember the fudge will still be extremely hot). Knowing how long to ‘beat’ for is a fine art – not long enough and you will get caramel/toffee and too long and you get hard crumbly fudge.  You will need to stir until the fudge mixture thickens , looses it’s gloss and looks cloudy, this is very noticeable around the sides of the pan.  If you are not very confident about how long to ‘beat’ for, add a table spoon of sieved icing sugar – this will encourage the fudge to ‘grain’ resulting in perfect fudge, adding icing sugar is not a substitute for beating, beating still needs to be done!!
• Stir in the peanut butter until it has dissolved into the fudge.
• Pour into your prepared tin, the fudge will still be really hot so take care.
• Leave to cool completely and cut into squares and eat.

The fudge will keep in the fridge for about 3 days if it’s not eaten before then!