Fast and Fabulous Christmas Fudge

Submitted by Kim A. Heaphy

"I make this recipe at Christmas time and bring it to events. I never keep the stuff at my place because it never has any life expectancy with me. Just one of things you can't resist!"

 

• Ready In: 8mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Yields: 1 wreath

ingredients

• 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (save the can)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 8 ounces walnuts, plus more for topping (or 1-1/2 cup pistachio nuts)
• 1⁄2 cup raisins (alternative is dried currants or even better, dried cranberries)
• 1⁄2 cup candied cherry, red and green, to decorate top (like holly)
• 1 tablespoon butter (to grease an 8 inch round cake pan)

directions

1. Grease an 8-inch round cake pan with softened butter. Pour the chocolate and butterscotch chips, condensed milk and vanilla into a medium saucepan. Put the pan on the stove and turn the heat to low.
2. Cover the empty condensed milk can with plastic wrap and put it in the center of the round cake pan.
3. Stir the chips and milk until they melt together, about 3 minutes. Stir in nuts and raisins. Scoop the fudge into the cake pan all around the plastic-covered can in the center to form a wreath or ring shape. Let it be all bumpy on top. Keep pushing the can back to the center if the fudge moves it away from there. Cut the red cherries in half with scissors and the green cherries into quarters. Use the green pieces to make leaves and the red to make holly berries. Decorate the fudge with several groups of holly berry sprigs made from the cherries and garnish with walnuts (optional) between the sprigs. Now move the can around a little to make sure it is loosen.
4. Put the fudge in the fridge and chill until firm. Remove the can from the center (this is where you will thank yourself for loosening it up earlier), then loosen the sides and bottom of the fudge with a spatula OR hold the pan in warm water (careful not to let it overflow into the pan!) for about 1 or 2 minutes, or until fudge loosens. Carefully remove from pan and place on serving platter.
5. Cut the fudge into thin slices to serve.
6. To give the wreath as a gift-wrap in cellophane and secure with a bow or ornament.