This chocolate fudge with candied walnuts is a rich, creamy, decadent, chocolate treat that is incredibly easy to make and absolutely delicious to eat – you won’t be able to stop at one piece.
I don’t make treats and desserts very often. I’m not a big baker and don’t have a strong sweet tooth. But I love to share treats with my co-workers for the holidays so this year I’ve decided to make chocolate fudge with candied walnuts.
I’ve never made fudge before, but it was SO easy. And absolutely delicious. The process is very simple. You start by melting butter, sugar, heavy cream and mini marshmallows together in a saucepan over medium low heat. Then stir in dark chocolate chips, vanilla extract and candied walnuts. Pour the fudge into a parchment lined baking pan and let it cool for about 1 1/2 hours. That’s it. Then just slice it up and serve. It’s rich, creamy and extremely chocolatey.
In the spirit of the holidays, I’m going to start donating a portion of the money that I earn from this blog to a different organization each year. This year I will be donating to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
The DSWT organization fosters baby elephants who have been separated from their mothers due to poaching or from the loss of their natural habitat due to human conflict, drought or deforestation.
DSWT’s Orphan’s Project rescues and rehabilitates baby elephants. They have successfully hand raised over 150 infant elephants and returned them to the wild when they are old enough to join local wild herds. After the elephants are returned to the wild, they often come back to visit the orphanage, bringing their wild-born babies with them.
If you use instagram, I recommend you check out the DSWT feed – it’s a heart warming account with charming stories about the orphans and their caretakers.
I want to thank all my readers for making this donation possible. The donation will go toward fostering a baby elephant named Malkia.
Thank you again and I want to wish you all a happy holiday and a healthy and joyous New Year!
A couple of notes this recipe:
- When making the candied walnuts, make sure to keep your eye on them and stir often. I burned my first batch since I wasn’t paying attention to them.
- Make sure to stir the butter, sugar, cream and marshmallows as it cooks, otherwise it will bubble up and over the pan and make a great big mess.
- If not eating right away, keep the chocolate fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Recipe slightly adapted from this Martha Stewart fudge recipe.
PrintChocolate Fudge with Candied Walnuts
This chocolate fudge with candied walnuts is a rich, creamy, decadent, chocolate treat that is incredibly easy to make and absolutely delicious to eat – you won’t be able to stop at one piece.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 36 pieces 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup of walnut pieces
- 1 tbs unsalted butter
- 1 tbs brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter – 1/2 stick – plus extra to grease the pan
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- A pinch of sea salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 10 oz bag of dark chocolate chips – I used Nestle Dark Chocolate chips – 53% cacao
Instructions
- Butter two sheets of parchment paper. You will use these to crisscross an 8 inch square baking pan.
- To make the candied walnuts, in a non-stick sauté pan, melt 1 tbs of butter over medium low heat. Add walnut pieces and stir to coat with the butter. Sprinkle 1 tbs of brown sugar over the nuts and stir to combine. Continue to stir the walnuts for 2 minutes as the sugar melts and coats the walnuts. Remove the candied walnuts from heat and let cool in the pan.
- In a large saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium low heat. Add mini marshmallows, sugar, heavy cream and salt and continue cooking for 5 to 6 minutes until marshmallows and sugar have completely melted. Make sure to stir occasionally so the mixture does not bubble up and over the pan.
- Remove saucepan from the heat and stir in dark chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in half the candied walnut pieces.
- Pour fudge into buttered parchment lined baking dish. Smooth top and sprinkle on remaining candied walnut pieces.
- Pat the walnuts gently so they stick to the top of the fudge.
- Let cool in pan for 30 minutes and the put in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- When completely cool, lift the edges of the parchment paper and lift the fudge out of the pan. Place on a cutting board and slice into squares – 6 rows by 6 rows. Will make 36 pieces.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 36
- Calories: 104
- Sugar: 12.6g
- Fat: 5.7g
- Saturated Fat: 3.2g
- Carbohydrates: 14.4g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 0.6g
- Cholesterol: 8.8mg
Sheila
A couple of birthdays coming up, these chocolaty treats are going to be perfect gifts. Great photos!
Geraldine
What a great idea – home made gifts are the best!
anna @ annamayeveryday
This looks so delicious, I can’t believe I saw it today the first day of Lent when I have just given up chocolate!
annie@ciaochowbambina
Happy New Year, my friend! I’m sorry that I missed this post in December! This fudge sounds amazing and would have been a huge hit on the holiday dessert table! But now I know what I’m making for Valentine’s! 🙂 I love that you’re donating a portion of your blog income to such a worthy cause! I’m going to check that out!
Geraldine
Happy New Year to you too, Annie – hope you had a wonderful holiday! And definitely yes to fudge for Valentine’s – great idea!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
Happy New Year, Geraldine! I love that you are making a contribution to something great! I will need to check out the organization. This fudge looks fantastic….I will pin to make in the future….right now I need to go on a sugar detox diet! Too much indulging during the holidays! 🙂
Geraldine
Detox for me too, Kathy – I tried to be good over the holidays but it’s tough with so much delicious food (and wine) on hand. Happy New Year to you!
cakespy
I love fudge to begin with, but you’ve taken it over the pleasure edge (in a good way) with these candied walnuts. Awesome!
Geraldine
Thanks so much, cakespy!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
This is such an inspiring post ~ I love that you’re donating to worthy causes, so many of us forget to do that in the craziness of the holidays ~ love your fudge too!
Geraldine
Thanks so much, Sue!
Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss
I don’t get to make fudge nearly as often as I would like to. Perhaps next year I’ll forgo one type of cookie in exchange for a batch of this yummy looking fudge. I love chocolate and candied walnuts and this would be a perfect edible gift for neighbors! P.S. I think it’s really great that you’re donating a portion of your earnings to a cause so meaningful. I hope you have a great holiday season!
Geraldine
This was my first time making fudge, Jessica and it was so easy! Hope you try it!
Kelly@Inspired Edibles
What a beautiful way to show your holiday spirit through giving Geraldine – we all win that way. I have to say I’m in the same boat when it comes to desserts – I rarely bake and am just not particularly drawn to desserts (just so many other foods I’m more obsessed with – hah!). I do like chocolate though and this recipe sounds like a delightful treat. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and that you find time to do some things you love most. Wishing you fun adventures in 2017!
Geraldine
Wishing you all the best, Kelly – here’s to a happy and healthy New Year!
Kelly@Inspired Edibles
first time we encountered rain in LA over new year’s in the four years of visiting Geraldine! (we still managed to have a blast 😉 ) Happy new year!
Geraldine
Happy New Year to you too, Kelly. We’re getting tons of rain this year – after 4 dry years it’s much needed. Not as much rain as you are currently getting up north though – saw that you’re supposed to get a lot of flooding in the next day or so – hope you are okay!
Lynn | The Road to Honey
Oh Geraldine. How fantastic for you to donate a portion of your earnings from this blog to charity. And the DSWT is such a special organization indeed. Prior to moving to Boston I lived in Kenya and had the pleasure of visiting the DSWT many times. It is truly a magical place. I have photos from this lovely organization on my blog if you are interested in seeing them (just search David Sheldrick). As for this fudge, it looks absolutely irresistible. I bet your coworkers really appreciated you treating them to it. And the candied walnut topping. . .so, so good.
Geraldine
Thanks so much, Lynn. I just went over to your site and found your photos of your trip to DSWT – you did a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of DSWT and telling its story – I’m including a link to your site in case anyone wants to get a up close look at the organization through your eyes. http://www.theroadtohoney.com/cherry-galette/ Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful holiday!
traci | Vanilla And Bean
What a great gift idea to your co-workers AND to your readers and elephants through DSWT!! First, this fudge sounds so easy and mouth-melting delicious. It flips my switch! My preference for the holidays is the gift of food, donation (I forgot that one on my last post) or travel… all of these is better than any tangible gift in my book. Giving from your blog proceeds is smart and your choice of charity resonates with me in so many ways. I started doing this just a few months a go and have been considering signing up for 1% for the Planet. Have you heard of it? Thank you for sharing and giving, Geraldine, and for supporting wildlife foundations. A tremendously important area of philanthropy.
Geraldine
Thanks, Traci! I’ll have to look into 1% for Planet – I’ve never heard of it but it sounds like something I could get behind. Reading all the stories on DSWT’s site is very moving and their instagram feed is one of my favorites to follow. There has been so much uncertainty the last couple of months and it feels good to do something positive and helpful. Happy Holidays, Traci – best to you and Rob!
Sues
Yummm this fudge looks like perfection! Perfect for gift giving…. Or just eating yourself! I love that you’re donating a portion of your blog money 🙂 Happy holidays!!
Geraldine
Thanks so much, Sues!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings
What a sweet idea to help Malkia the baby elephant. I love that you are donating a portion to charity! Your fudge looks perfect and it does make the best treat for gifting, doesn’t it? Can’t believe you don’t have much of a sweet tooth…wish I didn’t!
Geraldine
Thanks, Karen. Definitely feels good to help out an organization that is doing such wonderful work. Happy Holidays!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I love your idea of donating some of your money from the blog to different charities Geraldine!! And what a sweet co-worker you are to bring yummy treats into work for the holidays! They must love you! This fudge looks sooo good! Those candied walnuts…YUM! I hope you have the happiest of holidays! XO
Geraldine
Thanks, Mary Ann. The fudge was a big hit with my co-workers! Happy holidays to you and your family.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Like you I don’t have a strong sweet tooth, but I do love to bake. Unfortunately during most of the year I just don’t have time for it, but during the holidays I make ALL the time in the world for it. Aaaand my sweet tooth seems to make an appearance because I eat entirely too many baked goods… maybe my mouth is making up for the rest of the year? 😉 Anyways, who can say no to fudge?! ESPECIALLY when it looks this good! LOVE the candied walnuts here, Geraldine!! This would make such a great gift! Pinned!
P.S. It is SOOOO amazing that you are donating a portion of the money from this blog to a different organization each year!!!! The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust sounds wonderful! You are definitely making Santa’s nice list. That is for sure!!! 😉 Cheers, dear friend – I hope you have a fabulous holiday! <3
Geraldine
Thanks so much, Cheyanne – I’m usually too lazy to bake but this fudge was so quick and easy to make – I will definitely be making it often. I enjoy working on this blog and really appreciate all the people that take the time to read it so I thought I should be giving back somehow – and I couldn’t resist those baby elephants :)! Wishing you and Boy a wonderful holiday, Cheyanne! Thanks for taking the time to always leave a lovely, thoughtful comment – I really appreciate it!