Opera Fudge
Viewer Rose Richard shares her recipe for opera fudge as part of our America Cooks series.
Opera Fudge
Watch the Video
Opera Fudge
Viewer Rose Richard shares her recipe for opera fudge as part of our America...
- Comments()
The Martha Stewart Show, April Spring 2007
- Yield Makes 3 pounds
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, room temperature, plus more for baking sheet
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups light cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pound unsweetened baking chocolate
- 1/2 ounce food paraffin
Directions
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Butter a rimmed baking sheet; set aside.
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Mix sugar and cream together in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place over medium-low heat and bring to a boil. Add butter, and cook, without stirring, until mixture reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer, 50 to 60 minutes.
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Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Let cool 2 hours. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in vanilla. Using your hands, begin to pull and press the mixture. Keep pulling and kneading mixture until it lightens in color, loses its shine, and no longer sticks to your fingers, 15 to 45 minutes. Roll mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm and cold, about 10 minutes.
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In a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water, melt chocolate and food paraffin, stirring until smooth and well combined. Using a toothpick, dip each ball into chocolate mixture, and return to baking sheet. Refrigerate until fudge is chilled and chocolate has set, about 30 minutes. Bring to room temperature before serving.
The first time I made this it did what a lot of people are talking about, it became hard and crumbly. I believe it 'curdled' and the butter oil separated ( that's why, at least in my case, it was oily). I was determined and KEPT KNEADING for a while. It let off more oil and was dry an and crumbly, but eventually it reabsorbed and came together as fluffy and pliable. It was not as smooth as the second time I made it(without this problem) but it certainly came together and tasted and felt great.
I have been making opera fudge for 35 years. My recipe is a little different than this one, I don't add butter and it makes about 100 pieces. I have learned that making opera fudge is an art. When I first started mine sometimes sugared or was too soft but that hasn't happened to me in years. Making opera fudge can be frustrating but once you learn, it is well worth it.
how many exactly does this make??
I also grew up making Opera Fudge at Christmas with my mother. She was given the recipe by a friend who grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. The difference is that Mom would pour the unworked fondant on plates and it was whipped with a knife. She also made other flavors - maple/walnut, mint, and cherry. The candies were made several weeks before Christmas, layered with waxed paper in cookie tins and put in a cool place to "age."
For anyone who has successfully made this recipe - where did I go wrong? After the mixture cooled on the baking sheet, it was the texture/taste of caramel. After kneeding in the bowl about 20 mins it turned hard and crumbled. HELP!
I grew up eating this candy, I remember my grandmother having it in her refrigerator, it was such a treat! My understanding is that the company that used to sell it in Lancaster has since gone out of business and I have been searching for YEARS to find out how to make it, Thank you SO much Rose and Martha!!! My family will be so thrilled!
I watched the video *after* making it and for anyone attempting this recipe, WATCH THE VIDEO FIRST!! There are a couple of vague instructions in the recipe that are made clear when you watch the video. Still don't know if I would attempt it again, but at least now I know where I went wrong!
I followed the directions exactly and it came out perfect! I did not add the foor paraffin because i didnt want wax in the candy, it didn't need the glossy shine. This was very time consuming but well worth it!!!!
To all those with problems...did you watch the video?
This was my first time tackling something like this candy-wise. I followed the recipe to the "t" and even used two candy thermometers to make sure the temp was correct throughout the process. I kneaded the mixture for 15 mins then began to make the balls when -- I swear in a matter of SECONDS -- the consistency of the whole mass just changed! It went from a caramel consistency to a solid block of beige fudge -- and hard! Will NOT be making again!
I've made fuge plenty of times with no issues. This however was a challenge. All went well until the kneading started. It never full came together or got that nice off white color. Instead it looked curdled and was way to sweet and caramelly tasting. I believe i'll try a recipe that contains corn syrup and heavy cream and see how that goes.
My great-grandma, from Lebanon, PA, used heavy whipping cream in her recipe which was passed down to me. I have made opera fudge for the past few years. A few tips: 1) Do NOT stir or scrape the pot while it's boiling. 2) Do NOT scrape the pot when you pour the mixture onto the pan. 3) Do NOT refrigerate the mixture to cool it (this will make it very hard to knead). Hope this helps!
My sister in law and I tried to make this opera fudge twice and I am from Lebanon County where opera fudge supposedly originated from and this was a complete waste of valuable time! save yourself time and the hassle and just visit Lebanon County and pick up a box, each time we tried this it was gritty and tasted nothing like what I know of Opera fudge!
mine
OK2STARE: I BELLIEVE YOU COULD PROBABLY USE REGULAR (POURING) CREAM - IE: THE TYPE YOU WOULD USE IN YOUR COFFEE
I cant find light cream, what can I use in its place?
Food paraffin is wax and it's edible but not digestible. To avoid it, purchase couverture n n n n n n a very high quality chocolate containing at least 32% cocoa butter, or add vegetable shortening; 1/4 cup per # of chocolate. It gives chocolate the shine and snap that nasty paraffin does.
what is food paraffin?