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This silly treat started out as a funny trick at home. When my kids were tiny, I'd put these shiny black bites in their stockings and watch them react. First there was total confusion, then big grins when they tasted sweet, rich fudge. Now, everyone begs for them every December and says they want to be on the naughty list!
Irresistible Coal Candy Secrets
What makes this fudge so cool is nailing that deep inky black color that really looks like coal. I found out the best way to get creamy fudge and dramatic color is to start with white chocolate chips. You'll need the food dye but it's worth it for those priceless reactions, trust me.
What You’ll Grab
- Base Mix:
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Black gel food dye (about 2 teaspoons or until it looks right)
- Toppings:
- Optional flavor extracts
- Silver or black edible sparkles
- What You’ll Need:
- Rubber spatula
- Baking pan (8-inch square)
- Heavy saucepan
- Parchment paper
How to Pull Off Coal Candy
- Prep First
- Start with lining your baking pan using parchment. Let it hang over so you can yank the fudge out easy later.
- Melt and Mix
- Toss white chocolate, condensed milk, butter, vanilla, and salt into your saucepan. Set that on low heat. Stir the whole time, no stepping away! Let the mixture get creamy and velvety, shouldn't take more than several minutes.
- Get That Black Shade
- Pulled from the heat? Time to add the black gel food coloring, bit by bit, until you get that coal-black look. Stir like crazy so there aren’t any weird streaks left.
- Chill Out
- Spread it in your pan, make sure the top's nice and even. Toss on lots of sparkly goodies. Pop it in the fridge for a good long chill, like overnight, so it sets up right.
My Top Tricks
Gel coloring works best because it doesn’t mess up the fudge texture. Seriously, keep stirring constantly, even if you start to wish you had a robot arm—no one likes weird lumps. Want to make these look extra real? Let them set, warm your hands a little, and squish the fudge into lumpy little rocks before tossing on even more sparkles.
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Switch Up the Fun
We've played with all kinds of twisty flavors over the years. Peppermint flavor turns them into a cool chocolate mint. Hit it with almond and it gets super fancy. My favorite? Add just a touch of licorice and people double-take because it looks and tastes even more like coal. Sometimes I’ll make a whole bunch of flavors and let folks guess what’s inside.
Gift Giving & Storage
Stuff these little stunners into see-through bags and tie them with bright ribbon for a wow factor. I tuck them in stockings or drop them on holiday treat trays. They'll keep in your fridge for a couple weeks but honestly they're usually long gone before that. Need to get ahead? Freeze for up to half a year and just pull them out when it's go time.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why won't my fudge get hard?
Try cooking the mix a bit longer. Let that moisture bubble away. Just keep it over low heat and keep stirring til you see it get thick and smooth.
- → Can I fix soft fudge?
Yep! Toss it back in the pot. A splash of water helps. Warm and stir until it thickens up—this time it should set up fine.
- → How black should it be?
Squeeze in the coloring until you like how 'coal' it looks. If you swap in dark chocolate, you’ll probably need less dye overall.
- → Why's it taking so long to melt?
Just be patient and keep it on a low flame. Don't jack up the heat or you’ll risk burning. It always melts, just give it a good stir now and then.
- → How long does it really need to chill?
Eight hours is the magic number. Even better if you let it sit overnight. If you cut that time short, you’ll end up with soft pieces instead of neat squares.
Conclusion
Use white chocolate and some color to make this sweet fudge that looks like lumps of coal. It’s great for party laughs or silly gifts. Don’t worry—it’s way better than it looks!