Creamy Fudge Hearts Recipes

Steps:

• Lightly oil a 9-inch-square pan. (A smaller pan will make the fudge thicker and more difficult to cut.) Place milk in a heavy 12-quart saucepan. Stir in sugar; add butter. Over medium heat, stir constantly, until sugar dissolves and butter melts. Increase heat to medium high, bring to a boil, and cover with lid. Let boil for 2 minutes, and uncover. Do not stir; clip a candy thermometer on side of pan, and let mixture boil, over medium-low heat, until it reaches 240 degrees (the soft-ball stage), 15 to 25 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare an ice water bath.
• Immediately remove pan from heat, and dip the base of the pan in the ice water for 5 seconds. Let the fudge sit at room temperature without stirring, with the thermometer attached, until the thermometer reads 122 degrees and mixture is lukewarm, about 40 minutes. If using food coloring, add 1 drop. Stir the fudge with a wooden spoon until it changes from glossy to opaque and is thick and creamy, 2 to 5 minutes. Quickly pour into prepared pan. Use piece of plastic wrap to smooth fudge into the pan, creating an even surface. Let cool completely, 2 to 3 hours, and cut with 1/2- to 1 1/2-inch heart cookie cutters. (Oil the cutters with the canola oil inside and out before using.) Fudge will keep, well wrapped in plastic or in an airtight container, up to 1 week.

Steps:

• 1. In a large heatproof bowl put chocolate chips, butter, marshmallow cream & vanilla. Set aside. Lightly butter a 9"x13" pan or holiday tins
• 2. In a 4 quart pot, stir together sugar and evaporated milk. Over medium heat, bring to a rolling boil, carefully tip pan to melt sugar crystals on the side of the pan, scraping sides with a silicone spatula. The unmelted sugar crystals are what cause the fudge to turn grainy so be sure to get them all melted. When mixture starts to boil set times for exactly 8 minutes. Stir constantly while mixture cooks to prevent burning. Pour over the chocolate mixture in the bowl. Stir to incorporate and beat till smooth. Fold in nuts(if desired). Pour into pans or holiday tins for gift giving. Enjoy!

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Melt butter with corn syrup in heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add chocolate, sugar and cream. Whisk until chocolate melts and sugar dissolves. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover; chill.)
• For Meringues:
• Preheat oven to 225°F. Line 2 baking sheets with foil; butter foil. Place 3 3/4-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter on foil-lined sheet. Using electric mixer, beat whites in large bowl to soft peaks. Gradually add 1 cup sugar; continuing beating until stiff and shiny. Spoon 1/4 cup meringue inside cookie cutter on sheet. Using back of spoon spread meringue evenly. Lift up cookie cutter; place on another section of foil-lined sheet. Repeat with remaining meringue, forming 6 hearts on each sheet.
• Bake meringues until crisp and dry, about 1 hour. Cool meringues on sheets 10 minutes. Peel meringues off foil. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• Mix ice cream, 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy and extract in medium bowl. Cover and freeze until almost semi-firm, about 2 hours.
• Place meringues flat side up on baking sheet and freeze 15 minutes. Spoon 1/2 cup ice cream atop 1 meringue. Top with another meringue, flat side up. Press gently to flatten, forming sandwich. Run spatula around sides of ice cream to even sides. Freeze. Repeat with remaining meringues and ice cream. Cover and freeze at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
• Stir sauce over medium-low heat just until warm. Sift powdered sugar over tops of meringues, coating completely. Place on plates. Spoon sauce around. Sprinkle chopped candy over sauce.