Cotton Candy Fudge: A Whimsical Treat Recipe
Cotton Candy Fudge is a whimsical and colorful treat that combines creamy white chocolate with sweet cotton candy flavoring and pastel swirls of pink and purple. This easy-to-make fudge offers a fun twist on traditional fudge, creating a delightful and visually stunning candy perfect for parties, gifts, or anytime you want to indulge in a nostalgic sweet.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes (including setting time)
- Yield: About 36 small squares 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Fudge Base
- 22 oz White Chocolate Chips (Ghirardelli brand recommended)
- 14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- ¼ cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
Flavoring and Coloring
- 2 tsp Cotton Candy Flavoring (LorAnn Oils brand suggested)
- ½–¾ tsp Pink Gel Food Coloring (Americolor brand Pale Peony #183)
- ½–¾ tsp Purple Gel Food Coloring (Americolor brand Lilac #169)
Instructions
- Preparation: Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, making sure to leave an overhang on the sides. This will make it easy to lift the fudge out once it has set.
- Melting: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the white chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and room temperature unsalted butter. Stir frequently until the mixture is smoothly melted and free of lumps.
- Coloring and Flavoring: Divide the melted fudge mixture evenly into two separate bowls. Stir 1 teaspoon of cotton candy flavoring along with the pink gel food coloring into one bowl. In the other bowl, mix the remaining 1 teaspoon of cotton candy flavoring with the purple gel food coloring. Adjust the amount of gel coloring between ½ to ¾ teaspoon to achieve your desired pastel shades.
- Layering: Alternately spoon dollops of pink and purple fudge mixtures into the prepared pan. The placement can be random — this will help create an attractive marbled swirl in the final product.
- Swirling: Gently swirl the two colored fudge mixtures together using a butter knife or a small offset spatula, making sure not to overmix. The goal is to preserve distinct swirls of pink and purple for a visually appealing effect.
- Setting: Cover the pan with another piece of parchment paper and press down gently to smooth the surface of the fudge. Refrigerate the fudge for 2 hours or let it set at room temperature for about 4 hours until firm.
- Serving: Once the fudge is fully set, use the parchment paper overhang to lift it out of the pan. Cut into squares or your preferred shapes and serve as a whimsical sweet treat.
Notes
- Use high-quality white chocolate chips for a smoother texture and better flavor.
- Adjust the amount of gel food coloring to achieve your preferred pastel intensity.
- The cotton candy flavoring used here is quite concentrated; adding more may overpower the fudge.
- Ensure the fudge mixture is not overheated during melting to prevent scorching or grainy texture.
- Store the fudge in an airtight container at room temperature or refrigerated to maintain freshness.
Keywords: Cotton Candy Fudge, White Chocolate Fudge, Colorful Fudge Recipe, Creamy Fudge, Swirled Fudge, Easy Fudge, Pastel Fudge, Homemade Fudge
