A Classic Holiday Treat

Rich, smooth, fudge is one of the most classic holiday treats. I mean, who doesn’t love fudge?! There are numerous types of fudge, such as peanut butter, chocolate, and even more adventurous flavors like red velvet and cotton candy. But what if you heard of a fudge that was made with cheese? That’s right, cheese. Velveeta cheese, specifically.

My dad’s yearly tradition has been to make fudge for Christmas. He would always make it in large batches and give it away as gifts to neighbors and friends. As a family we would wait in the kitchen while he made it, then once it was rolled out and ready to be cut into squares we would eagerly wait to eat the misshapen scraps. After the fudge was cut we packaged it into cute goodie bags and tied them with bows. I grew up in a very small neighborhood in the woods, and we would deliver a bag of fudge to everyone’s mailbox. (Pro tip: don’t put your gift in the mailbox too early in the day, or it may end up being mistaken as a gift for the mailman… But also, we should all take time to tell our mailman or mailwomen that we appreciate them!) I’m not really sure how many of our friends and neighbors know that there’s cheese in the fudge, but we have gotten lots of positive feedback. Personally, I think it’s the best fudge ever but maybe I'm slightly biased. :)

To make this amazing fudge, you will need the following ingredients:

1 lb. Butter

1 lb. Velveeta Cheese

4 lbs. Powdered Sugar

1 cup Cocoa Powder

1 tbsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. While butter is melting, cut Velveeta into chunks, then add to pan (cutting it into chunks helps it melt more evenly). Stir from time to time to keep from sticking.

2. In an extra large mixing bowl, sift together powdered sugar and cocoa.

3. Once butter and Velveeta cheese are fully melted and look somewhat blended, stir in the vanilla extract.

4. Pour butter and cheese mixture into the mixing bowl with cocoa and sugar. Stir together with a heavy wooden spoon until it’s too stiff to stir, then use your hands to combine fully (be sure to not leave any excess sugar/cocoa mix on the edges of the bowl).

5. Spread mixture onto a large cutting board and roll or hand pat until it is about one inch thick.

6. Once the fudge is mostly cooled, cut with a knife into even squares and enjoy!

Tip: to add a touch of holiday magic, try adding any of the following to taste:

Powered espresso

Crushed candy canes

Crushed nuts

Toffee chips

Shredded coconut