White Chocolate Cherry Christmas Fudge

This classic American confection is given a Christmas twist with white chocolate and cherries and mint leaves for decoration. You can make the fudge with the kids during the party, or you can prepare it beforehand and offer it as a party favor. This is a very sweet candy and kids love it. It's pretty, too.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter cut into 4 equal pieces
• 12 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 1/4 cups dried Bing cherries
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 18 maraschino cherries
• 2 bunches fresh mint leaves

Directions:

Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square cake pan with parchment paper.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the confectioners' sugar and half-and-half. Add the butter and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the mixture reaches a boil, stop stirring and let it cook for 5 minutes. It will be thick.

Reduce the heat to low and stir in the chocolate, whisking until smooth. Stir in the dried cherries and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Chill until firm, about 2 hours.

Invert the pan onto a cutting board, lift off the pan, and peel off the parchment. Cut the fudge into 1-inch squares. Cut the maraschino cherries in half. Remove 72 mint leaves from the mint sprigs (the smaller the leaves, the better). To decorate the fudge, place a maraschino half, cut side down, on the fudge, pressing it gently into the fudge to adhere. Place 2 mint leaves at the top of the cherry to resemble cherry leaves, pressing them gently into the fudge to adhere.

Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Makes about 3 dozen squares.

 

Recipe excerpted from "Christmas Family Gatherings: Recipes and Ideas for Celebrating With People You Love." Copyright 2003 by Donata Maggipinto. All rights reserved. Buy this book from Amazon.com