One of my favorite treats from Québec is maple fudge, also called sucre à la crème. It’s creamy, smooth, and melts in your mouth, like a sweet bite of happiness! What makes it even better is that you only need three simple ingredients to whip up this maple fudge recipe. And the surprising thing? You probably already have them in your kitchen. It's super easy, and the result is a sweet little indulgence you can enjoy anytime!
Maple Fudge Recipe
One winter, a Canadian friend visited me and brought along a special gift: maple fudge, or as they call it in Quebec, Sucre à la Crème. In Spain, we love our sweets, but this was unlike anything I had ever tasted. It was creamy, smooth, and just melted in my mouth. One bite and I was completely hooked, it felt like tasting pure happiness!
Making maple fudge isn’t as easy as it seems! If you don’t follow the recipe carefully, it can easily go wrong. You have to get the temperature just right, cool it perfectly and beat it until smooth. I messed up a few times, sometimes it was rock-hard, other times too soft, but after adjusting the steps, I finally nailed it!
This year, I finally made a perfect batch, and it felt so good! If you have maple syrup, butter, and cream at home, you should try it yourself. I’m really fond of maple syrup; it’s so useful! We usually think of it for pancakes, but in Quebec, they use it in all kinds of fun recipes, like maple bacon cupcakes. Who knew?
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⭐Why You'll Love This Maple Fudge
- Simple Ingredients: With just maple syrup, cream, and butter, you can make a delicious treat, no need for artificial stuff!
- Easy to Make: Don’t worry if you’re not a candy-making pro. Maple fudge looks fancy, but it’s simple to make if you follow the steps.
- Perfect for Gifting: Its rich taste and pretty look make it a great gift. Package it in a cute box or jar, and you’ve got a homemade present that’ll impress.
- Great for Sharing: Maple fudge is perfect for parties or family gatherings. Make a big batch, and everyone will enjoy it!
🧾Maple Fudge Ingredients
Here’s the breakdown of what’s in this maple fudge recipe:
- Maple Syrup: I love using pure maple syrup as the main sweetener in this fudge. It gives the fudge a rich, natural maple flavor that’s way better than regular sugar, and it helps form the fudge’s texture.
- Heavy Cream: I use room-temperature heavy cream for extra creaminess. It makes the fudge smooth and velvety, balancing the sweetness with a rich, mellow flavor.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is my go-to for adding flavor and smoothness. It helps create that melt-in-your-mouth texture and gives the fudge a nice, shiny finish. You can substitute unsalted butter for salted butter.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Maple Fudge
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. In a medium saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a boil over medium heat, then simmer for 5 minutes.
2. After 5 minutes, add the heavy cream and bring it back to a boil without stirring. Let it simmer until it reaches 236°F (113°C), about 20 minutes.
3. Once it reaches the right temperature, take the saucepan off the heat. Add the butter but don’t stir. Let it cool for 7-8 minutes without mixing.
4. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 4 minutes, until the sugar thickens, lightens, and loses its shine.
5. Quickly pour the fudge into the parchment-lined pan and spread it evenly. Let the fudge cool at room temperature until it sets, or refrigerate it to speed up.
6. Once the fudge is firm, lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut it into squares and enjoy!
📖Variations
- Maple Pecan Fudge: Stir in some chopped pecans and a splash of vanilla extract. This combo brings out the delicious pairing of maple and pecans, creating a rich, nutty fudge.
- Maple Espresso Fudge: Mix in instant espresso or coffee powder for a tasty caffeine boost. It pairs perfectly with the maple flavor!
- Maple Vanilla Fudge: Add vanilla bean seeds or a splash of vanilla extract to deepen the flavor. It makes the fudge even more delightful!
- Maple Sea Salt Fudge: Sprinkle a little flaky sea salt on top before it sets. This gives you a yummy sweet-and-salty treat!
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Accurate Temperature Measurement: Keep an eye on the temperature with a thermometer. For the perfect fudge, you need it to hit the soft-ball stage at 236°F (113°C). Don’t just go by time since it can vary!
Cooling Time is Key: After taking the fudge off the heat and adding the butter, let it cool for about 7-8 minutes without stirring. This step is super important for helping the fudge set just right.
Use an Electric Mixer: After it cools, mix the fudge with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 4 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it thickens, lightens in color, and loses its shine. This is key for getting the right texture!
Line Your Pan: Don’t forget to line your baking pan with parchment paper! It makes it so much easier to lift out the fudge once it’s set and helps you cut it neatly.
Store Properly: Keep the fudge in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also pop it in the fridge to make it last longer, just make sure it’s wrapped well to avoid drying out!
🍰More Fudge Recipes to Try!
If you're loving this Maple Fudge, you'll also adore these tasty fudge recipes:
- White Chocolate Fudge
- 2 Ingredient Chocolate Fudge
- Scottish Tablet Recipe
- Hershey's Rich Cocoa Fudge
- Peanut Butter Fudge
- Lemon Fudge
🍰More Dessert Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dessert recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Maple Fudge
Ingredients
- 560 ml Pure Maple Syrup
- 250 ml Heavy Cream - 35%
- 45 g Butter
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the maple syrup, bring it to a boil over medium heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, add the heavy cream and bring the mixture back to a boil without stirring. Let it simmer until it reaches 236°F or 113°C (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer, which will take about 20 minutes.
- Once it reaches the desired temperature, remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the butter to the pot but do not stir it in. Let the mixture cool for about 7-8 minutes without stirring.
- Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 4 minutes, until the sugar mixture thickens, lightens in color, and loses its shine.
- Quickly pour the fudge into the prepared pan with parchment paper and spread it evenly.
- Allow the fudge to cool at room temperature for a few hours or until it is set. You can also refrigerate it to speed up the process.
- Once the fudge is firm, lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut it into squares and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
John says
So soft and creamy Maple Fudge, it looks easy to make too I am tempted to give it a go.