Miracle Microwavable Fudge

Fudge...wow...words cannot express how much I love fudge. I've made it many times before (see my amaretto fudge, treacle and cinnamon fudge, and traditional vanilla fudge recipes), and love every recipe, but was asked for the easiest recipe I could find, which didn't need any special equipment. I'd heard of fudge made in a microwave, known as miracle fudge, and decided to give that a go. I flavoured the fudge with vanilla and a few tablespoons of Kahlua (because what isn't better without coffee liqueur?), and amazingly the fudge turned out perfect! No sugar thermometer needed :)

These have a delicate taste of alcohol, so you can increase the amount if you want it super boozy, or leave it out if the fudge is for children/keeping pregnant ladies happy.

With only 5 ingredients, this is cheap to make, makes a lot of fudge (I made about 60 pieces), and all you need is a microwavable bowl and a microwave. My microwave is 800w, and I checked the mixture every 2 & 1/2 minutes. If you have a more powerful microwave (e.g. a 900w), check the fudge more often, say every 2 minutes. If you have a 1000w microwave, check every 90 seconds.

 It took me in total 15 minutes to make, then 45 minutes to set. So, perfect delicious fudge in an hour!

Fills a 20cm square cake pan (cuts into 8 x 8 squares)

Ingredients:

• 400g (2 cups) golden caster sugar
• 1 x 397g (1 & 1/3 cups) tin condensed milk
• 140g (3/5 cup) butter, cut into cubes
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp Kahlua (or other liqueur)

Method:

1. Grease the base of a 20cm square cake tin (I used a silicon one but any should work fine) and line with baking parchment.

2. In a large heatproof bowl, pour the caster sugar, condensed milk, butter and salt. You want there to be enough room in the bowl that the fudge could increase to double it's size (it bubbles a lot in the microwave). Stir to dissolve the sugar into the condensed milk. Once you can't see any more sugar crystals, you're ready for the microwave.

3. Place the mixture in the microwave and heat for 12 minutes, stirring well every 2-3 minutes (every 3 minutes if you're microwave is 800w, and decrease the time if a higher power). The mixture will bubble up, start thickening and turn a very light caramel colour.

4. Add the Kahlua and vanilla extract and stir in. Heat for another 2 minutes, then take out of the microwave (carefully as the bowl will be very hot). Stir well, leave to rest for a minute, then stir well again. Repeat the stirring and resting 4 more times, then pour into the prepared tin and level.

5. Leave to set for 45 minutes - 1 hour until it's fully cool and sets. Slice into squares - I divided the fudge into 64 squares (8 x 8), but make the fudge pieces as big or small as you like. Store in an airtight container - it theoretically will keep up to 3 weeks, but it's so moorish, I highly doubt it'll last that long.