An Alternative Christmas Dessert: Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

I'm a huge fan of traditional Christmas desserts – mince pies, Christmas pudding, Yule log – I love them all. However, many people don't. Here’s a recipe for a non-traditional Christmas dessert, a lighter option but still delicious and festive. If you’re flat broke this Christmas, these would make a gorgeous gift. Wrap in cellophane and tie with a big red ribbon.

I found this recipe in Easy Food magazine and altered it slightly. You will need:
400g sugar, pinch of salt, 90g butter, 240ml double cream, 100g mini marshmallows, 940g plain chocolate (this seems like an enormous amount but trust me,  you need it all!), 1 teaspoon peppermint essence, half teaspoon vanilla essence.

1.       Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Coat evenly with cooking spray or melted butter. Break the chocolate into pieces.

2.       Put the sugar, salt, butter, cream and marshmallows in a saucepan. Stir over a medium heat for 5-6 minutes until the butter and marshmallows are almost melted.

3.       Bring the mixture to the boil and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

4.       Once it has been removed from the heat, add the chocolate, peppermint and vanilla. Stir until melted.

5.       Pour the mixture into the lined dish.

6.       Allow to cool at room temperature for 3 hours. If you disturb the cooling phase, you increase the likelihood of seed crystals forming which causes grainy fudge. Lift the fudge out of the dish using the edges of the greaseproof paper. Remove the paper and cut into squares.