First time making fudge and it's not set

[Ladymuckypuddle]

Last night I made fudge for the first time unfortunately I don't have a thermometer so just guessed the boiling point and to be honest I was scared of boiling it for long incase it burnt. I left it overnight in the tray but it's still runney. Is there anything I can do to save it or will it need binned?

Boil it again!

Thank you

Do I just put it back into the pot and then boil? Do I stir it when boiling as there's different advice some say leave it alone and others say keep stirring it constantly.

I agree to reboil. Ido think you need a thermometer as it always needs to be much much hotter thsn you’d think. I stir constantly as I live in fear. If you can’t get a thermometer you can always turn it into fudge flapjacks by dumping lots of oats and a jar of peanut butter and heating together.

@Tiredofwhataboutery will look at thermometers. I was going to make tablet today won't bother with that until I get a thermometer. Will try re boiling my fudge and stirring it constantly 🤞

My plan was to put a little bag of fudge and tablet in everyone's stockings this year at Christmas. Might need to re think that plan.

My tablet never sets despite boiling it for ages. Annoyingly it's my mother's recipe and hers was always lovely

Very frustrating.

Aww that is frustrating @RaraRachael 😕 have you tried different recipes?

I've managed to scrape the fudge back into the pot. Frustratingly it wasn't far off from setting 😫

I have @Ladymuckypuddle My friend's husband makes nice tablet but the sugar didn't fully melt when I tried his.

Luckily lots of shops here sell it or I get it at coffee mornings or fetes.

@RaraRachael it's funny how some things just don't work for some people. Mines is pancakes I can never make them no matter how hard I try.

That's good you can buy tablet near you.

All you need is a cup of cold water, in the absence of a thermometer. Google how to recognise the 'soft ball' stage, boil it up again and test using that.

@Ladymuckypuddle I mastered pancakes after about 30 years of trying!

Just eat it with a teaspoon.

For presents, put in jars with a note saying "Eat it with a spoon" . You could even provide teaspoons.

Sauce for icecream- tell people to heat!

This, I never use a thermometer and make really good fudge and tablet - if you make it often enough you do get used to how it should look and feel. The trick to tablet is to whisk it for a long time after it’s boiled through - and a couple of squares of white chocolate.

Thanks everyone ☺️

Well I report back with sad news, I am now one pot down 😳 think I boiled too much the fudge went really dark and then like sand and clumpy it wouldn't move after cooling.

Putting fudge and tablet on the try again next year (maybe) list 🤪

The best bit about "soft ball" stage is that you get to eat all the not-quite-ready very soft balls (assuming you like the fudge/tablet/toffee you are making). I always put ice in my jug of water to make sure it is properly cold.

@Molecule will take a note of the glass of water trick for future. Will ask Santa for a thermometer.