'Nuff Said Maple Bacon Fudge

We all love fudge. We all love bacon! This tasty treat combines two of the best foods on the planet into one delicious delicacy that will be sure to turn into your friends’ legendary stories of your culinary prowess.

Original recipe makes 25 servings

Ingredients

1/3 pound smoked maple bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
3/4 cup milk
2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
2 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons butter, cut into 1-tablespoon chunks
2 tablespoons vanilla extract

PREP

15 mins
COOK

30 mins
READY IN

3 hrs 15 mins

Directions

Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels; set aside.
Stir milk and unsweetened chocolate in a large saucepan over low heat until chocolate melts and mixture is thoroughly combined, 2 to 3 minutes; stir in sugar all at once. Whisk mixture, trying to clean the sides of pan as much as possible.
Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer inserted into the middle of the fudge reads 236 to 238 degrees F (110 to 115 degrees C), or candy forms a soft ball when dripped into cold water. Remove from heat as soon as candy hits the correct temperature; stir in bacon.
Place butter squares onto fudge mixture and pour vanilla extract over the top. Set aside with thermometer in the fudge; do not disturb pot until temperature has dropped to 110 to 115 degrees F (43 to 46 degrees C).
While fudge is cooling, line an 8×8-inch baking dish with aluminum foil and coat with butter. When fudge has reached 110 to 115 degrees F, stir in butter and vanilla extract thoroughly into the fudge; pour fudge into prepared pan.
Refrigerate fudge for 30 minutes, then score the fudge in desired piece sizes; return to refrigerator for 2 more hours. Cut into pieces to serve.