You know how every so often, you’ll hear people say, “Hey! It’s national peanut butter day!” and you’re all, “Yeah, you totally made that up.”? {If you have no idea what I’m talking about, just smile and nod politely so I don’t feel like an idiot. Although, if someone sees you smiling and nodding at your computer, then YOU might feel like an idiot, so… whatever. Do what you want.}
Turns out, there’s a food holiday for every single day of the year. Don’t believe me? Then check out this website. Told ya.
We randomly discovered that site a couple of years ago and it’s now bookmarked on our computer and the boys check it regularly. And, last year at Christmas, I actually found a cookbook called FoodFest 365!: The Officially Fun Food Holiday Cookbook
The boys have made a game out of this book: You say a date. 2. The person with the book checks that date and tells you what day it is. 3. You decide whether or not you like the food being celebrated that day. 4. If you like it, you get a point. If you don’t, the other person gets a point. Example 1: August 13. National Filet Mignon Day. Yes, I like it. Point for me. Example 2: October 9. National Moldy Cheese Day. {Seriously? Who decides these things??} Um, gag. Point for David.
Yeah. My kids aren’t at all competitive.
If you didn’t care for {or believe} my National Moldy Cheese Day example, see if any of this randomness tickles your fancy: February 23: Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. March 5: National Cheese Doodle Day. March 30: Turkey Neck Soup Day. July 8: Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Omelette Day. October 14: National Chocolate-Covered Insects Day. December 18: National Roast Suckling Pig Day. {Again, I swear, I am not making these up.}
Or, my all-time favorite: August 3: Grab Some Nuts Day. {Hee hee hee… I have the maturity level of a 12-year-old boy, so that is just plain funny right there.}
Anyway. This very long, rambling introduction is my way of saying: “Happy Penuche Fudge Day, y’all!”
In case you’re not familiar with penuche fudge {we just called it penuche – pronounced “pen-oo-chee” – when I was growing up}, it’s a brown sugar-based candy. It’s sweet and creamy and absolutely delicious, and my grandmother used to make it all the time. In fact, it’s one of the very first foods I remember making as a kid.
I’ve found several different recipes online, and some call for corn syrup, evaporated milk, white chocolate … you name it. The recipe I use, and the one I’m sharing with you today, is my Grandma’s. It just uses brown sugar, milk, butter and vanilla. That’s it. It’s super easy, and crazy delicious. Although it’s also quite easy to eat an entire batch yourself, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.
PENUCHE FUDGE
2 lbs (32 oz) light brown sugar
4 Tbsp butter
2/3 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
Prepare 8″x8″ pan with oil or cooking spray.
Combine brown sugar, butter and milk in a medium saucepan over medium/high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches 238 degrees F {soft ball stage} on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, add vanilla and beat until mixture becomes creamy and loses its glossy look {approx. 1-2 minutes}. Quickly pour into prepared pan {be sure to move quickly, because mixture hardens VERY rapidly} and cut into squares.
If you liked this, be sure to check out these other treats!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Wontons
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Hello there! Visiting from Making the World Cuter Monday 🙂 I’ve never had penuche fudge before, but this looks so delicious!
Yum it looks scrumptious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Your recipe, in its most basic form, looks amazing. My grandma (and mom) also loved making (and eating) Penuche. And the recipe they use is pretty similar to this.
Great photos, too!
Anne
This recipe looks easy and so amazing!! I found your blog through GYBN party and I am so happy did!
Just thought I would let you know that I mentioned you and this recipe in one of my blog posts today about my own penuche fudge experience inspired by you. http://www.thehomeyowl.blogspot.com/2013/07/penuche-fudgeor-those-days-when-you.html
Ooooo… chocolate!! This fudge looks delicious!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe and for linking it up to Thrifty Thursday!
Yum, just pinned this. Being Scottish I love a great fudge recipe, cant wait to try it out 🙂
I need to look into that book, it sounds like a lot of fun.
Thank you for linking up to Raising Imperfection!
Make sure to check back on Friday to see if you were featured.
Leslie
http://www.violetimperfection.com
This looks absolutely gorgeous! I’d love for you to pop over and link this up at a link party I’m hosting 😀
http://thevelvetmoonbaker.blogspot.ie/2013/07/sweet-savoury-sunday-22.html
Yes please! And what a great website. Thank you for the resource.
Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. 🙂
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(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
Raising-Reagan.com
Oh Jenn! This looks beautiful. I can vaguely remember my Mum making something like this too. Thank you so much for linking up to Thriving on Thursday last week. I can’t wait to give this a try. I’m featuring this at tomorrow’s party.
Anne xx
Thanks, everyone! It really is delicious. 🙂
Wow, this looks awesome! I love that you have the food holidays in a book! I’ve always enjoyed the random holidays but having them in a book sounds like so much fun! 🙂
My daughter loves penuche fudge! I will share the recipe. Those random food holidays crack me up…they have that random stuff for everything, it seems like. Did you know there is A National Sleep in Public Day? Bizarre, right?! Visiting from SITS, and very glad I did!
I have been trying to make perfect fudge for years and it just never comes out 100% Your recipe looks easy enough – I just might be able to pull it off 🙂 {over from SITS !}
Hi! The trick with Penuche is never to try and make it in high humidity, and to watch the thermometer like a Hawk! Having been making Penuche since I was 7 makes me pretty experienced at it. also, you can pour it over pecans on a piece of waxed or parchment paper for a thinner luscious yummy dreamy…….
Yep, saw the title of this post on the SITS and had to come here before even checkin in on roll call. YUM! Can’t wait to try it. Fudge is a huge hit around here, and I love giving it as gifts at the holidays. I have a couple of recipes I like, but this would be a nice addition to the little white boxes:)
It looks delicious. Thanks for the link. I’m going to find out what my birthday food is. Hopefully it is something tasty with chocolate. Enjoy your SITS Day.
HA!! I love your sense of humor!! And you have ALL boys in your life so THAT day is the best one to GRAB!! LOL
This recipe looks totally worth trying- it’s easy and LOOKS delicious!!
If it had pecans in it, it would be like what I call pralines. Looks delicious!
I’ve never heard of penuche before but that fudge looks so good! I will have to test it out on my boys sometime.
I’ve never head of penuche fudge, but the ingredients used sound DELICIOUS! I’m a fellow baker, so if you’re ever looking for new recipes to try or DIY tutorials, I’d love for you to visit me at Domestic Femme! Happy SITS Day!
Yummy! First thing I saw on your blog! Happy SITS Day! Mu stomach is grumbling…
Just had to pin this to my Pinterest board, Jenn. It could have turpentine in it for all I care. The pic was just too enticing not to. Enjoy your SITS Day!
Officially drooling!!!! OMG! YUM!
This looks amazing! *grabs pen and paper*
Thank you, I have looked for this for a long time. My Aunt used to make it. I loved it so much she would would make a batch just for me. I can’t find her recipe but this looks like it. Thanks so much!
Looks so good! Amazing photography! Stopping by from SITS 🙂
YUM and YES PLEASE!!! Stopped by from SITS! 😉
Oh wow, that looks delicious. I love brown sugar desserts and sweets and this one certainly fits the bill!
I have not heard of Penuche for many years. This looks easy to make and delicious!
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Scottish Tablet, but this sounds very similar. Love brown sugar flavored-anything!!
Im a sucker for any kind of fudge but this looks awesome! Visiting from the SITS link up.
Hmmm. I’ve never had this before, but I love anything sweet! I may have to try this one.
Hmmm. never had this before. Sounds delicious though! I can’t stay away from anything sweet.
Yum! Can’t wait to try! Pinned for later 🙂
G’day! Looks very yum and wish I could try now!
Cheers! Joanne
Hi there! Recipe looks delicious and my attempt is cooling on the counter as we speak. 🙂 For those of us new to fudge making though, you might want to specify that the mixture should be allowed to cool down to 110 degrees Fahrenheit before adding the vanilla and stirring (had to look up another penuche recipe to find that out). Dumping the vanilla in right after the mixture has been removed from heat causes it to pop pretty violently, sending molten little globs of candy flying. Ouch!
I tried to make the fudge, but I am very unfamiliar with what a “softball stage” is… Penuche is my favorite fudge. About how long do I need to boil it before it reaches softball stage? I just poured it into a prepared pan and it’s still liquidy. I let it boil for 3.5 minutes. Thank you
Melanie
Hi Melanie! Softball stage is 238 degrees. I’m not entirely sure how long it takes to reach that stage, but it is probably a lot closer to 10-15 minutes. To be completely accurate when making candy, you should have a candy thermometer. They’re not expensive, and you can often pick them up at the grocery or craft store. Good luck!
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This is the way my Great Grandmother made penuche,her recipe called for teacups of brown sugar and cream and a lump of butter the size of an egg.she never had a measuring cup.This brought back so many memories and made me want penuche.I would crack and pick out hickory nuts to put in it for her.
I made this recipe and I think you meant 2 cups brown sugar not 2 lbs.(32oz). It turned out way too sugary. Made a 2nd batch and it turned out great. Let it cool down to 110 deg. before adding the vanilla.
Hi Dave! Nope, this is my grandma’s recipe and the amounts are correct. It’s supposed to be sugary, almost like maple sugar candy. Thanks for the tip on letting it cool before adding the vanilla!
I made the Penuche recipe this morning for a gift for my Father-in-law. He devours his (92 year old) Mother’s penuche at Christmas every year. I was looking for a recipe that I felt she would make. With basic ingredients she would have available on the farm. Found this one. I trusted my candy thermometer (even though the mixture seemed runny), poured into a metal bowl to beat, and just finished quickly spatula’ing the mixture into a 9×9 lined with Parchment. Then I tasted the leavings in the bowl and my taste buds were in heaven!!! Thank you, thank you!
OMG, I can’t even tell you how happy this makes me. I’m so glad you loved it, and I hope your father-in-law does too!!