Countdown to Christmas Day 10: 5 Minute Fudge Wreath

Calling all FUDGE LOVERS, this recipe is for you! If you love fudge as much as I do, you should stop what you are doing right now and make this recipe...it only takes 5 minutes to put together! How simple is that? I first saw this recipe from Rachel Ray and thought it was such a unique and festive idea. I mean how cute do those red & green Christmas colored M&Ms look on top of the wreath. This fudge is definitely a must have on your holiday dessert table this year.


First you get your combination of chocolate chips (I used semisweet, milk chocolate and butterscotch) and can of sweetened condensed milk and stir over low heat until melted. You could also try this with white chocolate, or what about peanut butter chips...I am envisioning all different types of fudge combinations in my head right now.


While your chocolate is melting you can prepare your fudge pan. Grease an 8-inch cake pan with butter and turn your empty condensed milk can upside down so that it leaves a circle in the middle so your fudge will form a wreath around the can.


Get together your extra goodies you want to add to the melted chocolate...I used M&Ms and chopped walnuts. Rachel Ray's recipe called for raisins, but I'm not a raisin fan so I thought some extra chocolate in the M&Ms would be a much better selection, plus they add a punch of color to the fudge. Really the possibilities are endless...you could add any type of nut, pecans, macadamia, cashew or what about some chopped up candy bars...mmmmm Snickers's would have been so yummy, I will definitely have to try that next time.



It only takes about 3 minutes for the chocolate to melt.


Once the chocolate is melted add in the walnuts and M&Ms.


Spread fudge mixture into prepared pan.


Garnish with some extra red & green M&Ms on top for some more holiday color! Place fudge in refrigerator to chill for about an hour.


Remove fudge from refrigerator, take out the can, and gently run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the fudge wreath.


Place your fudge wreath on a decorative plate and you are ready to entertain.


Cut into the wreath, and enjoy a bite of the chocolate nutty M&M goodness! This recipe is SUPER RICH, so watch out you might be on a sugar high after you eat a slice!

5 Minute Fudge Wreath (adapted from Rachel Ray)

Ingredients

12 oz package semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (save the can)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 oz chopped walnuts
1/2 cup red & green M&Ms
softened butter to grease and 8-inch round cake pan

• Grease an 8-inch round cake pan with softened butter. Pour the chocolate and butterscotch chips, condensed milk and vanilla into a medium saucepan. Put the pan on the stove and turn the heat to low.
• Cover the empty condensed milk can with plastic wrap and put it in the center of the round cake pan.
• Stir the chips and milk until they melt together, about 3 minutes. Stir in nuts and M&Ms. Scoop the fudge into the cake pan all around the plastic-covered can in the center to form a wreath or ring shape. let it be all bumpy on top. Keep pushing the can back to the center if the fudge moves it away from there. Garnish the fudge with red & green M&Ms.
• Put the fudge in the fridge to chill until firm. Remove the can from the center, then loosen the sides and bottom of the fudge with a knife. Cut the fudge into thin slices and serve.

ENJOY!