Have you ever wondered how they make the rich and creamy fudge that you love so much? It's really not as hard as it seems. Whether you are a chocolate obsessed candy freak with a mouth full of sweet teeth or simply someone who appreciates a good dessert, you're bound to enjoy a rich and delectable piece of fudge.

While you may think that you have to be a professional confectioner in order to produce a great batch of fudge, in reality making fudge is easier than you'd think. Follow these instructions for how to make fudge, and you'll see just how easy it can be to enjoy your favorite treat any time.

• 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips

• 1/3 cup of half & half

• 1/3 cup of corn syrup

• 1/3 cup of marshmallows

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 cup of sugar

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Blair Christensen)

1. Start by lining your baking pan with a layer of waxed paper. Set the pan aside.

2. Pour the chocolate chips, half & half, corn syrup and marshmallows into the large saucepan and turn your stove on medium heat.
   

   Making fudge can be fun! (Creative Commons photo by Peter Merholz)

3. Stir the mixture gently until the solids melt into a liquid consistency.

4. When the mixture begins to boil, stop stirring and place your candy thermometer on the side of the saucepan.

5. Let the mixture boil for a short time while keeping an eye on the temperature.

6. Once the mixture reaches the soft-ball stage (around 235 - 240 degrees), take your saucepan off of the heat and set it aside to cool.

7. When your mixture has cooled to about 110 degrees, add the sugar and the vanilla extract.

8. Stir the new ingredients in until the mixture begins to stiffen and become smooth.

9. Pour the mixture into your wax-papered baking pan, cover the pan, and then place it in the refrigerator to cool.

10. Once the fudge is sufficiently firm, remove it from the baking pan and place it on a cutting board.

11. Cut the fudge into small square pieces and enjoy!

1. While this recipe is for plain chocolate flavored fudge, you can always tweak the recipe by adding chopped nuts, fruit or other flavorful ingredients.
2. A batch of fudge can make a great (and inexpensive) holiday gift for friends and family.
3. Fudge can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks and in the freezer for about 3 months. Be sure to cover it with wax paper before storing.
4. Be careful when pouring the fudge mixture into the baking pan, as it can be pretty hot at this stage.
5. Make sure to wait until the fudge has cooled down enough before stirring in the other ingredients. If you don't, your fudge can become coarse and grainy.