I like fudge. I do. Just not a lot of it. I like those little plastic wrapped squares you can buy, of like, maple walnut or whatever. I like one of them every five years or so. But then again other than cupcakes I don’t like an overload of sweets. I’m like a weird bionic female who’s not really a big fan of chocolate or candy & who’d rather have a burger… or a salad. Really. But anyway my mom loves fudge, and so does my aunt. So this recipe is the easiest fudge recipe there is for the laziest baker there is: me! Actually no I’m not lazy. I’m only lazy if I’m cooking or baking something I myself don’t enjoy. Is that bad & selfish? Yes. Yes, it is. But at least I’m making something for others… which isn’t selfish. So it balances out. In my mind.

You can use white chocolate chips if you prefer. Or peanut butter. Or whatever your little heart desires. And you can leave off the cherries. I don’t like cherries. Or currants. Or raisins…

FIVE-MINUTE FUDGE WREATH

INGREDIENTS:

• Unsalted butter, softened
• One 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (save the can!!!)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I just use my cereal spoon)
• One 8-ounce can walnuts, plus more for topping
• 1/2 cup raisins or dried currants (a couple of handfuls)
• Candied red and green cherries (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. 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.
2. Cover the empty condensed-milk can with plastic wrap and put it in the center of the round cake pan.
3. Stir the chips and milk until they melt together, about 3 minutes. Move the pan off the stove if it’s too heavy. Place the pan on a pot holder so it does not burn the kitchen counter. Stir in the nuts and raisins. 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 and funky on top. Keep pushing the can back to the center if the fudge moves it away from there. Cut the red cherries in half with scissors and the green cherries into quarters. Use the green pieces to make leaves and the red to make holly berries. Decorate the fudge with several groups of holly berry sprigs made from the cherries and garnish with walnuts between the sprigs. (The fudge looks good left plain, too!)
4. Put the fudge in the fridge and chill until firm. Remove the can from the center, then loosen the sides and bottom of the fudge with a spatula. Cut the fudge into thin slices to serve.

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